Education Sampler 1992 [NeXTSTEP]/Education_1992_Sampler.iso/ProjectGutenberg/1992/world92b.txt

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Search for country headings with "  * COUNTRY"



The Project Gutenberg Etext of the 1992 CIA World Factbook



  * WORLD

WORLD

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 510,072,000 km2; 361,132,000 km2 (70.8%) is water and
148,940,000 km2 (29.2%) is land

Comparative area: land area about 16 times the size of the US

Land boundaries: 442,000 km

Coastline: 359,000 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: generally 24 nm, but varies from 4 nm to 25 nm;

Continental shelf: generally 200 nm, but some are 200 meters
in depth;

Exclusive fishing zone: most are 200 nm, but varies from
3 nm to 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; only the Maldives varies from
35-310 nm;

Territorial sea: generally 12 nm, but varies from 3 nm to 50 nm;

note--32 nations and miscellaneous areas are landlocked
and include Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,
Burkina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Iraq-Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda,
San Marino, Swaziland, Switzerland, Uganda, Vatican City, West Bank,
Zambia, Zimbabwe

Disputes: major international land boundary
disputes--Argentina-Uruguay, Bangladesh-India, Brazil-Paraguay,
Brazil-Uruguay, Cambodia-Vietnam, Chad-Libya, China-India, China-USSR,
Ecuador-Peru, Egypt-Sudan, El Salvador-Honduras, Ethiopia-Somalia,
French Guiana-Suriname, Guyana-Suriname, Guyana-Venezuela,
Israel-Jordan, Israel-Syria, North Korea-South Korea, Oman-UAE,
Oman-Yemen, Qatar-UAE, Saudi Arabia-Yemen

Climate: two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather
narrow temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to
subtropical climates

Terrain: highest elevation is Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and
lowest depression is the Dead Sea at 392 meters below sea level; greatest
ocean depth is the Marianas Trench at 10,924 meters

Natural resources: the oceans represent the last major frontier for
the discovery and development of natural resources

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
24%; forest and woodland 31%; other 34%; includes irrigated 1.6%

Environment: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical
cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic
eruptions), overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water,
acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing,
deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife resources, soil
degradation, soil depletion, erosion

PEOPLE
Population: 5,419,643,132 (July 1991), growth rate 1.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 65 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: 74% (male 81%, female 67%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2.2 billion (1991)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Administrative divisions: 170 sovereign nations plus 72 dependent,
other, and miscellaneous areas

Legal system: varies among each of the entities; 162 are parties
to the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court

Diplomatic representation: there are 159 members of the UN

ECONOMY
Overview: In 1990 the world economy grew at an estimated 1.0%,
considerably lower than the estimated 3.0% for 1989 and the 3.4% for
1988. The technologically advanced areas--North America, Japan, and
Western Europe--together account for 67% of the gross world product (GWP)
of $20.9 trillion; these developed areas grew in the aggregate at 2.3%
in 1990. In contrast, output in the USSR and Eastern Europe fell an
average of 5.2%; these countries account for 15% of GWP. Experience
in the developing countries continued mixed, with the newly
industrializing economies generally maintaining their rapid growth,
and many others struggling with debt, rampant inflation, and inadequate
investment. This third group contributed 18% of GWP and grew on
average 2.3% in 1990; output in this group is probably understated
because of lack of data and the method of calculation used. The year 1990
witnessed continued political and economic upheavals in the USSR and
Eastern Europe, which are in between systems, lacking both the rough
discipline of the command economy and the institutions of the market
economy. As for prospects in the 1990s, the addition of nearly 100
million people a year to an already overcrowded globe will exacerbate the
problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics,
and famine.

GWP (gross world product): $20.9 trillion, per capita $3,930;
real growth rate 1.0% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): developed countries 5%;
developing countries 100%, with wide variations (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Exports: $3.33 trillion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--the whole range of industrial and agricultural
goods and services;

partners--in value, 74% of exports from industrial countries

Imports: $3.45 trillion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services

partners--in value, about 75% of imports by the industrial countries

External debt: $1.0 trillion for less developed countries (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1990 est.)

Electricity: 2,864,000,000 kW capacity; 11,450,000 million kWh
produced, 2,150 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: chemicals, energy, machinery, electronics, metals,
mining, textiles, food processing

Agriculture: cereals (wheat, maize, rice), sugar, livestock products,
tropical crops, fruit, vegetables, fish

Economic aid: NA

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Mina al Ahmadi (Kuwait), Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe,
Marseille, New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of
technology

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,412,502,000;
NA fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $1.1 trillion, 5.3% of GWP (1990 est.)



  * AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 647,500 km2; land area: 647,500 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: 5,826 km total; China 76 km, Iran 936 km,
Pakistan 2,430 km, USSR 2,384 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: Pashtun question with Pakistan; Baloch question with Iran
and Pakistan; periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights;
insurgency with Iranian and Pakistani involvement; traditional tribal
rivalries

Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Natural resources: natural gas, crude oil, coal, copper, talc,
barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
semiprecious stones

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 46%; forest and woodland 3%; other 39%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
soil degradation, desertification, overgrazing, deforestation, pollution

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: US Bureau of the Census--16,450,304 (July 1991),
growth rate 5.2% (1991) and excludes 3,750,796 refugees in Pakistan
and 1,607,281 refugees in Iran; note--another report indicates a
July 1990 population of 16,904,904, including 3,271,580 refugees in
Pakistan and 1,277,700 refugees in Iran

Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 20 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 28 migrants/1,000 population (1991);
note--there are flows across the border in both directions, but data are
fragmentary and unreliable

Infant mortality rate: 164 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 44 years male, 43 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Afghan(s); adjective--Afghan

Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 50%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 9%, Hazara
12-15%; minor ethnic groups include Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and
other

Religion: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shia Muslim 15%, other 1%

Language: Pashtu 50%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 35%, Turkic
languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages
(primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%; much bilingualism

Literacy: 29% (male 44%, female 14%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,980,000; agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%,
industry 10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, services and other
10.7%, (1980 est.)

Organized labor: some small government-controlled unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Afghanistan

Type: authoritarian

Capital: Kabul

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat,
singular--velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh,
Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand,
Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar,
Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan,
Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol,
Takhar, Vardak, Zabol; note--there may be a new province of
Nurestan (Nuristan)

Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK)

Constitution: adopted 30 November 1987, revised May 1990

Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Saur Revolution, 27 April
(1978)

Executive branch: president, four vice presidents, prime minister,
deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Meli Shura)
consists of an upper house or Council of Elders (Sena) and a lower house
or Council of Representatives (Wolosi Jirga)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President (Mohammad)
NAJIBULLAH (Ahmadzai) (since 30 November 1987); First Vice President
Abdul Wahed SORABI (since 7 January 1991); Prime Minister Fazil Haq
KHALIQYAR (since 21 May 1990)

Political parties and leaders: main party--Hizbi Watan Homeland
Party (formerly known as the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
or PDPA); there are other, much smaller political parties recognized by
the government

Suffrage: universal, male ages 15-50

Elections:

Senate--last held NA April 1988 (next to be held April 1991);
results--Hizbi Watan was the only party;
seats--(192 total, 128 elected) Hizbi Watan 128;

House of Representatives--last held NA April 1988
(next to be held April 1993);
results--Hizbi Watan was the only party;
seats--(234 total) Hizbi Watan 184, opposition 50;
note--members may or may not be affiliated with a political party

Communists: Hizbi Watan Homeland Party (formerly the People's
Democratic Party of Afghanistan or PDPA) claims 200,000 members and no
longer considers itself a Communist party

Other political or pressure groups: the military and other branches
of internal security have been rebuilt by the USSR; insurgency continues
throughout the country; widespread antiregime sentiment and opposition on
religious and political grounds

Member of: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO; note--Afghanistan was suspended
from the OIC in January 1980, but in March 1989 the self-proclaimed
Mujaheddin Government of Afghanistan was given membership

Diplomatic representation: Minister-Counselor, Charge d'Affaires Abdul
Ghafur JOUSHAN; Chancery at 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 3771;

US--Charge d'Affaires (vacant); Embassy at Ansari Wat, Wazir
Akbar Khan Mina, Kabul; telephone 62230 through 62235 or 62436;
note--US Embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with the national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of the
black and red bands; similar to the flag of Malawi which is shorter and
bears a radiant, rising red sun centered in the black band

ECONOMY
Overview: Fundamentally, Afghanistan is an extremely poor,
landlocked country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially) and
livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations, however,
have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals, including
the nine-year Soviet military occupation (ended 15 February 1989) and the
continuing bloody civil war. Over the past decade, one-third of the
population has fled the country, with Pakistan sheltering about 3.3
million refugees and Iran about 1.3 million. Another 1 million have
probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan. Large
numbers of bridges, buildings, and factories have been destroyed or
damaged by military action or sabotage. Government claims
to the contrary, gross domestic product almost certainly is
lower than 10 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital
and the disruption of trade and transport.

GDP: $3 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate 0% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): over 92% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $4.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $306 million (FY91 est.)

Exports: $236 million (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--natural gas 55%, fruits and nuts 24%, handwoven
carpets, wool, cotton, hides, and pelts;

partners--mostly USSR and Eastern Europe

Imports: $874 million (c.i.f., FY90 est.);

commodities--food and petroleum products;

partners--mostly USSR and Eastern Europe

External debt: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (FY91 plan);
accounts for about 25% of GDP

Electricity: 480,000 kW capacity; 1,470 million kWh produced,
100 kWh per capita (1989)

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

Agriculture: largely subsistence farming and nomadic animal husbandry;
cash products--wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton

Illicit drugs: an illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis
for the international drug trade; world's second-largest opium producer
(after Burma) and a major source of hashish

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $322
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $465 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $57 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $4.1 billion

Currency: afghani (plural--afghanis); 1 afghani (Af) = 100 puls

Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1--586 (March 1991)

Fiscal year: 21 March-20 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 9.6 km (single track) 1.524-meter gauge from Kushka
(USSR) to Towraghondi and 15.0 km from Termez (USSR) to
Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya

Highways: 21,000 km total (1984); 2,800 km hard surface,
1,650 km bituminous-treated gravel and improved earth,
16,550 km unimproved earth and tracks

Inland waterways: total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya,
which handles steamers up to about 500 metric tons

Pipelines: petroleum, oil, and lubricants pipelines--USSR
to Bagram and USSR to Shindand; natural gas, 180 km

Ports: Shir Khan and Kheyrabad (river ports)

Civil air: 2 TU-154, 2 Boeing 727, 4 Yak-40, assorted smaller transports

Airports: 40 total, 36 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
17 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: limited telephone, telegraph, and
radiobroadcast services; television introduced in 1980; 31,200
telephones; stations--5 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special
Guard/National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force
(Sarandoi), Ministry of State Security (WAD), Tribal Militia

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,049,092; 2,171,757 fit for
military service; 166,135 reach military age (22) annually

Defense expenditures: $450 million, 15% of GDP (1990)



  * ALBANIA

ALBANIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 28,750 km2; land area: 27,400 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: 768 km total; Greece 282 km, Yugoslavia 486 km

Coastline: 362 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specified;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Kosovo question with Yugoslavia; Northern Epirus question
with Greece

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

Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, coal, chromium,
copper, timber, nickel

Land use: arable land 21%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and
pastures 15%; forest and woodland 38%; other 22%; includes irrigated
1%

Environment: subject to destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur
along southwestern coast; deforestation seems to be slowing

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

PEOPLE
Population: 3,335,044 (July 1991), growth rate 1.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Albanian(s); adjective--Albanian

Ethnic divisions: Albanian 90%, Greeks 8%, other 2% (Vlachs,
Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)

Religion: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and
religious observances prohibited; in November 1990 Albania began
allowing private religious practice and was considering the repeal
of the constitutional amendment banning religious activities;
estimates of religious affiliation--Muslim 70%, Greek Orthodox 20%,
Roman Catholic 10%

Language: Albanian (Tosk is official dialect), Greek

Literacy: 72% (male 80%, female 63%)
age 9 and over can read and write (1955)

Labor force: 1,500,000 (1987); agriculture about 60%, industry
and commerce 40% (1986)

Organized labor: Central Council of Albanian Trade Unions, 610,000
members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Albania

Type: nascent democracy with strong Communist party influence;
basic law has dropped all references to socialism

Capital: Tirane

Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular--rreth);
Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh,
Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje,
Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder,
Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore

Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire);
People's Socialist Republic of Albania declared 11 January 1946

Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's
Assembly on 29 April 1991; a new constitution is to be drafted for
adoption in four to six months

Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 November (1944)

Executive branch: president, prime minister of the Council of
Ministers, one deputy prime minister of the Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Kuvendi
Popullor)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President of the Republic Ramiz ALIA (since 22
November 1982);

Head of Government--Prime Minister of the interim Council of
Ministers Ylli BUFI (since 5 June 1991);

Political parties and leaders: Albanian Workers Party (AWP),
Ramiz ALIA, first secretary;
Democratic Party (DP), Sali BERISHA, chairman and cofounder with
Gramoz PASHKO;
Albanian Republican Party, Sabri GODO;
Ecology Party, Namik HOTI;
Omonia (Greek minority party), leader NA;
Agrarian Party, leader NA;

note--in December 1990 President ALIA allowed new political parties
to be formed in addition to the AWP for the first time since 1944

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 30 April 1991
(next to be held spring 1992);
results--President Ramiz ALIA was reelected with token opposition;
People's Assembly--last held 31 March 1991
(next to be held spring 1992);
results--AWP 68%, DP 25%;
seats--(250 total) preliminary results AWP 168, DP 75, Omonia 5,
Veterans Association 1, other 1;

note--the AWP's votes came mostly from the countryside while the DP
won majorities in the six-largest cities;

Communists: 147,000 party members (November 1986); note--in
March 1991 the Albanian Workers' Party announced that it considered
itself no longer Communist but socialist

Member of: ECE, FAO, IAEA, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: the Governments of the United States and
Albania agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations to be effective
from 15 March 1991 and to exchange diplomatic missions at the level
of ambassador

Flag: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center below a red
five-pointed star outlined in yellow

ECONOMY
Overview: As the poorest country in Europe, Albania's development
lags behind even the least favored areas of the Yugoslav economy.
For over 40 years, the Stalinist-type economy has operated on the
principles of central planning and state ownership of the means of
production. In recent years Albania has implemented limited economic
reforms to stimulate its lagging economy, provide incentives, and
decentralize decisionmaking. In an effort to expand international
ties, Tirane has reestablished diplomatic relations with the Soviet
Union and the US. The Albanians have also passed legislation allowing
foreign investment. Albania possesses considerable mineral
resources and, until 1990, was largely self-sufficient in food;
several years of drought have hindered agricultural development.
Numerical estimates of Albanian economic activity are subject to an
especially wide margin of error because the government until recently
did not release economic information.

GNP: $4.1 billion, per capita $1,250; real growth rate NA% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $2.3 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $378 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.);

commodities--asphalt, bitumen, petroleum products, metals and
metallic ores, electricity, oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco;

partners--Italy, Yugoslavia, FRG, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Poland,
Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary

Imports: $255 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.);

commodities--machinery, machine tools, iron and steel products,
textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;

partners--Italy, Yugoslavia, FRG, Czechoslovakia, Romania,
Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, GDR

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA

Electricity: 1,690,000 kW capacity; 5,000 million kWh produced,
1,530 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber,
oil, cement, chemicals, basic metals, hydropower

Agriculture: arable land per capita among lowest in Europe;
one-half of work force engaged in farming; produces wide range of
temperate-zone crops and livestock; claims self-sufficiency in grain
output

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA (1988) $5.8 million

Currency: lek (plural--leke); 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars

Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1--8.00 (noncommercial fixed rate
since 1986), 4.14 (commercial fixed rate since 1987)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 543 km total; 509 1.435-meter standard gauge, single
track and 34 km narrow gauge, single track (1990); line connecting
Titograd (Yugoslavia) and Shkoder (Albania) completed August 1986

Highways: 16,700 km total; 6,700 km highway and roads, 10,000 km
forest and agricultural (1990)

Inland waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari,
Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil, 145 km; refined products, 55 km; natural gas,
64 km (1988)

Ports: Durres, Sarande, Vlore

Merchant marine: 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,886
GRT/75,993 DWT

Airports: 12 total, 10 usable; more than 5 with permanent-surface
runways; more than 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways
1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--17 AM, 1 FM, 9 TV; 246,000 TVs
(1990); 210,000 radios

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Albanian People's Army, Albanian Coastal Defense Command,
Air and Air Defense Force, Frontier Troops, Interior Troops

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 900,723; 743,594 fit for
military service; 33,497 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: 1.0 billion leks, NA% of GDP (FY90);
note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
official administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading
results



  * ALGERIA

ALGERIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,381,740 km2; land area: 2,381,740 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

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

Coastline: 998 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in southeastern Algeria

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

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

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
uranium, lead, zinc

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 13%; forest and woodland 2%; other 82%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
desertification

Note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

PEOPLE
Population: 26,022,188 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 32 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 57 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Algerian(s); adjective--Algerian

Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

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

Language: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Literacy: 50% (male 63%, female 36%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1987)

Labor force: 3,700,000; industry and commerce 40%, agriculture
24%, government 17%, services 10% (1984)

Organized labor: 16-19% of labor force claimed; General Union of
Algerian Workers (UGTA) is the only labor organization and is
subordinate to the National Liberation Front

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria

Type: republic

Capital: Algiers

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

Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)

Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976

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

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly
(Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Chadli BENDJEDID (since 7 February 1979);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Sid Ahmed GHOZALI (since
6 June 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
National Liberation Front (FLN), Chadli BENDJEDID, president;
Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), Abassi MADANI;
the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and as
of 31 December 1990 over 30 legal parties existed

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 22 December 1988
(next to be held December 1993);
results--President BENDJEDID was reelected without opposition;
National People's Assembly--last held on 26 February 1987
(next were to be held 27 June 1991
but postponed indefinitely because of civil unrest);
results--FLN was the only party;
seats--(281 total) FLN 281; note--the government held multiparty elections
(municipal and wilaya) in June 1990, the first in Algerian history;
results--FIS 55%, FLN 27.5%, other 17.5%, with 65% of the voters participating

Communists: 400 (est.); Communist party banned 1962

Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-19,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abderrahmane BENSID;
Chancery at 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone];

US--Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS; Embassy at 4 Chemin Cheich
Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers (mailing address is B. P. Box 549,
Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers); telephone  213  (2) 601-425 or 255, 186;
there is a US Consulate in Oran

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

ECONOMY
Overview: The exploitation of oil and natural gas products forms
the backbone of the economy. Algeria depends on hydrocarbons for nearly
all of its export receipts, about 30% of government revenues, and nearly
25% of GDP. In 1973-74 the sharp increase in oil prices led to a booming
economy and helped to finance an ambitious program of industrialization.
Plunging oil and gas prices, combined with the mismanagement of Algeria's
highly centralized economy, have brought the nation to its most serious
social and economic crisis since independence. The government has
promised far-reaching reforms, including giving public-sector companies
more autonomy, encouraging private-sector activity, boosting gas and
nonhydrocarbon exports, and proposing a major overhaul of the banking
and financial systems, but to date has made little progress.

GDP: $54 billion, per capita $2,130; real growth rate 2.5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.6% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 26% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $16.7 billion; expenditures $17.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $6.6 billion (1990 est.)

Exports: $10.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum and natural gas 98%;

partners--Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Italy, France, US

Imports: $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--capital goods 29%, consumer goods 30%;

partners--France 25%, Italy 8%, FRG 8%, US 6-7%

External debt: $26.6 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate -3% (1989 est.); accounts for
30% of GDP, including petroleum

Electricity: 5,156,000 kW capacity; 14,900 million kWh
produced, 580 kWh per capita (1990)

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

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GDP and employs 24% of labor
force; net importer of food--grain, vegetable oil, and sugar; farm
production includes wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits,
sheep,and cattle

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $1.4 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $8.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.8 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.7 billion

Currency: Algerian dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Algerian dinar
(DA) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1--13.581 (January 1991),
8.958 (1990), 7.6086 (1989), 5.9148 (1988), 4.8497 (1987), 4.7023 (1986),
5.0278 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,146 km total; 2,632 km standard gauge (1.435 m),
1,258 km 1.055-meter gauge, 256 km 1.000-meter gauge; 300 km electrified;
215 km double track

Highways: 80,000 km total; 60,000 km concrete or bituminous,
20,000 km gravel, crushed stone, unimproved earth

Pipelines: crude oil, 6,612 km; refined products, 298 km; natural
gas, 2,948 km

Ports: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Jijel, Mers el Kebir,
Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda

Merchant marine: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 903,179  GRT/1,063,994 DWT; includes 5 short-sea passenger,
27 cargo, 2 vehicle  carrier, 10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 petroleum,
oils, and lubricants  (POL) tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 7 chemical tanker,
9 bulk, 1 specialized tanker

Civil air: 42 major transport aircraft

Airports: 145 total, 134 usable; 53 with permanent-surface runways;
3 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 66 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international service in
the north, sparse in the south; 693,000 telephones; stations--26 AM, no
FM, 113 TV; 1,550,000 TV sets; 3,500,000 receiver sets; 6 submarine
cables; coaxial cable or radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco,
and Tunisia; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT,
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, 1 ARABSAT, and 15 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,142,818; 3,780,873 fit for
military service; 293,175 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $857 million, 1.8% of GDP (1991)



  * AMERICAN SAMOA

AMERICAN SAMOA
(Territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 199 km2; land area: 199 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 116 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds;
annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April,
dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited
coastal plains, two coral atolls

Natural resources: pumice and pumicite

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 75%; other 10%

Environment: typhoons common from December to March

Note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in
the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected
by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location about
3,700 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about
halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

PEOPLE
Population: 43,052 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 41 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 8 immigrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--American Samoan(s); adjective--American Samoan

Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 90%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 2%, other 6%

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

Language: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
languages) and English; most people are bilingual

Literacy: 97% (male 97%, female 97%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 11,145; government 48%, tuna canneries 33%,
other 19% (1986 est.)
xxx
Organized labor: NA

Note: about 65,000 American Samoans live in the States of
California and Washington and 20,000 in Hawaii

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of American Samoa

Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US

Capital: Pago Pago

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967

National holiday: Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Executive branch: President of the US, governor, lieutenant
governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) consists
of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);

Head of Government--Governor Peter Tali COLEMAN (since 20
January 1989);
Lieutenant Governor Galea'i POUMELE (since NA 1989)

Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US
nationals, not US citizens

Elections:

Governor--last held 7 November 1988
(next to be held November 1992);
results--Peter T. COLEMAN was elected (percent of vote NA);
Senate--last held 7 November 1988
(next to be held November 1992); results--senators
elected by county councils from 12 senate districts;
eats--(18 total) number of seats by party NA;

House of Representatives--last held NA November 1990
(next to be held November 1992);
results--representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts;
seats--(21 total, 20 elected and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swain's Island);

US House of Representatives--last held 19 November 1990
(next to be held November 1992);
results--Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as a nonvoting delegate
Communists: nonexxx

Member of: IOC, SPC

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the
fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald
eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan
symbols of authority, a staff and a war club

Note: administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of
Territorial and International Affairs; indigenous inhabitants are US
nationals, not citizens of the US

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic development is strongly linked to the US, with
which American Samoa does 90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna
processing plants are the backbone of the private-sector economy, with
canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries are the second-largest
employer, exceeded only by the government. Other economic activities
include meat canning, handicrafts, dairy farming, and a slowly developing
tourist industry.

GNP: $190 million, per capita $5,210; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 13.4% (1986)

Budget: revenues $51.2 million; expenditures $59.9 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA million (1990)

Exports: $288 million (f.o.b., 1987);

commodities--canned tuna 93%;

partners--US 99.6%

Imports: $346 million (c.i.f., 1987);

commodities--building materials 18%, food 17%, petroleum
products 14%;

partners--US 72%, Japan 7%, NZ 7%, Australia 5%, other 9%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 42,000 kW capacity; 85 million kWh produced,
2,020 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign supplies
of raw tuna)

Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams,
copra, pineapples, papayas

Economic aid: $21,042,650 million in operational funds and
$5,948,931 million in construction funds for capital improvement projects
from the US Department of Interior (1991)

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: none

Highways: 350 km total; 150 km paved, 200 km unpaved

Ports: Pago Pago, Ta'u

Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m
(international airport at Tafuna, near Pago Pago); small airstrips on
Ta'u and Ofu

Telecommunications: 6,500 telephones; stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
earth station, 1 COMSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * ANDORRA

ANDORRA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 450 km2; land area: 450 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 125 km total; France 60 km, Spain 65 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and cool, dry summers

Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber,
iron ore, lead

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 56%; forest and woodland 22%; other 20%

Environment: deforestation, overgrazing

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 53,197 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 16 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Andorran(s); adjective--Andorran

Ethnic divisions: Catalan stock; Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%,
French 6%, other 3%

Religion: virtually all Roman Catholic

Language: Catalan (official); many also speak some French and
Castilian

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Principality of Andorra

Type: unique coprincipality under formal sovereignty of president
of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally
by officials called verguers

Capital: Andorra la Vella

Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies,
singular--parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les
Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Independence: 1278

Constitution: none; some pareatges and decrees, mostly custom and
usage

Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September

Executive branch: two co-princes (president of France, bishop of
Seo de Urgel in Spain), two designated representatives (French veguer,
Episcopal veguer), two permanent delegates (French prefect for the
department of Pyrenees-Orientales, Spanish vicar general for the Seo
de Urgel diocese), president of government, Executive Council

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys
(Consell General de las Valls)

Judicial branch: civil cases--Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan
(France) or the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel
(Spain); criminal cases--Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes)

Leaders:

Chiefs of State--French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21
May 1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS;
Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince Mgr. Joan MARTI y Alanis (since 31
January 1971), represented by Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Batalla;

Head of Government--Oscar RIBAS Reig (since NA January 1990)

Political parties and leaders: political parties not yet legally
recognized; traditionally no political parties but partisans for
particular independent candidates for the General Council on the basis of
competence, personality, and orientation toward Spain or France; various
small pressure groups developed in 1972; first formal political party,
Andorran Democratic Association, was formed in 1976 and reorganized in
1979 as Andorran Democratic Party

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

General Council of the Valleys--last held 11 December 1989
(next to be held December 1993); results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(28 total) number of seats by party NA

Communists: negligible

Member of: CSCE, INTERPOL, IOC

Diplomatic representation: Andorra has no mission in the US;

US--includes Andorra within the Barcelona (Spain) Consular District
and the US Consul General visits Andorra periodically; Consul General
Ruth A. DAVIS; Consulate General at Via Layetana 33, Barcelona 3, Spain
(mailing address APO NY 09286); telephone  34  (3) 319-9550

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat
of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and
Romania which do not have a national coat of arms in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: The mainstay of Andorra's economy is tourism. An
estimated 12 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's
duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Agricultural
production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to
be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising.
Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. The
rapid pace of European economic integration is a potential threat to
Andorra's advantages from its duty-free status.

GDP: $727 million, per capita $14,000; real growth rate NA%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: none

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA

Exports: $0.017 million (f.o.b., 1986);

commodities--electricity;

partners--France, Spain

Imports: $531 million (f.o.b., 1986);

commodities--consumer goods, food;

partners--France, Spain

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 35,000 kW capacity; 140 million kWh produced,
2,800 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco,
smuggling, banking

Agriculture: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye,
wheat, barley, oats, and some vegetables

Economic aid: none

Currency: French franc (plural--francs) and Spanish peseta
(plural--pesetas); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes and 1 Spanish peseta
(Pta) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1--95.20 (January
1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988), 123.48 (1987), 140.05
(1986), 170.04 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 96 km

Telecommunications: international digital microwave network;
international landline circuits to France and Spain; stations--1 AM, no
FM, no TV; 17,700 telephones

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain



  * ANGOLA

ANGOLA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,246,700 km2; land area: 1,246,700 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 5,198 km total; Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km,
Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline: 1,600 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 20 nm

Disputes: civil war since independence on 11 November 1975;
on 31 May 1991 Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS
and Jonas SAVIMBI, leader of the National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA), signed a peace treaty that calls for
multiparty elections between September and November 1992, an
internationally monitored cease-fire, and termination of outside
military assistance

Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has
cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to
April)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior
plateau

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates,
copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 23%; forest and woodland 43%; other 32%

Environment: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on
plateau; desertification

Note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

PEOPLE
Population: 8,668,281 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 20 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 151 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 42 years male, 46 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Angolan(s); adjective--Angolan

Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%,
Mestico 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Religion: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant
15% (est.)

Language: Portuguese (official); various Bantu dialects

Literacy: 42% (male 56%, female 28%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,783,000 economically active; agriculture 85%,
industry 15% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: about 450,695 (1980)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: People's Republic of Angola

Type: in transition from a one-party Marxist state to a multiparty
democracy with a strong presidential system

Capital: Luanda

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango,
Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte,
Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11
August 1980, and 6 March 1991

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
law; recently modified to accommodate multipartyism and increased use of
free markets

National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Executive branch: president, chairman of the Council of Ministers,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assembleia do
Povo)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS (since 21
September 1979);

Head of Government--Fernando Jose Franca VAN DUNEM (since
21 July 1991)

Political parties and leaders: only one party exists--the
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola-Labor Party
(MPLA), Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS--although others are expected to
form as legalization of a multiparty system proceeds;
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola
(UNITA) lost to the MPLA and Cuban military support forces in the
immediate postindependence struggle, but is to receive recognition
as a legal party

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections: first nationwide, multiparty elections to be held
between September and November 1992

Member of: ACP, AfDB, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO,
FLS, G-77, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a
centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a
cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

ECONOMY
Overview: Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for
80 to 90% of the population, but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil
production is the most lucrative sector of the economy, contributing
about 50% to GDP. In recent years, however, the impact of fighting an
internal war has severely affected the nonoil economy, and food has to be
imported.  For the long run, Angola has the advantage of rich natural
resources, notably gold, diamonds, and arable land.  To realize its
economic potential Angola not only must secure domestic peace but also
must reform government policies that have led to distortions and
imbalances throughout the economy.

GDP: $7.9 billion, per capita $925; real growth rate 2.0% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 23.2% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $2.6 billion; expenditures $4.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $963 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--oil,liquified petroleum gas, diamonds, coffee, sisal,
fish and fish products, timber, cotton;

partners--US, USSR, Cuba, Portugal, Brazil, France

Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--capital equipment (machinery and electrical
equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing,
medicines; substantial military deliveries;

partners--US, USSR, Cuba, Portugal, Brazil

External debt: $7.0 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 60%
of GDP, including petroleum output

Electricity: 506,000 kW capacity; 770 million kWh produced,
90 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, diamonds, mining, fish processing, food
processing, brewing, tobacco, sugar, textiles, cement, basic metal
products

Agriculture: cash crops--coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, sugar,
manioc, tobacco; food crops--cassava, corn, vegetables, plantains,
bananas; livestock production accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry
2% of total agricultural output; disruptions caused by civil war
and marketing deficiencies require food imports

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $265
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1,005 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion

Currency: kwanza (plural--kwanza); 1 kwanza (Kz) = 100 lwei

Exchange rates: kwanza (Kz) per US$1--29.62 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,189 km total; 2,879 km 1.067-meter gauge, 310 km
0.600-meter gauge; limited trackage in use because of insurgent attacks;
sections of the Benguela Railroad closed because of insurgency

Highways: 73,828 km total; 8,577 km bituminous-surface treatment,
29,350 km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth, remainder unimproved
earth

Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable

Pipelines: crude oil, 179 km

Ports: Luanda, Lobito, Namibe, Cabinda

Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
66,348 GRT/102,825 DWT; includes 11 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker

Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft

Airports: 315 total, 183 usable; 28 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 58 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of wire, radio relay, and
troposcatter routes; high frequency used extensively for military/Cuban
links; 40,300 telephones; stations--17 AM, 13 FM, 2 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force/Air Defense, People's Defense
Organization and Territorial Troops, Frontier Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,080,837; 1,047,500 fit for
military service; 92,430 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * ANGUILLA

ANGUILLA
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 91 km2; land area: 91 km2

Comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 61 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Natural resources: negligible; salt, fish, lobster

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; mostly rock with sparse
scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds

Environment: frequent hurricanes, other tropical storms (July
to October)

Note: located 270 km east of Puerto Rico

PEOPLE
Population: 6,922 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Anguillan(s); adjective--Anguillan

Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent

Religion: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%

Language: English (official)

Literacy: 95% (male 95%, female 95%)
age 12 and over can read and write (1984)

Labor force: 2,780 (1984)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: The Valley

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 1 April 1982

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Brian G. J. CANTY (since NA 1989);

Head of Government--Chief Minister Emile GUMBS (since NA March
1984, served previously from February 1977 to May 1980)

Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla National Alliance (ANA), Emile GUMBS;
Anguilla United Party (AUP), Ronald WEBSTER;
Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Assembly--last held 27 February 1989 (next to
be held February 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(11 total, 7 elected) ANA 3, AUP 2, ADP 1, independent 1

Communists: none

Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and
light blue with three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design
centered in the white band; a new flag may have been in use since
30 May 1990

ECONOMY
Overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy
depends heavily on lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and
remittances from emigrants. In recent years the economy has benefited
from a boom in tourism. Development is planned to improve the
infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist facilities, and
also light industry. Improvement in the economy has reduced
unemployment from 40% in 1984 to about 5% in 1988.

GDP: $23 million, per capita $3,300; real growth rate
8.2% (1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.0% (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $10.4 million; expenditures $11.0 million,
including capital expenditures of $1.1 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $NA;

commodities--lobster and salt;

partners--NA

Imports: $NA;

commodities--NA;

partners --NA

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 2,000 kW capacity; 6 million kWh produced, 870 kWh
per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, boat building, salt, fishing (including
lobster)

Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs,
cattle, poultry

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-89), $38 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar
(EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed
rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: NA

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 60 km surfaced

Ports: Road Bay, Blowing Point

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways of
1,100 m (Wallblake Airport)

Telecommunications: modern internal telephone system; 890
telephones; stations--3 AM, 1 FM, no TV; radio relay link to island of
Saint Martin

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * ANTARCTICA

ANTARCTICA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: about 14,000,000 km2; land area: about 14,000,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US;
second-smallest continent (after Australia)

Land boundaries: see entry on Disputes

Coastline: 17,968 km

Maritime claims: see entry on Disputes

Disputes: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty
Summary below); sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina,
Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency),
Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; Brazil has noted possible Latin claims;
the US and USSR do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations
and have made no claims themselves (but reserve the right to do so); no
formal claims have been made in the sector between 90o west and
150o west

Climate: severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and
distance from the ocean; East Antarctica colder than West Antarctica
because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has most
moderate climate; warmest temperatures occur in January along the coast
and average slightly below freezing

Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet, with average
elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 4,897
meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria
Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and Ross Island on
McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of coastline
and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Natural resources: none presently exploited; coal and iron ore;
chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum, and hydrocarbons have been
found in small uncommercial quantities

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; pastures 0%;
meadows and forest and woodland 0%; other 100% (ice 98%, barren rock
2%)

Environment: mostly uninhabitable; katabatic (gravity) winds blow
coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot
of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise
around the coast, as does a circumpolar ocean current; during
summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than
is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; in April 1991 it was
reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's surface from
harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled to its lowest level ever over
Antarctica; subject to active volcanism (Deception Island and isolated
areas of West Antarctica); other seismic activity rare and weak

Note: the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent

PEOPLE
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; staffing of research
stations varies seasonally;

Summer (January) population--4,120; Argentina 207, Australia 268,
Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Chile 256, China NA, Ecuador NA, Finland 16,
France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12, India 60, Italy 210, Japan 59,
South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, Norway 23, Peru 39, Poland NA,
South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666,
USSR 565 (1989-90);

Winter (July) population--1,066 total; Argentina 150, Australia
71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace 5,
India 21, Japan 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, Poland NA, South Africa 12,
UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, USSR 313 (1989-90);

Year-round stations--42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1,
Chile 3, China 2, France 1, Germany 2, Greenpeace 1, India 2, Japan 2,
South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 1, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US 3,
USSR 6 (1990-91);

Summer only stations--34 total; Argentina 1, Australia 3, Chile 5,
Finland 1, Germany 4, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, NZ 2, Norway 1,
Peru 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US 3, USSR 5 (1989-90)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered
into force on 23 June 1961, established for at least 30 years a legal
framework for peaceful use, scientific research, and deferral of legal
questions regarding territorial claims. Administration is carried out
through consultative member meetings--the last meeting was held in Madrid
(Spain) in April 1991.

Consultative (voting) members include seven nations that claim
portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and
nonclaimant nations. The US and other nations have made no claims, but
have reserved the right to claim territory. The US does not recognize the
claims of others. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding
nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date
indicates an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations
are--Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the
UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are--Belgium, Brazil (1983),
China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India
(1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru
(1989), Poland (1977), South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay
(1985), the US, and the USSR.

Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parenthesis,
are--Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988),
Cuba (1984), Czechoslovakia (1962), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987),
Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania
(1971), and Switzerland (1990).

Antarctic Treaty Summary:

Article 1--area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military
activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel
and equipment may be used for peaceful scientific and logistics purposes;

Article 2--freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation
shall continue;

Article 3--free exchange of information and personnel in
cooperation with the UN and other international agencies;

Article 4--does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial
claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force;

Article 5--prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive
wastes;

Article 6--includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves
south of 60o 00' south, but that the water areas be covered by
international law;

Article 7--treaty-state observers have free access, including
aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations,
installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities
and the introduction of military personnel must be given;

Article 8--allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists
by their own states;

Article 9--frequent consultative meetings take place among
member nations;

Article 10--treaty states will discourage activities by any
country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty;

Article 11--disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties
concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ;

Articles 12, 13, 14--deal with upholding, interpreting, and
amending the treaty among involved nations.

Other agreements: more than 150 recommendations adopted at
treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments
include--Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and
Flora (1964); Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972);
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but was
subsequently rejected by some signatories and is likely to be replaced in
1991 by a comprehensive environmental protection agreement that defers
minerals development for a long period.

ECONOMY
Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off
the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.  Exploitation of
mineral resources is unlikely because of technical difficulties, high
costs, and objections by environmentalists.

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 37 total; 27 usable; none with permanent hard-surface
runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: none; Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty states that advance
notice of all activities and the introduction of military personnel must
be given



  * ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 440 km2; land area: 440 km2; includes Redonda

Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 153 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some
higher volcanic areas

Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters
tourism

Land use: arable land 18%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 7%; forest and woodland 16%; other 59%

Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October); insufficient freshwater resources; deeply indented coastline
provides many natural harbors

Note: 420 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico

PEOPLE
Population: 63,917 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Antiguan(s); adjective--Antiguan

Ethnic divisions: almost entirely of black African origin; some of
British, Portuguese, Lebanese, and Syrian origin

Religion: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some
Roman Catholic

Language: English (official), local dialects

Literacy: 89% (male 90%, female 88%)
age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1960)

Labor force: 30,000; commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%,
industry 7% (1983)

Organized labor: Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association
(ABPSA), membership 500; Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), 10,000
members; Antigua Workers Union (AWU), 10,000 members (1986 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Saint John's

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,
Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter,
Saint Philip

Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)

Constitution: 1 November 1981

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Wilfred Ebenezer JACOBS (since 1
November 1981, previously Governor since 1976);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Vere Cornwall BIRD, Sr. (since
NA 1976)

Political parties and leaders:
Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Vere C. BIRD, Sr., Lester BIRD;
United National Democratic Party (UNDP), Dr. Ivor HEATH

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 9 March 1989 (next to be
held 1994);
results--percentage of vote by party NA;
seats--(17 total) ALP 15, UNDP 1, independent 1

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Antigua Caribbean Liberation
Movement (ACLM), a small leftist nationalist group led by Leonard (Tim)
HECTOR; Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by Noel THOMAS

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM
(observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edmund Hawkins LAKE;
Chancery at Suite 2H, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 5166, 5122, 5225; there is an Antiguan
Consulate in Miami;

US--the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and
Barbuda, and in his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires
Bryant SALTER; Embassy at Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's
(mailing address is FPO Miami 34054); telephone [phone] or 3506

Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge
of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top),
light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism
the most important determinant of economic performance. During the period
1983-89, real GDP expanded at an annual average rate of about 7%.
Tourism's contribution to GDP, as measured by value added tax in hotels
and restaurants, rose from about 14% in 1983 to 16% in 1989, and
stimulated growth in other sectors--particularly in construction,
communications, and public utilities. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the
few areas in the Caribbean experiencing a labor shortage in some sectors
of the economy.

GDP: $350 million, per capita $5,470 (1989); real growth rate 3.0%
(1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.0% (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $92.8 million; expenditures $101 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $33.2 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and
live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17%;

partners--OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago
2%, US 0.3%

Imports: $358.2 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--food and live animals, machinery and transport
equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil;

partners--US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%

External debt: $250 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1989 est.); accounts
for 9% of GDP

Electricity: 52,000 kW capacity; 95 million kWh produced, 1,490 kWh
per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,
alcohol, household appliances)

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; expanding output of cotton,
fruits, vegetables, and livestock sector; other crops--bananas, coconuts,
cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, $10 million (1985-88); Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $45
million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar
(EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed
rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 64 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge and 13 km 0.610-meter
gauge used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane

Highways: 240 km

Ports: Saint John's

Merchant marine: 86 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 319,477
GRT/497,194 DWT; includes 61 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 6 container,
4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 multifunction large load carrier, 3
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 chemical tanker; note--a
flag of convenience registry

Civil air: 10 major transport aircraft

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways less than 1,220 m

Telecommunications: good automatic telephone system; 6,700
telephones; tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe;
stations--4 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua
and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $1.4 million, less than 1% of GDP (FY91)



  * ARCTIC OCEAN

ARCTIC OCEAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 14,056,000 km2; includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea,
Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay,
Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US;
smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean,
and Indian Ocean)

Coastline: 45,389 km

Climate: persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature
ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable
weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous
daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow

Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar
icepack which averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure
ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the
Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement from the New
Siberian Islands (USSR) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and
Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but
more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling
land masses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest
percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted
by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and
Lomonsov Ridge); maximum depth is 4,665 meters in the Fram Basin

Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals,
whales)

Environment: endangered marine species include walruses and whales;
ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island;
icebergs calved from western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada;
maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the
frozen ocean and lasts about 10 months; permafrost in islands; virtually
icelocked from October to June; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow
to recover from disruptions or damage

Note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern
access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); ships subject to
superstructure icing from October to May; strategic location between
North America and the USSR; shortest marine link between the extremes of
eastern and western USSR; floating research stations operated by the US
and USSR

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of
natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, fishing, and
sealing.

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (USSR), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Telecommunications: no submarine cables

Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the
Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Asia) are
important waterways



  * ARGENTINA

ARGENTINA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,766,890 km2; land area: 2,736,690 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 9,665 km total; Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km,
Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km

Coastline: 4,989 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond
12 nm)

Disputes: short section of the boundary with Uruguay is in dispute;
short section of the boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims
British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims
British-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands;
territorial claim in Antarctica

Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in
southwest

Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to
rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc,
tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, crude oil, uranium

Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and
pastures 52%; forest and woodland 22%; other 13%; includes irrigated
1%

Environment: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in Andes subject to
earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike Pampas and
northeast; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; air and water
pollution in Buenos Aires

Note: second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);
strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and
South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)

PEOPLE
Population: 32,663,983 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 31 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Argentine(s); adjective--Argentine

Ethnic divisions: white 85%; mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite
groups 15%

Religion: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing),
Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%

Language: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Literacy: 95% (male 96%, female 95%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 10,900,000; agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services
57% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: 3,000,000; 28% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Argentine Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Buenos Aires (tentative plans to move to Viedma by
1990 indefinitely postponed)

Administrative divisions: 22 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia), 1 national territory* (territorio nacional), and 1
district** (distrito); Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba,
Corrientes, Distrito Federal**, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa,
La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San
Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego,
Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur*, Tucuman; note--the national
territory is in the process of becoming a province; the US does not
recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Constitution: 1 May 1853

Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Carlos Saul
MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President Eduardo DUHALDE (since 8 July
1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Justicialist Party (JP), Carlos Saul MENEM, Peronist umbrella political
organization;
Radical Civic Union (UCR), Raul ALFONSIN, moderately left of center;
Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), Alvaro ALSOGARAY, conservative
party;
Intransigent Party (PI), Dr. Oscar ALENDE, leftist party;
several provincial parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 14 May 1989 (next to be held May 1995);
results--Carlos Saul MENEM was elected;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 14 May 1989 (next to be
held October 1991); results--JP 47%, UCR 30%, UCD 7%, other 16%;
seats--(254 total); JP 122, UCR 93, UCD 11, other 28

Communists: some 70,000 members in various party organizations,
including a small nucleus of activists

Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor
movement, General Confederation of Labor (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor
organization), Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association),
Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association), business
organizations, students, the Roman Catholic Church, the Armed Forces

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-11,
G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ortiz de ROZAS;
Chancery at 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone
[phone] through 6403; there are Argentine Consulates General in
Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan
(Puerto Rico), and Consulates in Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles;

US--Ambassador Terence A. TODMAN; Embassy at 4300 Colombia,
1425 Buenos Aires (mailing address is APO Miami 34034);
telephone  54  (1) 774-7611 or 8811, 9911

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and
light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a
human face known as the Sun of May

ECONOMY
Overview: Argentina is rich in natural resources and has a highly
literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of
mismanagement and statist policies, the economy has encountered
major problems in recent years, leading to escalating inflation and
a recession in 1988-90. A widening public-sector deficit and a
multidigit inflation rate have dominated the economy over the past
three years; retail prices rose nearly 5,000% in 1989 and another
1,345% in 1990. Since 1978, Argentina's external debt has nearly doubled
to $60 billion, creating severe debt-servicing difficulties and hurting
the country's creditworthiness with international lenders.

GNP: $82.7 billion, per capita $2,560; real growth rate - 3.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1,350% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 8.6% (May 1990)

Budget: revenues $12.2 billion; expenditures $17.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $2.8 billion (1989)

Exports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool;

partners--US 12%, USSR, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands

Imports: $4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and
lubricants, agricultural products;

partners--US 22%, Brazil, FRG, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands

External debt: $60 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1991 est.); accounts for
30% of GDP

Electricity: 16,749,000 kW capacity; 45,580 million kWh produced,
1,410 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP (including fishing); produces
abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's
top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops--wheat, corn,
sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets; 1987 fish catch estimated at 500,000 tons

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.0
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.0 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million

Currency: austral (plural--australes); 1 austral (A) = 100
centavos

Exchange rates: australes (A) per US$1--9,900 (April 1991),
4,707 (1990), 423 (1989), 8.7526 (1988), 2.1443 (1987), 0.9430 (1986),
0.6018 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 34,172 km total (includes 169 km electrified); includes
a mixture of 1.435-meter standard gauge, 1.676-meter broad gauge,
1.000-meter gauge, and 0.750-meter gauge

Highways: 208,350 km total; 47,550 km paved, 39,500 km gravel,
101,000 km improved earth, 20,300 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable

Pipelines: 4,090 km crude oil; 2,900 km refined products; 9,918 km
natural gas

Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario,
Santa Fe

Merchant marine: 129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,663,884
GRT/2,689,645 DWT; includes 42 cargo, 7 refrigerated cargo, 6 container,
1 railcar carrier, 47 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
4 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 18 bulk; additionally, 2 naval
tankers and 1 military transport are sometimes used commercially

Civil air: 54 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1,763 total, 1,575 usable; 135 with permanent-surface
runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 31 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 336
with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: extensive modern system; 2,650,000 telephones
(12,000 public telephones); radio relay widely used; stations--171 AM,
no FM, 231 TV, 13 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;
domestic satellite network has 40 stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine
Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard
only), National Aeronautical Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 7,992,140; 6,478,730 fit for
military service; 285,047 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $700 million, 1% of GNP (1990)



  * ARUBA

ARUBA
(part of the Dutch realm)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 193 km2; land area: 193 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 68.5 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Note: 28 km north of Venezuela

PEOPLE
Population: 64,052 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Aruban(s); adjective--Aruban

Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%

Religion: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, also small Hindu,
Muslim, Confucian, and Jewish minority

Language: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,
Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA, but most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)

Organized labor: Aruban Workers' Federation (FTA)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs
obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

Capital: Oranjestad

Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)

Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm); note--in 1990 Aruba
requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the
agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996

Constitution: 1 January 1986

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

National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March

Executive branch: Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council
of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral legislature (Staten)

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980), represented by Governor General Felipe B. TROMP (since 1 January
1986);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February
1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER;
Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny EMAN;
National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY;
New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN;
Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Leo CHANCE;
Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI;
Democratic Action '86 (AD'86), Arturo ODUBER;
governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislature--last held 6 January 1989
(next to be held by January 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(21 total) MEP 10, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPN 1, PPA 1

Member of: ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate),
WCL, WTO (associate)

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)

Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the
lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper
hoist-side corner

ECONOMY
Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although
offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important.
Hotel capacity expanded rapidly between 1985 and 1989 and nearly
doubled in 1990 alone. Unemployment has steadily declined from about
20% in 1986 to about 2% in 1990. The reopening of the local oil
refinery, once a major source of employment and foreign exchange
earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost.

GDP: $730 million, per capita $11,600; real growth rate 8.8%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.8% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $145 million; expenditures $185 million, including
capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)

Exports: $131.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--mostly petroleum products;

partners--US 64%, EC

Imports: $496 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--food, consumer goods, manufactures;

partners--US 8%, EC

External debt: $81 million (1987)

Industrial production: growth rate NA

Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 15,000
kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural
activity to the cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1980-1988), $200 million

Currency: Aruban florin (plural--florins);
1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1--1.7900 (fixed rate
since 1986)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Airfield: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad

Telecommunications: generally adequate; extensive interisland radio
relay links; 72,168 telephones; stations--4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 sea cable
to Sint Maarten

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands



  * ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS

ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5 km2; land area: 5 km2; includes Ashmore Reef (West,
Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island

Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 74.1 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploration;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical

Terrain: low with sand and coral

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other--grass and sand 100%

Environment: surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National
Nature Reserve established in August 1983

Note: located in extreme eastern Indian Ocean between Australia
and Indonesia 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia

PEOPLE
Population: no permanent inhabitants; seasonal caretakers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian
Ministry for Territories and Local Government

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia

Note: administered by the Australian Minister for Arts, Sports, the
Environment, Tourism, and Territories Roslyn KELLY

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic
visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force



  * ATLANTIC OCEAN

ATLANTIC OCEAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 82,217,000 km2; includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea,
Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of
Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Weddell Sea, and
other tributary water bodies

Comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;
second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but
larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)

Coastline: 111,866 km

Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of
Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from
August to November

Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea,
Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm
water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the north Atlantic,
counterclockwise warm water gyre in the south Atlantic; the ocean floor
is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline
for the entire Atlantic basin; maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the
Puerto Rico Trench

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals
and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic
nodules, precious stones

Environment: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals,
sea lions, turtles, and whales; municipal sludge pollution off eastern
US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean
Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea;
industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea,
and Mediterranean Sea; icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,
and the northwestern Atlantic from February to August and have been
spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from
Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic

Note: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north
Atlantic from October to May and extreme south Atlantic from May to
October; persistent fog can be a hazard to shipping from May to
September; major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of
Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits
include the Dover Strait, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound
(Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic shipping lanes subject
to icebergs from February to August; the Equator divides the Atlantic
Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to exploitation of natural
resources, especially fish, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and
crude oil and natural gas production (Caribbean Sea and North Sea).

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium),
Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco),
Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland),
Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain),
Le Havre (France), Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad; USSR),
Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay),
Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US),
Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil),
Rotterdam (Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden)

Telecommunications: numerous submarine cables with most between
continental Europe and the UK, North America and the UK, and in the
Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT
satellite network

Note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important
waterways



  * AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 7,686,850 km2; land area: 7,617,930 km2; includes
Macquarie Island

Comparative area: slightly smaller than the US

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 25,760 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic
Territory)

Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north

Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in
southeast

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural
gas, crude oil

Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 58%; forest and woodland 14%; other 22%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along
coast; limited freshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation;
regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as the doctor occurs
along west coast in summer; desertification

Note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country

PEOPLE
Population: 17,288,044 (July 1991), growth rate 1.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 7 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Australian(s); adjective--Australian

Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, Aboriginal and other 1%

Religion: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26.0%, other Christian 24.3%

Language: English, native languages

Literacy: 100% (male 100%, female 100%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Labor force: 7,700,000; finance and services 33.8%, public and
community services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing
and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)

Organized labor: 42% of labor force (1988)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Commonwealth of Australia

Type: federal parliamentary state

Capital: Canberra

Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian
Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland,
South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald
Islands, Norfolk Island

Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Australia Day (last Monday in January), 29
January 1990

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an
upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 1952),
represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since NA February
1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Robert James Lee HAWKE (since
11 March 1983); Deputy Prime Minister Paul KEATING (since 3 April 1990)

Political parties and leaders:

government--Australian Labor Party, Robert James Lee HAWKE;

opposition--Liberal Party, John HEWSON;
National Party, Timothy FISCHER;
Australian Democratic Party, Janet POWELL

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

Senate--last held 11 July 1987 (next to be held by July 1993);
results--Labor 43%, Liberal-National 42%,
Australian Democrats 8%, independents 2%;
seats--(76 total) Labor 32, Liberal-National 34, Australian
Democrats 7, independents 3;

House of Representatives--last held 24 March 1990 (next to be
held by November 1993);
results--Labor 39.7%, Liberal-National 43%, Australian Democrats
and independents 11.1%;
seats--(148 total) Labor 78, Liberal-National 69, independent 1

Communists: 4,000 members (est.)

Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor
Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear
Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, BIS, C, CCC, CP,
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NEA, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIIMOG, UNTAG, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Michael J. COOK; Chancery at
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
797-3000; there are Australian Consulates General in Chicago, Honolulu,
Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San
Francisco;

US--Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER; Moonah Place, Yarralumla,
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (mailing address is APO San
Francisco 96404); telephone  61  (6) 270-5000; there are US Consulates
General in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, and a Consulate in Brisbane

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the
remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in
white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed
stars

ECONOMY
Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist
economy, with a per capita GNP comparable to levels in industrialized
West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major
exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.
Of the top 25 exports, 21 are primary products, so that, as happened
during 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big
impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports
of manufactured goods but competition in international markets will be
severe.

GDP: $255.9 billion, per capita $15,000; real growth rate 2.2%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.9% (December 1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.2% (March 1991)

Budget: revenues $74.2 billion; expenditures $67.9 billion,
including capital expenditures of NA (FY90)

Exports: $39.8 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--metals, minerals, coal, wool, cereals, meat,
manufacturers;

partners--Japan 26%, US 11%, NZ 6%, South Korea 4%, Singapore 4%,
UK, Taiwan, Hong Kong

Imports: $42.0 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--manufactured raw materials, capital equipment,
consumer goods;

partners--US 24%, Japan 19%, UK 6%, FRG 7%, NZ 4% (1990)

External debt: $123.7 billion (September 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.8% (1990); accounts for
32% of GDP

Electricity: 38,000,000 kW capacity; 150,000 million kWh produced,
8,860 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel, motor vehicles

Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP and 37% of export revenues;
world's largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton,
and among top wheat exporters; major crops--wheat, barley, sugarcane,
fruit; livestock--cattle, sheep, poultry

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4
billion

Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar
($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km
1.435-meter standard gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual
gauge; 1,130 km electrified; government owned (except for a few hundred
kilometers of privately owned track) (1985)

Highways: 837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel,
crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

Pipelines: crude oil, 2,500 km; refined products, 500 km; natural
gas, 5,600 km

Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle,
Geelong, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville

Merchant marine: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,249,926
GRT/3,391,323 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 6 cargo, 6 container,
10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 16 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 1
combination ore/oil, 30 bulk

Civil air: around 150 major transport aircraft

Airports: 747 total, 524 usable; 270 with permanent-surface
runways, 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 17 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
401 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good international and domestic service; 8.7
million telephones; stations--258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service;
satellite stations--4 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian
Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,689,559; 4,090,921 fit for
military service; 135,435 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $6.6 billion, 2.2% of GDP (FY90)



  * AUSTRIA

AUSTRIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 83,850 km2; land area: 82,730 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries: 2,640 km total; Czechoslovakia 548 km,
Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km,
Switzerland 164 km, Yugoslavia 311 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent
rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional
showers

Terrain: mostly mountains with Alps in west and south; mostly flat,
with gentle slopes along eastern and northern margins

Natural resources: iron ore, crude oil, timber, magnesite,
aluminum, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower

Land use: arable land 17%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and
pastures 24%; forest and woodland 39%; other 19%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: because of steep slopes, poor soils, and cold
temperatures, population is concentrated on eastern lowlands

Note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of
central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys;
major river is the Danube

PEOPLE
Population: 7,665,804 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Austrian(s); adjective--Austrian

Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%,
other 0.1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%

Language: German

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)

Labor force: 3,470,000 (1989); services 56.4%, industry and crafts
35.4%, agriculture and forestry 8.1%; an estimated 200,000 Austrians are
employed in other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number
177,840, about 6% of labor force (1988)

Organized labor: 60.1% of work force; the Austrian Trade Union
Federation has 1,644,408 members (1989)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Austria

Type: federal republic

Capital: Vienna

Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslander,
singular--bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten, Niederosterreich,
Oberosterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien

Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)

Constitution: 1920, revised 1929 (reinstated 1945)

Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial
review of legislative acts by a Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)

Executive branch: president, chancellor, vice chancellor, Council
of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
consists of an upper council or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower
council or National Council (Nationalrat)

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for
civil and criminal cases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof)
for bureaucratic cases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for
constitutional cases

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Kurt WALDHEIM (since 8 July 1986);

Head of Government--Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June
1986); Vice Chancellor Josef RIEGLER (since 19 May 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Socialist Party of Austria (SPO), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;
Austrian People's Party (OVP), Josef RIEGLER, chairman;
Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), Jorg HAIDER, chairman;
Communist Party (KPO), Franz MUHRI, chairman;
Green Alternative List (GAL), Andreas WABL, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 19; compulsory for presidential
elections

Elections:

President--last held 8 June 1986 (next to be held May 1992);
results of Second Ballot--Dr. Kurt WALDHEIM 53.89%,
Dr. Kurt STEYRER 46.11%;

National Council--last held 7 October 1990 (next to be
held October 1994);
results--SP0 43%, OVP 32.1%, FPO 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPO 0.7%,
other 0.32%;
seats--(183 total) SP0 80, OVP 60, FP0 33, GAL 10

Communists: membership 15,000 est.; activists 7,000-8,000

Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce and
Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist); three
composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) representing
business, labor, and farmers; OVP-oriented League of Austrian
Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay
organization, Catholic Action

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE,
EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Friedrich HOESS; Embassy at
2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
483-4474; there are Austrian Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles,
and New York;

US--Ambassador Roy Michael HUFFINGTON; Embassy at Boltzmanngasse
16, A-1091, Vienna (mailing address is APO New York 09108-0001);
telephone  43  [phone]; there is a US Consulate General in Salzburg

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

ECONOMY
Overview: Austria boasts a prosperous and stable capitalist
economy with a sizable proportion of nationalized industry and extensive
welfare benefits. Thanks to an excellent raw material endowment, a
technically skilled labor force, and strong links to West German
industrial firms, Austria has successfully occupied specialized niches
in European industry and services (tourism, banking) and produces almost
enough food to feed itself with only 8% of the labor force in
agriculture. Improved export prospects from German unification
and the opening of Eastern Europe will also boost the economy during
the next few years. Living standards are roughly comparable with the
large industrial countries of Western Europe. Problems for the l990s
include an aging population, the high level of subsidies, and the
struggle to keep welfare benefits within budget capabilities. Austria,
which has applied for EC membership, is currently involved in EC and
European Free Trade Association negotiations for a European Economic
Area and will have to adapt its economy to achieve freer movement of
goods, services, capital, and labor with the EC.

GDP: $111.0 billion, per capita $14,500; real growth rate 4.5%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1990)

Unemployment: 5.4% (1990)

Budget: revenues $44.1 billion; expenditures $49.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Exports: $40.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber,
textiles, paper products, chemicals;

partners--EC 64.8%, EFTA 10.3%, CEMA 7.7%, US 3.2%, Japan 1.5%

Imports: $46.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals;

partners--EC 68.4%, EFTA 7%, CEMA 5.7%, Japan 4.6%, US 3.6%

External debt: $11.8 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: real growth rate 8.5% (1990); accounts
for 34% of GDP

Electricity: 17,562,000 kW capacity; 49,290 million kWh produced,
6,500 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,
electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining

Agriculture: accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry);
principal crops and animals--grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets,
sawn wood, cattle, pigs poultry; 80-90% self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4
billion

Currency: Austrian schilling (plural--schillings); 1 Austrian
schilling (S) = 100 groschen

Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1--10.627 (January
1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989), 12.348 (1988), 12.643 (1987), 15.267
(1986), 20.690 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 6,028 km total; 5,388 km government owned and 640 km
privately owned (1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,403 km 1.435-meter
standard gauge of which 3,051 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double
tracked; 363 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge of which 91 km is electrified

Highways: 95,412 km total; 34,612 are the primary network
(including 1,012 km of autobahn, 10,400 km of federal, and 23,200 km of
provincial roads); of this number, 21,812 km are paved and 12,800 km are
unpaved; in addition, there are 60,800 km of communal roads (mostly
gravel, crushed stone, earth)

Inland waterways: 446 km

Ports: Vienna, Linz (river ports)

Merchant marine: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
150,735 GRT/252,237 DWT; includes 26 cargo, 1 container, 1 chemical
tanker, 4 bulk

Pipelines: 554 km crude oil; 2,611 km natural gas; 171 km refined
products

Civil air: 25 major transport aircraft

Airports: 55 total, 54 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000
telephones; extensive TV and radiobroadcast systems; stations--6 AM, 21
(545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV; satellite stations operating
in INTELSAT 1 Atlantic Ocean earth station and 1 Indian Ocean earth
station and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Flying Division, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,957,414; 1,646,179 fit for
military service; 48,038 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.4 billion, 1% of GDP (1990)



  * THE BAHAMAS

THE BAHAMAS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 13,940 km2; land area: 10,070 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 3,542 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 32%; other 67%

Environment: subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
that cause extensive flood damage

Note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island
chain

PEOPLE
Population: 252,110 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)



Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female(1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bahamian(s); adjective--Bahamian

Ethnic divisions: black 85%, white 15%

Religion: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic  19%,
Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown
3%, other 2% (1980)

Language: English; some Creole among Haitian immigrants

Literacy: 90% (male 90%, female 89%)
age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963 est.)

Labor force: 132,600; government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%,
business services 10%, agriculture 5% (1986)

Organized labor: 25% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Type: commonwealth

Capital: Nassau

Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Abaco, Acklins Island,
Andros Island, Berry Islands, Biminis, Cat Island, Cay Lobos, Crooked
Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Inagua, Long Cay,
Long Island, Mayaguana, New Providence, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San
Salvador, Spanish Wells

Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)

Constitution: 10 July 1973

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Acting Governor General Sir Henry TAYLOR (since 26 June
1988);



Head of Government--Prime Minister Sir Lynden Oscar PINDLING (since
16 January 1967)

Political parties and leaders:
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING;
Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Assembly--last held 19 June 1987
(next to be held by June 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(49 total) PLP 32, FNM 17

Communists: none known

Other political or pressure groups: Vanguard Nationalist and
Socialist Party (VNSP), a small leftist party headed by Lionel CAREY;
Trade Union Congress (TUC), headed by Arlington MILLER

Member of: ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret E. McDONALD;
Chancery at Suite 865, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone [phone]; there are Bahamian Consulates General in Miami
and New York;

US--Ambassador Chic HECHT; Embassy at Mosmar Building,
Queen Street, Nassau (mailing address is P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau);

telephone [phone] or 328-2206

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and
aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: The Bahamas is a stable, middle-income developing nation
whose economy is based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism
alone provides about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about
50,000 people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened
in recent years, as the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed.
Nonetheless, the per capita GDP of $9,800 is one of the highest in the
region.

GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $9,800; real growth rate 2.0%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (1990 est.)

Unemployment: 11.7% (1989)

Budget: revenues $1.03 billion; expenditures $1.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $275 million (1990)

Exports: $300 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);



commodities--pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish;

partners--US 41%, Norway 30%, Denmark 4%

Imports: $1.23 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels;

partners--US 35%, Nigeria 21%, Japan 13%, Angola 11%

External debt: $1.2 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 15% of GDP

Electricity: 368,000 kW capacity; 857 million kWh produced,
3,480 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and
transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral
weld, steel pipe

Agriculture: accounts for less than 5% of GDP; dominated by
small-scale producers; principal products--citrus fruit, vegetables,
poultry; large net importer of food

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $1.0
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $345 million

Currency: Bahamian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bahamian dollar
(B$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1--1.00 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 2,400 km total; 1,350 km paved, 1,050 km gravel

Ports: Freeport, Nassau

Merchant marine: 636 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,266,066
GRT/23,585,465 DWT; includes 42 passenger, 16 short-sea passenger, 190
cargo, 41 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 23 container, 5 car carrier,
1 railroad carrier, 141 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 8
liquefied gas, 15 combination ore/oil, 33 chemical tanker, 1 specialized
tanker, 112 bulk, 8 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience
registry

Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft

Airports: 59 total, 57 usable; 31 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally
automatic system; tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to


Florida; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (a coast guard element only),
Royal Bahamas Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 68,020; NA fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $65 million, 2.7% of GDP (1990)



  * BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 620 km2; land area: 620 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 161 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands

Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
escarpment

Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas,
fish

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
6%; forest and woodland 0%; other 90%, includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted
(requires development of desalination facilities); dust storms;
desertification

Note: close to primary Middle Eastern crude oil sources;
strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western
world's crude oil must transit to reach open ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 536,974 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 7 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bahraini(s); adjective--Bahraini

Ethnic divisions: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%,
Iranian 8%, other 6%

Religion: Muslim (Shia 70%, Sunni 30%)

Language: Arabic (official); English also widely spoken; Farsi,
Urdu

Literacy: 77% (male 82%, female 69%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 140,000; 42% of labor force is Bahraini; industry
and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982)

Organized labor: General Committee for Bahrain Workers exists in
only eight major designated companies

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: State of Bahrain

Type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Manama

Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah,
Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta,
Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq,
Ar Rifa wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs,
Madinat Hamad, Madinat Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar,
Sitrah

Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)

Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973

Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law

National holiday: National Day, 16 December

Executive branch: amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime
minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved
26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet

Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Amir Isa bin Salman Al KHALIFA (since
2 November 1961); Heir Apparent Hamad bin Isa Al KHALIFA (son of Amir;
born 28 January 1950);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al KHALIFA,
(since 19 January 1970)

Political parties and pressure groups: political parties
prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist
groups are active

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: negligible

Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD,
ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ghazi Muhammad AL-QUSAYBI;
Chancery at 3502 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone] or 342-0742; there is a Bahraini Consulate General in
New York;

US--Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER; Embassy at Building
No. 979, Road No. 3119, Block/Area 331, Manama ZINJ (mailing address is
P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO New York 09526-6210); telephone  973
273-300 or 275-126

Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the
hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Petroleum production and processing account for
about 85% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 20% of GDP.
Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil
since 1985, including the Gulf crisis of 1990-91.  The liberation of
Kuwait in early 1991 has improved short- to medium-term prospects and
has raised investors' confidence.  Bahrain with its highly developed
communication and transport facilities is home to numerous
multinational firms with business in the Gulf.

GDP: $3.9 billion, per capita $7,500; real growth rate 2.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1989)

Unemployment: 8-10% (1989)

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum 80%, aluminum 7%, other 13%;

partners--UAE, Japan, US, India

Imports: $3.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%;

partners--Saudi Arabia, Japan, US, UK

External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for
44% of GDP

Electricity: 1,652,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced,
12,080 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
offshore banking, ship repairing

Agriculture: including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP;
not self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector
produces fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, and fish;
fish catch 9,000 metric tons in 1987

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $35 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion

Currency: Bahraini dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Bahraini dinar
(BD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1--0.3760 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 200 km bituminous surfaced, including 25 km
bridge-causeway to Saudi Arabia opened in November 1986; NA km
natural surface tracks

Ports: Mina Salman, Manama, Sitrah

Merchant marine: 4 cargo and 2 container (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 114,733 GRT/155,065 DWT

Pipelines: crude oil, 56 km; refined products, 16 km; natural gas,
32 km

Civil air: 24 major transport aircraft

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 2
with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent international telecommunications;
adequate domestic services; 98,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 1 FM,
2 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; tropospheric scatter and microwave to Qatar, UAE,
Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar and UAE

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 187,606; 104,285 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $194 million, 6% of GDP (1990)



  * BAKER ISLAND

BAKER ISLAND
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1.4 km2; land area: 1.4 km2

Comparative area: about 2.3 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 4.8 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: treeless, sparse and scattered vegetation consisting
of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; lacks fresh water;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife

Note: remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii
and Australia

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

Note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World
War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use
permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a
cemetery and cemetery ruins located near the middle of the west coast

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge system

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along
the middle of the west coast

Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m

Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by
the US Coast Guard



  * BANGLADESH

BANGLADESH

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 144,000 km2; land area: 133,910 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries: 4,246 km total; Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Coastline: 580 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 18 nm;

Continental shelf: up to outer limits of continental margin;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: a portion of the boundary with India is in dispute;
water sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges

Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid
summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Natural resources: natural gas, uranium, arable land, timber

Land use: arable land 67%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and
pastures 4%; forest and woodland 16%; other 11%; includes irrigated
14%

Environment: vulnerable to droughts; much of country routinely
flooded during summer monsoon season; overpopulation; deforestation

Note: almost completely surrounded by India

PEOPLE
Population: 116,601,424 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 36 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 118 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 52 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bangladeshi(s); adjective--Bangladesh

Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, and tribals less
than 1 million

Religion: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, and other
less than 1%

Language: Bangla (official), English widely used

Literacy: 35% (male 47%, female 22%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 35,100,000; agriculture 74%, services 15%, industry
and commerce 11% (FY86); extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE,
and Oman (1991)

Organized labor: 3% of labor force belongs to 2,614 registered
unions (1986 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: People's Republic of Bangladesh

Type: republic

Capital: Dhaka

Administrative divisions: 64 districts (zillagulo,
singular--zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban, Barguna, Barisal,
Bhola, Bogra, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai Nawabganj,
Chattagram, Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka,
Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha, Gazipur, Gopalganj,
Habiganj, Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati, Jhenaidah,
Khagrachari, Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur,
Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur,
Moulavibazar, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail,
Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator, Netrakona, Nilphamari,
Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram,
Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur,
Satkhira, Shariyatpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet,
Tangail, Thakurgaon

Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan; formerly East
Pakistan)

Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972,
suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986,
amended NA March 1991

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since
8 October 1991)

Head of Government--Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAUR Rahman
(since 20 March 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda ZIAUR Rahman;
Awami League, Sheikh Hasina WAZED;
Jatiyo Party, Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD;
Jamaat-E-Islami, Ali KHAN;
Bangladesh Communist Party (pro-Soviet), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK;
National Awami Party (Muzaffar);
Workers Party, leader NA;
Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (National Socialist Party--SIRAJ), M. A. JALIL;
Ganotantri Party, leader NA;
Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA;
National Democratic Party, leader NA;
Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;
Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed;
United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 8 October 1991
(next to be held by October 1996);
results--Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote

National Parliament--last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held
February 1996); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for women)
BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20, CBP 5, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) 1,
Workers Party 1, SIRAJ 1, Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya Jote 1,
NDP 1, independents 3

Communists: 5,000 members (1987 est.)

Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UPU, WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WCL, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador A. H. S. Ataul KARIM;
Chancery at 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007; telephone
[phone] through 8376; there is a Bangladesh Consulate General in
New York;

US--Ambassador William B. MILAM; Embassy at Diplomatic
Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka (mailing address
is G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212); telephone  880  (2) 884700-22

Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of
center; green is the traditional color of Islam

ECONOMY
Overview: Bangladesh is one of the poorest nations in the world.
The economy is based on the output of a narrow range of
agricultural products, such as jute, which is the main cash crop and
major source of export earnings. Bangladesh is hampered by a relative
lack of natural resources, population growth of more than 2% a year,
large-scale unemployment, and a limited infrastructure; furthermore,
it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Despite these constraints,
real GDP growth averaged about 3.5% annually during 1985-89. A strong
agricultural performance in FY90 pushed the growth rate up to 5.5%.
Alleviation of poverty remains the cornerstone of the government's
development strategy.

GDP: $20.4 billion, per capita $180; real growth rate 4.0%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (FY90 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (FY90 est.)

Budget: revenues $2.2 billion; expenditures $3.9 billion, including
capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (FY90)

Exports: $1.5 billion (FY90 est.);

commodities--jute, tea, leather, shrimp, textiles;

partners--US 25%, Western Europe 22%, Middle East 9%, Japan 8%,
Eastern Europe 7%

Imports: $3.6 billion (FY90 est.);

commodities--food, petroleum and other energy, nonfood consumer
goods, semiprocessed goods, and capital equipment;

partners--Western Europe 18%, Japan 14%, Middle East 9%, US 8%

External debt: $10.9 billion (FY90 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.1% (FY90 est.); accounts
for 15% of GDP

Electricity: 1,990,000 kW capacity; 5,700 million kWh produced,
50 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: jute manufacturing, base metals, food processing,
cotton textiles, tobacco processing, chemicals

Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP, 60% of
employment, and one third of exports; imports 10% of food grain
requirements; world's largest exporter of jute; commercial
products--jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef, milk,
poultry; shortages include wheat, vegetable oils and cotton; fish catch
778,000 metric tons in 1986

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1980-88), $10.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $652 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $1.5 billion

Currency: taka (plural--taka); 1 taka (Tk) = 100 paise

Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1--35.790 (January 1991), 34.567
(1990), 32.270 (1989), 31.733 (1988), 30.950 (1987), 30.407 (1986),
27.995 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,892 km total (1986); 1,914 km 1.000 meter gauge,
978 km 1.676 meter broad gauge

Highways: 7,240 km total (1985); 3,840 km paved, 3,400 km unpaved

Inland waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)

Ports: Chittagong, Chalna

Merchant marine: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
339,081 GRT/500,008 DWT; includes 38 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 3 bulk

Pipelines: 1,220 km natural gas

Civil air: 15 major transport aircraft

Airports: 16 total, 12 usable; 12 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 6 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate international radio communications and
landline service; fair domestic wire and microwave service; fair
broadcast service; 241,250 telephones; stations--9 AM, 6 FM, 11 TV;
2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force; paramilitary forces--Bangladesh
Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Coastal Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 28,896,632; 17,154,593 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $319 million, 1.5% of GDP (FY91)



  * BARBADOS

BARBADOS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 430 km2; land area: 430 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 97 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Natural resources: crude oil, fishing, natural gas

Land use: arable land 77%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 9%; forest and woodland 0%; other 14%

Environment: subject to hurricanes (especially June to October)

Note: easternmost Caribbean island

PEOPLE
Population: 254,626 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Barbadian(s); adjective--Barbadian

Ethnic divisions: African 80%, mixed 16%, European 4%

Religion: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist
7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%; none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9%
(1980)

Language: English

Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 99%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 112,300; services and government 37%; commerce 22%;
manufacturing and construction 22%; transportation, storage,
communications, and financial institutions 9%; agriculture 8%; utilities
2% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: 32% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Bridgetown

Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew,
Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy,
Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note--there may
be a new city of Bridgetown

Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)

Constitution: 30 November 1966

Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of
legislative acts

National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Hugh SPRINGER (since 24 February
1984);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since
2 June 1987)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Erskine SANDIFORD;
Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Henry FORDE;
National Democratic Party (NDP), Richie HAYNES

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Assembly--last held 22 January 1991
(next to be held by January 1996);
results--DLP 49.8%;
seats--(28 total) DLP 18, BLP 10

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Industrial and General Workers
Union, Sir Frank WALCOTT; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY;
Workers' Party of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Sir William DOUGLAS; Chancery
at 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone]
through 9202; there is a Barbadian Consulate General in New York and a
Consulate in Los Angeles;

US--Ambassador G. Philip HUGHES; Embassy at Canadian
Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown (mailing
address is P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown or FPO Miami 34054); telephone (809)
436-4950 through 4957

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the
trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the
colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

ECONOMY
Overview: A per capita income of $6,500 gives Barbados one of
the highest standards of living of all the small island states of the
eastern Caribbean. Historically, the economy was based on the cultivation
of sugarcane and related activities. In recent years, however, the
economy has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The tourist
industry is now a major employer of the labor force and a primary source
of foreign exchange. An unemployment rate of 18% remains one of the most
serious economic problems facing the country.

GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $6,500; real growth rate
3.6% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (1989)

Unemployment: 18% (1990)

Budget: revenues $501 million; expenditures $484 million,
including capital expenditures of $113 million (FY91)

Exports: $165 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--sugar and molasses, chemicals, electrical components,
clothing, rum, machinery and transport equipment;

partners: CARICOM 30%, US 20%, UK 20%

Imports: $701 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, consumer durables, raw materials,
machinery, crude oil, construction materials, chemicals;

partners--US 35%, CARICOM 13%, UK 12%, Japan 6%, Canada 8%,
Venezuela 4%

External debt: $550 million (June 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.5% (1989); accounts
for 14 % of GDP

Electricity: 132,000 kW capacity; 494 million kWh produced, 1,880
kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly
for export

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane;
other crops--vegetables and cotton; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $169 million

Currency: Barbadian dollars (plural--dollars); 1 Barbadian dollar
(Bds$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1--2.0113 (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,570 km total; 1,475 km paved, 95 km gravel and earth

Ports: Bridgetown

Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,200
GRT/7,338 DWT

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications: islandwide automatic telephone system with
89,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia;
stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 2 (1 is pay) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force, Coast Guard, Royal
Barbados Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 69,038; 48,455 fit for military
service, no conscription

Defense expenditures: $10 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989)



  * BASSAS DA INDIA

BASSAS DA INDIA
(French possession)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: undetermined

Comparative area: undetermined

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 35.2 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 m high

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other (rock) 100%

Environment: surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones

Note: navigational hazard since it is usually under water during
high tide; located in southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between
Africa and Madagascar

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the
Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * BELGIUM

BELGIUM

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 30,510 km2; land area: 30,230 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: 1,385 km total; France 620 km, Germany 167 km,
Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km

Coastline: 64 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive fishing zone: equidistant line with neighbors (extends
about 68 km from coast);

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid,
cloudy

Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills,
rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Natural resources: coal, natural gas

Land use: arable land 24%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and
pastures 20%; forest and woodland 21%; other 34%, includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: air and water pollution

Note: majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of
Brussels; crossroads of Western Europe; Brussels is the seat of the EC

PEOPLE
Population: 9,921,910 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Belgian(s); adjective--Belgian

Ethnic divisions: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%

Religion: Roman Catholic 75%, remainder Protestant or other

Language: Flemish (Dutch) 56%, French 32%, German 1%; legally
bilingual 11%; divided along ethnic lines

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

Labor force: 4,200,000; services 69%, industry 28%, agriculture
3% (1988)

Organized labor: 70% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Belgium

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Brussels

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French--provinces,
singular--province; Flemish--provincien, singular--provincie);
Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,
Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen

Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980; the
government is in the process of revising the Constitution, with the aim
of federalizing the Belgian state

Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional
theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King Leopold
to the throne in 1831)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, five deputy prime
ministers, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
chamber or Senate (Flemish--Senaat, French--Senat) and a lower chamber
or Chamber of Representatives (Flemish--Kamer van
Volksvertegenwoordigers, French--Chambre des Representants)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish--Hof van
Cassatie, French--Cour de Cassation)

Leaders:

Chief of State--King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951);
Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6
June 1934);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Wilfried MARTENS,
(since April 1979, with a 10-month interruption in 1981)

Political parties and leaders:
Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman van ROMPUY, president;
Walloon Social Christian (PSC), Gerard DEPREZ, president;
Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president;
Walloon Socialist (PS), Guy SPITAELS, president;
Flemish Liberal (PVV), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president;
Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president;
Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president;
Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS, president;
Communist Party (PCB), Louis van GEYT, president;
Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN;
other minor parties

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

Senate--last held 13 December 1987
(next to be held by January 1992);
results--CVP 19.2%, PS 15.7%, SP 14.7%, PVV 11.3%, PRL 9.3%,
VU 8.1%, PSC 7.8%, ECOLO-AGALEV 7.7%, VB 2.0%, VDF 1.3%,
other 1.96%;
seats--(106 total) CVP 22, PS 20, SP 17, PRL 12, PVV 11, PSC 9, VU 8,
ECOLO-AGALEV 5, VB 1, FDF 1;

Chamber of Representatives--last held 13 December 1987
(next to be held by January 1992);
results--CVP 19.45%, PS 15.66%, SP 14.88%, PVV 11.55%, PRL 9.41%,
PSC 8.01%, VU 8.05%, ECOLO-AGALEV 7.05%, VB 1.90%, FDF 1.16%,
other 2.88%;
seats--(212 total) CVP 43, PS 40, SP 32, PVV 25, PRL 23,
PSC 19, VU 16, ECOLO-AGALEV 9, FDF 3, VB 2

Communists: under 5,000 members (December 1985 est.)

Other political or pressure groups: Christian and Socialist Trade
Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations
representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal
and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural
interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as the
Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi

Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE,
CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS
(observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP,
UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Juan CASSIERS; Chancery at
3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];
there are Belgian Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, and New York;

US--Ambassador Maynard W. GLITMAN; Embassy at 27 Boulevard du
Regent, B-1000 Brussels (mailing address is APO New York 09667-1000);
telephone  32  (2) 513-3830; there is a US Consulate General in Antwerp

Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,
and red; the design was based on the flag of France

ECONOMY
Overview: This small private-enterprise economy has capitalized
on its central geographic location, highly developed transport
network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is
concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although
the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region
of Walloon. With few natural resources Belgium must import essential raw
materials, making its economy closely dependent on the state of world
markets. Over 70% of trade is with other EC countries. During
the period 1988-90 Belgium's economic performance was marked by buoyant
output growth, moderate inflation, and a substantial external surplus.
Real GDP grew by an average of 3.9% in 1988-90. However, the economy
is likely to slow in 1991-92 to below 3% GDP growth.

GDP: $144.8 billion, per capita $14,600; real growth rate 3.3%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8.2% est. (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $45.0 billion; expenditures $55.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $106 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.) Belgium-Luxembourg
Economic Union;

commodities--iron and steel, transportation equipment,
tractors, diamonds, petroleum products;

partners--EC 74%, US 5%, Communist countries 2% (1989)

Imports: $108 billion (c.i.f., 1989) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic
Union;

commodities--fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs;

partners--EC 73%, US 4%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%,
Communist countries 3% (1989)

External debt: $28.8 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.3% (1991 est.); accounts
for almost 30% of GDP

Electricity: 17,325,000 kW capacity; 62,780 million kWh produced,
6,350 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: engineering and metal products, processed food and
beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GDP; emphasis on livestock
production--beef, veal, pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets, fresh
vegetables, fruits, grain, and tobacco; net importer of farm products

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8
billion

Currency: Belgian franc (plural--francs); 1 Belgian franc (BF) =
100 centimes

Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1--31.102 (January
1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987), 44.672
(1986), 59.378 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,667 km
1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track;
1,978 km electrified; 191 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned and
operated

Highways: 103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided
autoroute; 11,717 km national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about
38,000 km paved and 51,000 km unpaved rural roads

Inland waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)

Ports: Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Merchant marine: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,785,066
GRT/2,927,618 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 6 container, 7
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 3
combination ore/oil, 9 chemical tanker, 11 bulk, 6 combination bulk

Pipelines: refined products 1,167 km; crude 161 km; natural gas
3,300 km

Civil air: 47 major transport aircraft

Airports: 42 total, 42 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international telephone
and telegraph facilities; 4,720,000 telephones; stations--8 AM, 19 FM (42
relays), 25 TV (10 relays); 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations
operating in INTELSAT 3 Atlantic Ocean and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,521,178; 2,115,935 fit for
military service; 64,634 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $4.8 billion, 2.5% of GDP (1990)



  * BELIZE

BELIZE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 22,960 km2; land area: 22,800 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Land boundaries: 516 km total; Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline: 386 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: claimed by Guatemala, but boundary negotiations to
resolve dispute are nearing completion

Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to
February)

Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 2%; forest and woodland 44%; other 52%, includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to
December) and coastal flooding (especially in south); deforestation

Note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to
Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a
coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 228,069 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: male 67 years, female 72 years (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Belizean(s); adjective--Belizean

Ethnic divisions: Creole 39.7%, Mestizo 33.1%, Maya 9.5%, Garifuna
7.6%, East Indian 2.1%, other 8.0%

Religion: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%,
Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 3%, other 3%
(1980)

Language: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)

Literacy: 91% (male 91%, female 91%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 51,500; agriculture 30.0%, services 16.0%, government
15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%; shortage of skilled
labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)

Organized labor: 12% of labor force; 7 unions currently active

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Belmopan

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal,
Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British
Honduras)

Constitution: 21 September 1981

Legal system: English law

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an
upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21
September 1981);

Head of Government--Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4
September 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA;
United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW;
Belize Popular Party (BPP), Louis SYLVESTRE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

National Assembly--last held 4 September 1989 (next to be
held September 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(28 total)
PUP 15 seats, UDP 13 seats; note--in January 1990 one
member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count
16 PUP, UDP 12

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion
of Education and Research (SPEAR) headed by former PUP minister;
United Workers Front

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, (observer), ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador James V. HYDE; Chancery at
Suite 2J, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone];

US--Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and
Hutson Street, Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize
City); telephone  [phone] through 77163

Flag: blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom
edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat
of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany
tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the
Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based primarily on agriculture and
merchandising. Agriculture accounts for more than 30% of GDP and provides
75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost
40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is
assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural
diversification program.

GDP: $290 million, per capita $1,320; real growth rate 9% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1988)

Budget: revenues $87.4 million; expenditures $130.5 million,
including capital expenditures of $53.5 million (FY90 est.)

Exports: $108 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and
wood products;

partners--US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987)

Imports: $204 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, food,
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;

partners--US 55%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1987)

External debt: $169 million (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 9.7% (1989); accounts for
16% of GDP

Electricity: 34,700 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced,
410 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar
refining, rum, beverages, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry);
commercial crops include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits;
expanding output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic
foods

Illicit drugs: an illicit producer of cannabis for the
international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana
production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to 66 metric tons in 1989;
transshipment point for cocaine

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $199 million

Currency: Belizean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Belizean dollar
(Bz$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1--2.00 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 2,710 km total; 500 km paved, 1,600 km gravel, 300 km
improved earth, and 310 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft;
seasonally navigable

Ports: Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft
include Corozol, Punta Gorda, Big Creek

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 42 total, 32 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 8,650 telephones; above-average system based on
radio relay; stations--6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force (including
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 53,184; 31,790 fit for military
service; 2,545 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $4.8 million, 1.8% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * BENIN

BENIN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 112,620 km2; land area: 110,620 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries: 1,989 km total; Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km,
Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low
mountains

Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone,
marble, timber

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
4%; forest and woodland 35%; other 45%, includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in
winter; deforestation; desertification

Note: recent droughts have severely affected marginal
agriculture in north; no natural harbors

PEOPLE
Population: 4,831,823 (July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 49 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 119 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 52 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Beninese (sing., pl.); adjective--Beninese

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important
being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba); Europeans 5,500

Religion: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%

Language: French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common
vernaculars in south; at least six major tribal languages in north

Literacy: 23% (male 32%, female 16%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,900,000 (1987); agriculture 60%, transport,
commerce, and public services 38%, industry less than 2%; 49% of
population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: about 75% of wage earners

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Benin

Type: dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms
adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4
April 1991

Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
Mono, Oueme, Zou

Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)

Constitution: 2 December 1990

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

National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)

Executive branch: president, cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Nicephore
SOGLO (since 4 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders: the People's Revolutionary Party
of Benin (PRPB) headed by President Mathieu KEREKOU, chairman of
the Central Committee, was dissolved 30 April 1990;
Alliance of the Democratic Union for the Forces of Progress (UDFP),
Timothee ADANLIN;
Movement for Democracy and Social Progress (MDPS), Jean-Roger AHOYO; and
the Union for Liberty and Development (ULD), Marcellin DEGBE;

Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development (PNDD) and
the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal Chabi KAO;

Alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Union
for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU;

Our Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVEODJRE;
National Rally for Democracy (RND), Joseph KEKE;

Alliance of the National Movement for Democracy and Development (MNDD);
Movement for Solidarity, Union, and Progress (MSUP);
and Union for Democracy and National Reconstruction (UDRN), Bertin BORNA;

Union for Democracy and National Solidarity (UDS), Mama Amadou N'DIAYE;
Assembly of Liberal Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL),
Severin ADJOVI;

Alliance of the Alliance for Social Democracy (ASD) and Bloc for
Social Democracy (BSD), Robert DOSSOU;

Alliance of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) and
Democratic Union for Social Renewal (UDRS), Bio Gado Seko N'GOYE;
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Robert TAGNON;
numerous other small parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 10 and 24 March 1991
(next to be held March 1996);
results--Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%;

National Assembly--last held 10 and 24 March 1991
(next to be held March 1996);
results--NA percent of the vote;
seats--(64 total) UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12, PNDD/PRD 9, PSD/UNSP 8, NCC 7,
RND 7, MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6, UDS 5, RDL 4, ASD/BSD 3, ADP/UDRS 2, UNDP 1

Communists: Communist Party of Dahomey (PCD) remains active

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ,
G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Candide AHOUANSOU; Charge
d'Affaires Corneille MEHISSOU; Chancery at 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Harriet ISOM; Embassy at Rue Caporal Anani Bernard,
Cotonou (mailing address is B. P. 2012, Cotonou); telephone  229
30-06-50

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a
vertical green band on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Benin is one of the least developed countries in the
world because of limited natural resources and a poorly developed
infrastructure. Agriculture accounts for almost 40% of GDP, employs
about 60% of the labor force, and generates a major share of foreign
exchange earnings. The industrial sector contributes only about 15% to
GDP and employs 2% of the work force. Persistently low prices in recent
years have limited hard currency earnings from Benin's major exports of
agricultural products and crude oil.

GDP: $2.0 billion, per capita $400; real growth rate 2.6% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.0% (1990)

Unemployment: NA%

Budget: revenues $194 million; expenditures $390 million, including
capital expenditures of $104 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa;

partners--FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%

Imports: $442 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products,
intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods;

partners--France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 4%

External debt: $1.0 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 0.7% (1988); accounts for
30% of GDP

Electricity: 28,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced,
5 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: textiles,cigarettes, construction materials,
beverages, food production, petroleum

Agriculture: small farms produce 90% of agricultural output;
production is dominated by food crops--corn, sorghum, cassava, beans,
and rice; cash crops include cotton, palm oil, and peanuts; poultry
and livestock output has not kept up with consumption

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $46
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $101 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989),
297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 578 km, all 1.000-meter gauge, single track

Highways: 5,050 km total; 920 km paved, 2,600 laterite, 1,530 km
improved earth

Inland waterways: navigable along small sections, important
only locally

Ports: Cotonou

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 6 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of open wire, submarine cable, and
radio relay; 16,200 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: People's Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force),
National Gendarmerie, People's Militia, Presidential Guard

Manpower availability: eligible 15-49, 2,089,646; of the 991,278
males 15-49, 507,482 are fit for military service; of the 1,098,368
females 15-49, 554,454 are fit for military service; about 57,106 males
and 55,297 females reach military age (18) annually; both sexes are
liable for military service

Defense expenditures: $38 million, 2.3% of GDP (1988)



  * BERMUDA

BERMUDA
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 50 km2; land area: 50 km2

Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 103 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter

Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions

Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 20%; other 80%

Environment: ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes;
consists of about 360 small coral islands

Note: 1,050 km east of North Carolina; some reclaimed land
leased by US Government

PEOPLE
Population: 58,433 (July 1991), growth rate 1.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 7 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bermudian(s); adjective--Bermudian

Ethnic divisions: black 61%, white and other 39%

Religion: Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other
28%

Language: English

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 99%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970)

Labor force: 32,000; clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%,
professional and technical 13%, administrative and managerial 10%,
sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1984)

Organized labor: 8,573 members (1985); largest union is Bermuda
Industrial Union

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Hamilton

Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*,
Saint George's, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 8 June 1968

Legal system: English law

National holiday: Bermuda Day, 22 May

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, deputy governor,
premier, deputy premier, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Sir Desmond LANGLEY (since NA October 1988);

Head of Government--Premier John William David SWAN (since NA
January 1982)

Political parties and leaders:
United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D. SWAN;
Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick WADE;
National Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert DARRELL

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

House of Assembly--last held 9 February 1989 (next to be
held by February 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(40 total) UBP 23, PLP 15, NLP 1, other 1

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU),
headed by Ottiwell SIMMONS

Member of: CARICOM (observer), ICFTU, IOC

Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
Bermuda's interests in the US are represented by the UK;

US--Consul General L. Ebersole GAINES; Consulate General at
Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton (mailing address is
P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX, or FPO New York 09560-5300); telephone
[phone]

Flag: red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a red lion
holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off
Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in
the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury
tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts
more than 90% of its business from North America. The industrial sector
is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land.
About 80% of food needs are imported.

GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $22,400; real growth rate 2.0% (1989
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.8% (June 1989)

Unemployment: 2.0% (1988)

Budget: revenues $307 million; expenditures $275 million, including
capital expenditures of $31 million (FY90 est.)

Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., FY88);

commodities--semitropical produce, light manufactures;

partners--US 25%, Italy 25%, UK 14%, Canada 5%, other 31%

Imports: $420 million (c.i.f., FY88);

commodities--fuel, foodstuffs, machinery;

partners--US 58%, Netherlands Antilles 9%, UK 8%, Canada 6%, Japan
5%, other 14%

External debt: NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 154,000 kW capacity; 504 million kWh produced,
8,640 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, finance, structural concrete products,
paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Agriculture: accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods
must be imported; produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers,
dairy products

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $267 million

Currency: Bermudian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bermudian dollar
(Bd$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 210 km public roads, all paved (about 400 km of private
roads)

Ports: Freeport, Hamilton, Saint George

Merchant marine: 84 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,826,756
GRT/6,932,981 DWT; includes 3 short-sea passenger, 8 cargo, 7
refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 8 roll-on/roll-off, 26 petroleum, oils,
and lubricants (POL) tanker, 11 liquefied gas, 17 bulk; note--a flag of
convenience registry

Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications: modern with fully automatic telephone system;
52,670 telephones; stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 3 submarine cables; 2
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Reserve
Constabulary

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * BHUTAN

BHUTAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 47,000 km2; land area: 47,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries: 1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide,
tourism potential

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 70%; other 23%

Environment: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the
source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon

Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

PEOPLE
Population: 1,598,216 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 135 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 48 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Bhutanese

Ethnic divisions: Bhote 60%, ethnic Nepalese 25%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%

Religion: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%

Language: Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken
dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and
commerce 2%; massive lack of skilled labor

Organized labor: not permitted

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Bhutan

Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital: Thimphu

Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular
and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)

Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights

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

National holiday: National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first
hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council,
Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of
Ministers, Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK
(since 24 July 1972)

Political parties: no legal parties

Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections

Elections: no national elections

Communists: no overt Communist presence

Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy, Indian
merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign

Member of: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF,
IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: no formal diplomatic relations, although
informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in
New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has
consular jurisdiction in the US

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the
upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along
the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the
hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy, one of the world's least developed,
is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood
for 90% of the population and account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged
mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other
infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely
aligned with that of India through strong trade and monetary links.
Low wages in industry lead most Bhutanese to stay in agriculture.
Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian
migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for
tourists are its most important natural resources.

GDP: $273 million, per capita $199 (1988) real growth rate 4%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1990 est.)

Unemployment: NA

Budget: revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including
capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89);

commodities--cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit;

partners--India 93%

Imports: $138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.);

commodities--fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
vehicles, fabrics;

partners--India 67%

External debt: $70.1 million (FY89 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 12.4% (1988 est.); accounts
for 18% of GDP

Electricity: 353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced,
1,280 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide

Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; based on subsistence farming
and animal husbandry; self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains;
other production--rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $86.0 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11
million

Currency: ngultrum (plural--ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100
chetrum; note--Indian currency is also legal tender

Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--18.329 (January 1991),
17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611
(1986), 12.369 (1985); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the
Indian rupee

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,304 km total; 418 km surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km
unimproved earth

Civil air: 1 jet, 2 prop

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: inadequate; 1,990 telephones (1988); 22,000
radios (1990 est.); 85 TVs (1985); stations--1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 398,263; 213,083 fit for
military service; 17,321 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * BOLIVIA

BOLIVIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,098,580 km2; land area: 1,084,390 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
Montana

Land boundaries: 6,743 km total; Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400
km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific
Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with
Chile over Rio Lauca water rights

Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and
semiarid

Terrain: high plateau, hills, lowland plains

Natural resources: tin, natural gas, crude oil, zinc, tungsten,
antimony, silver, iron ore, lead, gold, timber

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 25%; forest and woodland 52%; other 20%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to
efficient fuel combustion; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's
highest navigable lake, with Peru

PEOPLE
Population: 7,156,591 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 83 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 64 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bolivian(s); adjective Bolivian

Ethnic divisions: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mixed 25-30%,
European 5-15%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%; active Protestant minority,
especially Evangelical Methodist

Language: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara (all official)

Literacy: 78% (male 85%, female 71%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,700,000; agriculture 50%, services and utilities
26%, manufacturing 10%, mining 4%, other 10% (1983)

Organized labor: 150,000-200,000, concentrated in mining, industry,
construction, and transportation; mostly organized under Bolivian
Workers' Central (COB) labor federation

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Bolivia

Type: republic

Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat
of judiciary)

Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, El Beni, La Paz, Oruro,
Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)

Constitution: 2 February 1967

Legal system: based on Spanish law and Code Napoleon; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de
Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de
Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Jaime
PAZ Zamora (since 6 August 1989); Vice President Luis OSSIO Sanjines
(since 6 August 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Jaime PAZ Zamora;
Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN), Hugo BANZER Suarez;
Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR), Gonzalo SANCHEZ de Lozada;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge AGREDO;
Free Bolivia Movement (MBL), led by Antonio ARANIBAR;
United Left (IU), a coalition of leftist parties which includes
Patriotic National Convergency Axis (EJE-P) led by Walter DELGADILLO,
and Bolivian Communist Party (PCB) led by Humberto RAMIREZ;
Conscience of the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos PALENQUE Aviles;
Revolutionary Vanguard-9th of April (VR-9), Carlos SERRATE Reich;
Civic Union Solidarity (UCS), Max FERNANDEZ

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 (married) or 21
(single)

Elections:

President--last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993);
results--Gonzalo SANCHEZ de Lozada (MNR) 23%, Hugo BANZER Suarez
(ADN) 22%, Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 19%; no candidate received a
majority of the popular vote; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) formed a
coalition with Hugo BANZER (ADN); with ADN support PAZ Zamora
won the congressional runoff election on 4 August and was
inaugurated on 6 August 1989;

Senate--last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats (27 total) MNR 9, ADN 7, MIR 8, CONDEPA 2, PDC 1;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 7 May 1989
(next to be held May 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats (130 total) MNR 40, ADN 35, MIR 33, IU 10, CONDEPA 9, PDC 3

Member of: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jorge CRESPO; Chancery at
3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
483-4410 through 4412; there are Bolivian Consulates General in Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Robert S. GELBARD; Embassy at Banco Popular del Peru
Building, corner of Calles Mercado y Colon, La Paz (mailing address is
P. O. Box 425, La Paz, or APO Miami 34032); telephone  591  (2)
350251 or 350120

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of
Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow
band

ECONOMY
Overview: The Bolivian economy steadily deteriorated between
1980 and 1985 as La Paz financed growing budget deficits by expanding
the money supply and inflation spiraled--peaking at 11,700%. An austere
orthodox economic program adopted by newly elected President Paz
Estenssoro in 1985, however, succeeded in reducing inflation to between
10% and 20% annually since 1987, eventually restarting economic growth.
President Paz Zamora has retained the economic policies of the previous
government, keeping inflation down and continuing the moderate growth
begun under his predecessor. Nevertheless, Bolivia continues to be one of
the poorest countries in Latin America, and it remains vulnerable to
price fluctuations for its limited exports--agricultural products,
minerals, and natural gas. Moreover, for many farmers, who constitute
half of the country's work force, the main cash crop is coca, which is
sold for cocaine processing.

GDP: $4.85 billion, per capita $690; real growth rate 2.7% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 21.5% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $2.5 billion; expenditures $2.8 billion,
including capital expenditures of $850 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $927 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--metals 45%, natural gas 30%, other 25%
(coffee, soybeans, sugar, cotton, timber);

partners--US 15%, Argentina

Imports: $716 million (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--food, petroleum, consumer goods, capital goods;

partners--US 22%

External debt: $3.7 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1990); accounts for
almost 30% of GDP

Electricity: 833,000 kW capacity; 1,763 million kWh produced, 260
kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverage,
tobacco, handicrafts, clothing; illicit drug industry reportedly produces
significant revenues

Agriculture: accounts for about 20% of GDP (including forestry and
fisheries); principal commodities--coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane,
rice, potatoes, timber; self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: world's second-largest producer of coca
(after Peru) with an estimated 51,900 hectares under cultivation;
government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate
coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia and Brazil
to the US and other international drug markets

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $990
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.7 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $340 million

Currency: boliviano (plural--bolivianos); 1 boliviano ($B) = 100
centavos

Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1--3.3732 (December 1990),
3.1727 (1990), 2.6917 (1989), 2.3502 (1988), 2.0549 (1987), 1.9220
(1986), 0.4400 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,675 km total; 3,643 km 1.000-meter gauge and 32 km
0.760-meter gauge, all government owned, single track

Highways: 38,836 km total; 1,300 km paved, 6,700 km gravel,
30,836 km improved and unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways

Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; refined products 580 km; natural gas
1,495 km

Ports: none; maritime outlets are Arica and Antofagasta in Chile
and Matarani in Peru

Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,051
GRT/22,155 DWT

Civil air: 56 major transport aircraft

Airports: 807 total, 659 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 120 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: radio relay system being expanded; improved
international services; 144,300 telephones; stations--129 AM, no FM, 43
TV, 68 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Bolivian Army, Bolivian Navy (including Marines),
Bolivian Air Force, National Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,679,352; 1,091,368 fit for
military service; 72,979 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $162 million, 4% of GNP (1988 est.)



  * BOTSWANA

BOTSWANA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 600,370 km2; land area: 585,370 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: 4,013 km total; Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa
1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: short section of the boundary with Namibia is indefinite;
quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement

Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain: predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
Desert in southwest

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash,
potash, coal, iron ore, silver, natural gas

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
75%; forest and woodland 2%; other 21%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: rains in early 1988 broke six years of drought that
had severely affected the important cattle industry; overgrazing;
desertification

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 1,258,392 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 36 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 43 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 65 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun and adjective--Motswana (singular), Batswana
(plural)

Ethnic divisions: Batswana 95%; Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi
about 4%; white about 1%

Religion: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%

Language: English (official), Setswana

Literacy: 23% (male 32%, female 16%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 400,000; 182,200 formal sector employees, most others
are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1988 est.);
19,000 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1988)

Organized labor: 19 trade unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Botswana

Type: parliamentary republic

Capital: Gaborone

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi,
Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East,
Southern; note--in addition, there may now be 4 town councils named
Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Pikwe

Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK; formerly Bechuanaland)

Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law;
judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Botswana Day, 30 September (1966)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an
upper house or House of Chiefs and a lower house or National Assembly

Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Quett K. J. MASIRE
(since 13 July 1980); Vice President Peter S. MMUSI (since 3 January
1983)

Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Quett MASIRE;
Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA;
Botswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE;
Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held 7 October 1989
(next to be held October 1994);
results--President Quett K. J. MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly;

National Assembly--last held 7 October 1989 (next to be
held October 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(38 total, 34 elected) BDP 35, BNF 3

Communists: no known Communist organization; Kenneth Koma of BNF
has long history of Communist contacts

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley
SEBELE; Chancery at Suite 404, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington
DC 20008; telephone [phone] or 4991;

US--Ambassador David PASSAGE; Embassy at Botswana Road, Gaborone
(mailing address is P. O. Box 90, Gaborone); telephone  [phone]
through 353-984

Flag: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe
in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy has historically been based on cattle raising
and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for over 80% of the
population, but produces only about 50% of food needs and contributes
a small 3% to GDP. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of
the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on
the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to
over 50% in 1989. No other sector has experienced such growth, especially
not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The
unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%.

GDP: $3.1 billion, per capita $2,500; real growth rate 6.3%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1989)

Budget: revenues $1,719 million; expenditures $1,792 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92 est.)

Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--diamonds 77%, copper and nickel 12%, meat 4%, cattle,
animal products;

partners--Switzerland, UK, US, SACU (Southern African Customs
Union)

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment,
textiles, petroleum products;

partners--Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union),
UK, US

External debt: $780 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 16.8% (FY86); accounts for
about 57% of GDP, including mining

Electricity: 217,000 kW capacity; 630 million kWh produced,
510 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda
ash, potash; livestock processing

Agriculture: accounts for only 3% of GDP; subsistence
farming predominates; cattle raising supports 50% of the population;
must import large share of food needs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $257
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $43 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $29 million

Currency: pula (plural--pula); 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe

Exchange rates: pula (P) per US$1--1.8720 (January 1991), 1.8601
(1990), 2.0125 (1989), 1.8159 (1988), 1.6779 (1987), 1.8678 (1986),
1.8882 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 712 km 1.0 67-meter gauge

Highways: 11,514 km total; 1,600 km paved; 1,700 km crushed stone
or gravel, 5,177 km improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth

Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 100 total, 87 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 26 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: the small system is a combination of open-wire
lines, radio relay links, and a few radiocommunication stations; 17,900
telephones; stations--2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing),
Botswana National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 260,290; 137,038 fit for
military service; 14,767 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $99 million, 8.2% of GNP (1989)



  * BOUVET ISLAND

BOUVET ISLAND
(territory of Norway)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 58 km2; land area: 58 km2

Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 29.6 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters;
coast is mostly inacessible

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% (ice)

Environment: covered by glacial ice

Note: located in the South Atlantic Ocean 2,575 km
south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: territory of Norway

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Telecommunications: automatic meteorological station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway



  * BRAZIL

BRAZIL

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 8,511,965 km2; land area: 8,456,510 km2; includes
Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade,
Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo

Comparative area: slightly smaller than the US

Land boundaries: 14,691 km total; Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia
3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km,
Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km,
Venezuela 2,200 km

Coastline: 7,491 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Disputes: short section of the boundary with Paraguay (just west of
Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) is in dispute; two short
sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute (Arroyo de la
Invernada area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of
the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay); has noted possible Latin claims in
Antarctica

Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains,
hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Natural resources: iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium,
phosphates, tin, hydropower, gold, platinum, crude oil, timber

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
19%; forest and woodland 67%; other 6%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: recurrent droughts in northeast; floods and frost in
south; deforestation in Amazon basin; air and water pollution in Rio de
Janeiro and Sao Paulo

Note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries
with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

PEOPLE
Population: 155,356,073 (July 1991), growth rate 1.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 68 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Brazilian(s); adjective--Brazilian

Ethnic divisions: Portuguese, Italian, German, Japanese, black,
Amerindian; white 55%, mixed 38%, black 6%, other 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic (nominal) 90%

Language: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Literacy: 81% (male 82%, female 80%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 57,000,000 (1989 est.); services 42%, agriculture
31%, industry 27%

Organized labor: 13,000,000 dues paying members (1989 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Federative Republic of Brazil

Type: federal republic

Capital: Brasilia

Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular--estado)
and 1 federal district*  (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa,
Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias,
Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para,
Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do
Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao
Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins; note--the former territories of Amapa and
Roraima became states in January 1991

Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

Constitution: 5 October 1988

Legal system: based on Latin codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congresso
Nacional) consists of an upper chamber or Federal Senate (Senado
Federal) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos
Deputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Fernando
Affonso COLLOR de Mello (since 15 March 1990); Vice President
Itamar FRANCO (since 15 March 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
National Reconstruction Party (PRN), Daniel TOURINHO, president;
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Orestes QUERCIA,
president;
Liberal Front Party (PFL), Hugo NAPOLEAO, president;
Workers' Party (PT), Luis Ignacio (Lula) da SILVA, president;
Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), Luiz GONZAGA de Paiva Muniz, president;
Democratic Labor Party (PDT), Leonel BRIZOLA, president;
Democratic Social Party (PDS), Amaral NETTO, president;
Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Mario COVAS, president;
Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), Salomao MALINA, secretary general;
Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, president;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Eduardo CAMPOS, president

Suffrage: voluntary at age 16; compulsory between ages 18 and 70;
voluntary at age 70

Elections:

President--last held 15 November 1989, with runoff on 17
December 1989 (next to be held November 1994);
results--Fernando COLLOR de Mello 53%, Luis Inacio da SILVA 47%;
note--first free, direct presidential election since 1960;

Senate--last held 3 October 1990 (next to be held November 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(81 total as of 3 February 1991) PMDB 27, PFL 15, PSDB 10,
PTB 8, PDT 5, other 16;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 3 October 1990
(next to be held November 1994);
results--PMDB 21%, PFL 17%, PDT 9%, PDS 8%, PRN 7.9%, PTB 7%, PT 7%,
other 23.1%;
seats--(503 total as of 3 February 1991) PMDB 108, PFL 87,
PDT 46, PDS 43, PRN 40, PTB 35, PT 35, other 109;

Communists: about 30,000

Other political or pressure groups: left wing of the Catholic
Church and labor unions allied to leftist Worker's Party are critical of
government's social and economic policies

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-19,
G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Marcilio Marques MOREIRA;
Chancery at 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there are Brazilian Consulates General in Atlanta,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, and New York, and Consulates in
Dallas, Houston, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Richard MELTON; Embassy at Avenida das Nocoes,
Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal (mailing address is APO Miami 34030);
telephone  55  (6) 321-7272; there are US Consulates General in Rio de
Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and Consulates in Porto Alegre and Recife

Flag: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a
blue celestial globe with 23 white five-pointed stars (one for each
state) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the
globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO
(Order and Progress)

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy, with large agrarian, mining, and
manufacturing sectors, entered the 1990s with declining real growth,
runaway inflation, an unserviceable foreign debt of $122 billion, and
a lack of policy direction. In addition, the economy remained highly
regulated, inward-looking, and protected by substantial trade and
investment barriers. Ownership of major industrial and mining facilities
is divided among private interests--including several multinationals--and
the government. Most large agricultural holdings are private, with the
government channeling financing to this sector. Conflicts between large
landholders and landless peasants have produced intermittent violence.
The government is seeking an IMF standby loan despite several failed
agreements over the past decade. Relations with foreign commercial
banks remain strained because of mounting interest arrears on Brazil's
long-term debt. The Collor government, which assumed office in March
1990, is embarked on an ambitious reform program that seeks to
modernize and reinvigorate the economy by stabilizing prices,
deregulating the economy, and opening it to increased foreign
competition. A major long-run strength is Brazil's vast natural
resources.

GDP: $388 billion, per capita $2,540; real growth rate - 4.6%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1,795% (December 1990)

Unemployment rate: 4.4% (1990)

Budget: revenues $36.5 billion; expenditures $48.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $4.6 billion (1988)

Exports: $31.4 billion (1990);

commodities--iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear,
coffee

partners--EC 29%, US 23%, Latin America 10%, Japan 7% (1989)

Imports: $20.4 billion (1990);

commodities--crude oil, capital goods, chemical products,
foodstuffs, coal;

partners--US 21%, Middle East and Africa 20%, EC 20%, Latin
America 18%, Japan 7% (1989)

External debt: $122 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 8.9% (1990); accounts
for 35% of GDP

Electricity: 55,773,000 kW capacity; 214,116 million kWh produced,
1,400 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles and other consumer goods, shoes, chemicals,
cement, lumber, iron ore, steel, motor vehicles and auto parts,
metalworking, capital goods, tin

Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP; world's largest producer and
exporter of coffee and orange juice concentrate and second-largest
exporter of soybeans; other products--rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, beef;
self-sufficient in food, except for wheat

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and coca, mostly for
domestic consumption; government has a modest eradication program
to control cannabis and coca cultivation

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.5
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $9.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $284 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion

Currency: cruzeiro (plural--cruzeiros); 1 cruzeiro (Cr$) = 100
centavos

Exchange rates: cruzeiros (Cr$) per US$1--193.189 (January 1991),
68.300 (1990), 2.834 (1989), 0.26238 (1988), 0.03923 (1987), 0.01366
(1986), 0.00620 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 29,694 km total; 25,268 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,339 km
1.600-meter gauge, 74 km mixed 1.600-1.000-meter gauge,
13 km 0.760-meter gauge; 2,308 km electrified

Highways: 1,448,000 km total; 48,000 km paved, 1,400,000 km gravel
or earth

Inland waterways: 50,000 km navigable

Pipelines: crude oil, 2,000 km; refined products, 3,804 km; natural
gas, 1,095 km

Ports: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto
Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos

Merchant marine: 263 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,898,838
GRT/9,975,272 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 59 cargo, 1 refrigerated
cargo, 13 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off, 60 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 15 chemical tanker, 11 liquefied gas, 14
combination ore/oil, 79 bulk, 2 combination bulk; additionally, 2 naval
tanker and 4 military transport are sometimes used commercially

Civil air: 176 major transport aircraft

Airports: 3,751 total, 3,078 usable; 401 with permanent-surface
runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 22 with runways 2,240-3,659 m; 533
with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good system; extensive radio relay facilities;
9.86 million telephones; stations--1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151
shortwave; 3 coaxial submarine cables 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
stations with total of 3 antennas; 64 domestic satellite stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Brazilian Army, Navy of Brazil (including Marines),
Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 40,559,052; 27,364,392 fit for
military service; 1,637,434 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 2.6% of GDP (1990)



  * BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY

BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 60 km2; land area: 60 km2

Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 698 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius

Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain: flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)

Natural resources: coconuts, fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: archipelago of 2,300 islands

Note: Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies
strategic location in central Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: no permanent civilian population; formerly about 3,000
islanders

Ethnic divisions: civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois,
evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK and US defense
facilities

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: British Indian Ocean Territory (no short-form
name); abbreviated BIOT

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: none

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Commissioner and Administrator R. EDIS
(since NA 1988); note--resides in the UK

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory
of the UK)

Flag: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and
yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest
island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.
Construction projects and various services needed to support the military
installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK and
the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the
islands.

Electricity: provided by the US military

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on
Diego Garcia

Ports: Diego Garcia

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego
Garcia

Telecommunications: minimal facilities; stations (operated by the
US Navy)--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 150 km2; land area: 150 km2

Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep,
hilly

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
33%; forest and woodland 7%; other 33%

Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July
to October

Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

PEOPLE
Population: 12,396 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--British Virgin Islander(s); adjective--British
Virgin Islander

Ethnic divisions: black over 90%, remainder of white and Asian
origin

Religion: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of
God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%,
other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)

Language: English (official)

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970)

Labor force: 4,911 (1980)

Organized labor: NA% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Road Town

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 1 June 1977

Legal system: English law

National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986);

Head of Government--Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)

Political parties and leaders:
United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO;
Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT;
Independent People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Council--last held 12 November 1990 (next to be
held by November 1995); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) VIP 6, IPM 1, independent 2

Communists: probably none

Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC,
OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a
vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word
VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is highly dependent on the tourist industry,
which generates about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government
offered offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in
the islands, and, in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2
million in 1987. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural
activity. The islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet
food requirements.

GDP: $106.7 million, per capita $8,900; real growth rate 2.5%
(1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.0% (1987)

Unemployment rate: NEGL%

Budget: revenues $32.8 million; expenditures $32.4 million,
including capital expenditures of $6.3 million (FY90)

Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals;

partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs,
machinery;

partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

External debt: $4.5 million (1985)

Industrial production: growth rate - 4.0% (1985)

Electricity: 10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced,
3,510 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete
block, offshore financial center

Agriculture: livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables

Economic aid: NA

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 106 km motorable roads (1983)

Ports: Road Town

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways
less than 1,220 m

Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone
service; submarine cable communication links to Bermuda; stations--1 AM,
no FM, 1 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * BRUNEI

BRUNEI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5,770 km2; land area: 5,270 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware

Land boundary: 381 km with Malaysia

Coastline: 161 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides
the country

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly
lowland in west

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, timber

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 79%; other 18%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking
Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia;
almost an enclave of Malaysia

PEOPLE
Population: 397,777 (July 1991), growth rate 6.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 45 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bruneian(s); adjective--Bruneian

Ethnic divisions: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%

Religion: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%,
indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

Language: Malay (official), English, and Chinese

Literacy: 77% (male 85%, female 69%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force: 89,000 (includes members of the Army); 33% of labor
force is foreign (1988); government 47.5%; production of oil, natural
gas, services, and construction 41.9%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing
3.8% (1986)

Organized labor: 2% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Negara Brunei Darussalam

Type: constitutional sultanate

Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah,
singular--daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)

Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended
under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since
independence on 1 January 1984)

Legal system: based on Islamic law

National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)

Executive branch: sultan, prime minister, Council of Cabinet
Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
(Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Sultan and Prime Minister
Sir Muda HASSANAL BOLKIAH Muizzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967)

Political parties and leaders:
Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman;
Brunei National Democratic Party (the first legal political party and now
banned), leader NA

Suffrage: none

Elections:

Legislative Council--last held in March 1962; in 1970
the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan
and no elections are planned

Communists: probably none

Member of: APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, ICAO, IDB, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji Mohamed SUNI
bin Haji Idris; Chancery at 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Christopher H. PHILLIPS; Embassy at Third Floor,
Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan (mailing address
is P. O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan and Box B, APO San Francisco,
96528); telephone  673  (2) 229-670

Flag: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double
width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem
in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a
swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent
above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic
entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and
village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of
crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector
accounting for more than 50% of GDP. Per capita GDP of $9,600
is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from
overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government
provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

GDP: $3.3 billion, per capita $9,600; real growth rate
2.7% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment: 2.5%, shortage of skilled labor (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $230 million (1988 est.)

Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products;

partners--Japan 60%, Thailand 10%, Singapore 4% (1988)

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, manufactured
goods, food, chemicals;

partners--Singapore 36%, UK 26%, Switzerland 7%, US 7%, Japan 6%
(1988)

External debt: none

Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (1987); accounts for
52.4% of GDP

Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 890 million kWh produced,
2,400 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, liquefied natural gas, construction

Agriculture: imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops
and livestock include rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $143.7 million

Currency: Bruneian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bruneian dollar
(B$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1--1.7454 (January
1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987), 2.1774
(1986), 2.2002 (1985); note--the Bruneian dollar is at par with the
Singapore dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 13 km 0.610-meter narrow-gauge private line

Highways: 1,090 km total; 370 km paved (bituminous treated) and
another 52 km under construction, 720 km gravel or unimproved

Inland waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2
meters

Ports: Kuala Belait, Muara

Merchant marine: 7 liquefied gas carriers (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT

Pipelines: crude oil, 135 km; refined products, 418 km;
natural gas, 920 km

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft (3 Boeing 757-200,
1 Boeing 737-200)

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1
with runway over 3,659 m; 1 with runway 1,406 m

Telecommunications: service throughout country is adequate for
present needs; international service good to adjacent Malaysia;
radiobroadcast coverage good; 33,000 telephones (1987); stations--4
AM/FM, 1 TV; 74,000 radio receivers (1987); satellite earth stations--1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Brunei Armed Forces (including Ground Forces,
Flotilla, and Air Wing), Royal Brunei Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 110,727; 63,730 fit for
military service; 3,199 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $233.1 million, 7.1% of GDP (1988)



  * BULGARIA

BULGARIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 110,910 km2; land area: 110,550 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries: 1,881 km total; Greece 494 km, Romania 608 km,
Turkey 240 km, Yugoslavia 539 km

Coastline: 354 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Macedonia question with Greece and Yugoslavia

Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and south

Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber,
arable land

Land use: arable land 34%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
18%; forest and woodland 35%; other 10%; includes irrigated 11%

Environment: subject to earthquakes, landslides; deforestation;
air pollution

Note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key
land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

PEOPLE
Population: 8,910,622 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 13 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Bulgarian(s); adjective--Bulgarian

Ethnic divisions: Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%,
Macedonian 2.5%, Armenian 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%

Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%; Muslim 13%; Jewish 0.8%;
Roman Catholic 0.5%; Uniate Catholic 0.2%; Protestant,
Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%

Language: Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to
ethnic breakdown

Literacy: 93% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

Labor force: 4,300,000; industry 33%, agriculture 20%, other 47% (1987)

Organized labor: Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of
Bulgaria (KNSB); Edinstvo (Unity) People's Trade Union (splinter
confederation from KNSB); Podkrepa (Support) Labor Confederation,
legally registered in January 1990

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Bulgaria

Type: emerging democracy, continuing significant Communist party
influence

Capital: Sofia

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular--oblast);
Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Mikhaylovgrad, Plovdiv, Razgrad,
Sofiya, Varna

Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)

Constitution: 16 May 1971, effective 18 May 1971; a new
constitution is likely to be adopted in 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence;
judicial review of legislative acts in the State Council; has accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire,
3 March (1878)

Executive branch: president, chairman of the Council of Ministers
(premier), three deputy chairmen of the Council of Ministers,
Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Narodno
Sobranie)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Zhelyu ZHELEV (since 1 August 1990);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers
(Premier) Dimitur POPOV (since 19 December 1990);
Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Aleksandur TOMOV
(since 19 December 1990);
Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Viktor VULKOV (since
19 December 1990);
Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Dimitur LUDZHEV
(since 19 December 1990);

Political parties and leaders: government--Bulgarian
Socialist Party (BSP), formerly Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP),
Aleksandur LILOV, chairman;

opposition--Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), Filip DIMITROV,
chairman, consisting of Nikola Petkov Bulgarian Agrarian National
Union, Milan DRENCHEV, secretary of Permanent Board;
Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, Petur DERTLIEV;
Green Party;
Christian Democrats;
Radical Democratic Party;
Rights and Freedoms Movement (pro-Muslim party), Ahmed DOGAN;
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (BZNS), Viktor VULKOV

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

Chairman of the State Council--last held 1 August 1990
(next to be held May 1991);
results--Zhelyo ZHELEV was elected by the National Assembly;

National Assembly--last held 10 and 17 June 1990
(next to be held in autumn 1991);
results--BSP 48%, UDF 32%;
seats--(400 total) BSP 211, UDF 144, Rights and Freedoms Movement
23, Agrarian Party 16, Nationalist parties 3, independents and other 3

Communists: Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), formerly
Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP), 501,793 members

Other political or pressure groups: Ecoglasnost; Podkrepa
(Support) Labor Confederation; Fatherland Union; Bulgarian
Democratic Youth (formerly Communist Youth Union); Confederation
of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB);
Committee for Defense of National Interests;
Peasant Youth League; National Coalition of Extraparliamentary
Political Forces;
numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various
agendas

Member of: BIS, CCC, CSCE, ECE, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBEC,
ICAO, IIB, ILO, IMO, INMARSAT, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ognyan PISHEV;
Chancery at 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
387-7969;

US--Ambassador H. Kenneth HILL; Embassy at 1 Alexander Stamboliski
Boulevard, Sofia (mailing address is APO New York 09213-5740);
telephone  359  (2) 88-48-01 through 05

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red;
the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has
been removed--it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears
below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681
(first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi
control)

ECONOMY
Overview: Growth in the lackluster Bulgarian economy fell to the
2% annual level in the 1980s. By 1990 Sofia's foreign debt had
skyrocketed to over $10 billion--giving a debt service ratio of more
than 40% of hard currency earnings and leading the regime to declare
a moratorium on its hard currency payments. The post-Zhivkov regime
faces major problems of renovating an aging industrial plant;
coping with worsening energy, food, and consumer goods shortages;
keeping abreast of rapidly unfolding technological developments;
investing in additional energy capacity (the portion of electric
power from nuclear energy reached over one-third in 1990); and
motivating workers, in part by giving them a share in the earnings of
their enterprises. A major decree of January 1989 summarized and
extended the government's economic restructuring efforts, which include
a partial decentralization of controls over production decisions and
foreign trade. In October 1990 the Lukanov government proposed an
economic reform program based on a US Chamber of Commerce study. It was
never instituted because of a political stalemate between the BSP and the
UDF. The new Popov government launched a similar reform program in
January 1991, but full implementation has been slowed by continuing
political disputes.

GNP: $47.3 billion, per capita $5,300; real growth rate - 6.0%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 100% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $26 billion; expenditures $28 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA billion (1988)

Exports: $16.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and equipment 60.5%; agricultural products
14.7%; manufactured consumer goods 10.6%; fuels, minerals, raw materials,
and metals 8.5%; other 5.7%;

partners--Communist countries 82.5% (USSR 61%, GDR 5.5%,
Czechoslovakia 4.9%); developed countries 6.8% (FRG 1.2%, Greece 1.0%);
less developed countries 10.7% (Libya 3.5%, Iraq 2.9%)

Imports: $15.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--fuels, minerals, and raw materials 45.2%; machinery
and equipment 39.8%; manufactured consumer goods 4.6%; agricultural
products 3.8%; other 6.6%;

partners--Communist countries 80.5% (USSR 57.5%, GDR 5.7%),
developed countries 15.1% (FRG 4.8%, Austria 1.6%); less developed
countries 4.4% (Libya 1.0%, Brazil 0.9%)

External debt: $10 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 10.7% (1990); accounts for
about 50% of GDP

Electricity: 11,500,000 kW capacity; 45,000 million kWh produced,
5,040 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: machine and metal building,food processing, chemicals,
textiles, building materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP; climate and soil conditions
support livestock raising and the growing of various grain crops,
oilseeds, vegetables, fruits and tobacco; more than one-third of the
arable land devoted to grain; world's fourth-largest tobacco exporter;
surplus food producer

Economic aid: donor--$1.6 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist
less developed countries (1956-89)

Currency: lev (plural--leva); 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki

Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1--16.13 (March 1991),
0.7446 (November 1990), 0.84 (1989), 0.82 (1988), 0.90 (1987), 0.95
(1986), 1.03 (1985); note--floating exchange rate since February 1990

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,300 km total, all government owned (1987); 4,055 km
1.435-meter standard gauge, 245 km narrow gauge; 917 km double track;
2,510 km electrified

Highways: 36,908 km total; 33,535 km hard surface (including 242 km
superhighways); 3,373 km earth roads (1987)

Inland waterways: 470 km (1987)

Pipelines: crude, 193 km; refined product, 418 km; natural gas,
1,400 km (1986)

Ports: Burgas, Varna, Varna West; river ports are Ruse, Vidin, and
Lom on the Danube

Merchant marine: 112 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 1,227,817
GRT/1,860,294 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 33 cargo, 2 container,
1 passenger-cargo training, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 18 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 47 bulk;
Bulgaria owns 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,035 DWT operating
under Liberian registry

Civil air: 86 major transport aircraft

Airports: 380 total, 380 usable; about 120 with permanent-surface
runways; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 2.5 million telephones; direct dialing to 36
countries; phone density is 25 phones per 100 persons; 67% of Sofia
households now have a phone (November 1988); stations--21 AM, 16 FM,
and 19 TV, with 1 Soviet TV relay in Sofia; 2.1 million TV sets (1990);
92% of country receives No. 1 television program (May 1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Bulgarian People's Army, Bulgarian Navy, Air and Air
Defense Forces, Frontier Troops, Civil Defense

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,183,539; 1,826,992 fit for
military service; 67,836 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: 1.615 billion leva, NA% of GDP (1990);
note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
current exchange rate would produce misleading results



  * BURKINA

BURKINA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 274,200 km2; land area: 273,800 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Colorado

Land boundaries: 3,192 km total; Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km,
Ivory Coast 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and
Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October
1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both
sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary
demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west
and southeast

Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits
of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc,
silver

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 37%; forest and woodland 26%; other 27%, includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
marginal agricultural activities, population distribution, economy;
overgrazing; deforestation

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 9,359,889 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 119 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 53 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Burkinabe; adjective--Burkinabe

Ethnic divisions: more than 50 tribes; principal tribe is Mossi
(about 2.5 million); other important groups are Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi,
Bobo, Mande, and Fulani

Religion: indigenous beliefs about 65%, Muslim 25%,
Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%

Language: French (official); tribal languages belong to Sudanic
family, spoken by 90% of the population

Literacy: 18% (male 28%, female 9%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,300,000 residents; 30,000 are wage earners;
agriculture 82%, industry 13%, commerce, services, and government 5%;
20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for
seasonal employment (1984); 44% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: four principal trade union groups represent less
than 1% of population

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Burkina Faso

Type: military; established by coup on 4 August 1983

Capital: Ouagadougou

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo

Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France; formerly Upper Volta)

Constitution: none; constitution of 27 November 1977 was abolished
following coup of 25 November 1980; constitutional referendum scheduled
for June 1991

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

Executive branch: chairman of the Popular Front, Council of
Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale) was dissolved on 25 November 1980

Judicial branch: Appeals Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the
Popular Front Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

Political parties and leaders: all political parties banned
following November 1980 coup

Suffrage: none

Elections: the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980;
presidential elections are scheduled for 3 November 1991 and legislative
elections for 8 December 1991

Communists: small Communist party front group; some sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: committees for the defense of
the revolution, watchdog/political action groups throughout the country
in both organizations and communities

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO,
FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE;
Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 6895;

US--Ambassador Edward P. BRYNN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau,
Ouagadougou (mailing address is 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou);
telephone  [phone] through 25 and  226  33-34-22

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina
has a high population density, few natural resources, and relatively
infertile soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications
network within a landlocked country. Agriculture provides about 40% of
GDP and is entirely of a subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by
unprofitable government-controlled corporations, accounts for about
15% of GDP.

GDP: $1.75 billion, per capita $205 (1988); real growth rate 3%
(1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 0.5% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $275 million; expenditures $287 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $262 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--oilseeds, cotton, live animals, gold;

partners--EC 42% (France 30%, other 12%), Taiwan 17%,
Ivory Coast 15% (1985)

Imports: $619 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--grain, dairy products, petroleum, machinery;

partners--EC 37% (France 23%, other 14%), Africa 31%, US 15%
(1985)

External debt: $962 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.7% (1990est.), accounts for
about 15%
of GDP (1988)

Electricity: 121,000 kW capacity; 320 million kWh produced, 37
kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing,
soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP; cash crops--peanuts,
shea nuts, sesame, cotton; food crops--sorghum, millet, corn, rice;
livestock; not self-sufficient in food grains

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.7 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $113 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--256.54 (January 1991),
272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30
(1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 620 km total; 520 km Ouagadougou to Ivory Coast border
and 100 km Ouagadougou to Kaya; all 1.00-meter gauge and single track

Highways: 16,500 km total; 1,300 km paved, 7,400 km improved,
7,800 km unimproved (1985)

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 50 total, 43 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: all services only fair; radio relay, wire, and
radio communication stations in use; 13,900 telephones; stations--2 AM,
2 FM, 2 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,838,000; 937,304 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $55 million, 2.7% of GDP (1988)



  * BURMA

BURMA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 678,500 km2; land area: 657,740 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: 5,876 km total; Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km,
India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Coastline: 1,930 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
(southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild
temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December
to April)

Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Natural resources: crude oil, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural
gas

Land use: arable land 15%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 49%; other 34%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: subject to destructive earthquakes and cyclones;
flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September);
deforestation

Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

PEOPLE
Population: 42,112,082 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 32 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 95 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 53 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Burmese; adjective--Burmese

Ethnic divisions: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%,
Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%

Religion: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
1%), Muslim 4%, animist beliefs 1%, other 2%

Language: Burmese; minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Literacy: 81% (male 89%, female 72%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 16,036,000; agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade
10.1%, government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY89 est.)

Organized labor: Workers' Asiayone (association), 1,800,000
members; Peasants' Asiayone, 7,600,000 members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Union of Burma; note--the local official name is
Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw which has been translated by the US
Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar

Type: military regime

Capital: Rangoon (sometimes translated as Yangon)

Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular--yin) and
7 states (pyine-mya, singular--pyine); Chin State, Irrawaddy*, Kachin
State, Karan State, Kayah State, Magwe*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Pegu*,
Rakhine State, Rangoon*, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tenasserim*

Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)

Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988)

Legal system: martial law in effect throughout most of the
country; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)

Executive branch: chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council, State Law and Order Restoration Council

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw)
was dissolved after the coup of 18 September 1988

Judicial branch: Council of People's Justices was abolished after
the coup of 18 September 1988

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the State Law
and Order Restoration Council Gen. SAW MAUNG (since 18 September 1988)

Political parties and leaders:
National Unity Party (NUP; proregime), THA KYAW;
National League for Democracy (NLD), U TIN OO and AUNG SAN SUU KYI;
League for Democracy and Peace, U NU

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

People's Assembly--last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never
convened;
results--NLD 80%;
seats--(485 total) NLD 396, the regime-favored NUP 10, other 79

Communists: several hundred (est.) in Burma Communist Party (BCP)

Other political or pressure groups: Kachin Independence Army (KIA),
United Wa State Army (UWSA), Karen National Union (KNU), several Shan
factions, including the Shan United Army (SUA) (all ethnically-based
insurgent groups)

Member of: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador U MYO AUNG; Chancery at
2300 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone] through
9046; there is a Burmese Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Franklin P.
HUDDLE, Jr.; Embassy at 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (mailing address
is G. P. O. Box 521, Rangoon or Box B, APO San Francisco 96346);
telephone 82055 or 82181

Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel
containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative
divisions

ECONOMY
Overview: Burma is a poor Asian country, with a per capita GDP
of about $400. The nation has been unable to achieve any substantial
improvement in export earnings because of falling prices for many
of its major commodity exports. For rice, traditionally the most
important export, the drop in world prices has been accompanied by
shrinking markets and a smaller volume of sales. In 1985 teak replaced
rice as the largest export and continues to hold this position. The
economy is heavily dependent on the agricultural sector, which generates
about half of GDP and provides employment for 66% of the work force.

GDP: $16.8 billion, per capita $408; real growth rate NEGL%
(FY90 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.6% (FY89 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9.6% in urban areas (FY89 est.)

Budget: revenues $4.9 billion; expenditures $5.0 billion,
including capital expenditures of $0.7 billion (FY89 est.)

Exports: $228 million (f.o.b., FY89)

commodities--teak, rice, oilseed, metals, rubber, gems;

partners--Southeast Asia, India, China, EC, Africa

Imports: $540 million (c.i.f., FY89)

commodities--machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, food
products;

partners--Japan, EC, China, Southeast Asia

External debt: $5.5 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.6% (FY90 est.); accounts
for 10% of GDP

Electricity: 950,000 kW capacity; 2,900 million kWh produced,
70 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood
and wood products; petroleum refining; mining of copper, tin, tungsten,
iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer

Agriculture: accounts for 51% of GDP (including fish and
forestry); self-sufficient in food; principal crops--paddy rice, corn,
oilseed, sugarcane, pulses; world's largest stand of hardwood trees;
rice and teak account for 55% of export revenues; fish catch of
732,000 metric tons (FY90)

Illicit drugs: world's largest illicit producer of opium poppy
and minor producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; opium
production is on the increase as growers respond to the collapse
of Rangoon's antinarcotic programs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $158
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $3.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $424 million

Currency: kyat (plural--kyats); 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas

Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1--6.0476 (January 1991), 6.3386
(1990), 6.7049 (1989), 6.3945 (1988), 6.6535 (1987), 7.3304 (1986),
8.4749 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,991 km total, all government owned; 3,878 km
1.000-meter gauge, 113 km narrow-gauge industrial lines; 362 km double
track

Highways: 27,000 km total; 3,200 km bituminous, 17,700 km improved
earth or gravel, 6,100 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial
vessels

Pipelines: crude, 1,343 km; natural gas, 330 km

Ports: Rangoon, Moulmein, Bassein

Merchant marine: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 968,226
GRT/1,433,584 DWT; includes 3 passenger-cargo, 19 cargo, 2 refrigerated
cargo, 3 vehicle carrier, 2 container, 3 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical, 1 combination ore/oil, 24 bulk,
1 combination bulk

Civil air: 17 major transport aircraft (including 3 helicopters)

Airports: 86 total, 79 usable; 29 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 37
with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service; international service is good; radiobroadcast coverage
is limited to the most populous areas; 53,000 telephones (1986);
stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (1985); 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability: eligible 15-49, 20,766,975; of the
10,378,743 males 15-49, 5,566,247 are fit for military service; of the
10,388,232 females 15-49, 5,558,007 are fit for military service; 442,200
males and 431,407 females reach military age (18) annually; both sexes
are liable for military service

Defense expenditures: $315.0 million, 3% of GDP (FY88)



  * BURUNDI

BURUNDI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 27,830 km2; land area: 25,650 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: 974 km total; Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km,
Zaire 233 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands

Terrain: mostly rolling to hilly highland; some plains

Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt,
copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium

Land use: arable land 43%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures
35%; forest and woodland 2%; other 12%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: soil exhaustion; soil erosion; deforestation

Note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

PEOPLE
Population: 5,831,233 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 109 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 54 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Burundian(s); adjective--Burundi

Ethnic divisions: Africans--Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%,
Twa (Pygmy) 1%; other Africans include about 70,000 refugees, mostly
Rwandans and Zairians; non-Africans include about 3,000 Europeans and
2,000 South Asians

Religion: Christian about 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%).
indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%

Language: Kirundi and French (official); Swahili (along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Literacy: 50% (male 61%, female 40%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,900,000 (1983 est.); agriculture 93.0%, government
4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5; 52% of population of
working age (1985)

Organized labor: sole group is the Union of Burundi Workers (UTB);
by charter, membership is extended to all Burundi workers (informally);
active membership figures NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Burundi

Type: republic

Capital: Bujumbura

Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi,
Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya,
Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
administration)

Constitution: 20 November 1981; suspended following the coup of
3 September 1987; referendum for a new constitution scheduled for
March 1992

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Executive branch: president; chairman of the Central Committee
of the National Party of Unity and Progress (UPRONA), prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale) was dissolved following the coup of 3 September 1987;
at an extraordinary party congress held from 27 to 29 December 1990,
the Central Committee of the National Party of Unity and Progress
(UPRONA) replaced the Military Committee for National Salvation, and
became the supreme governing body during the transition to constitutional
government

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Pierre BUYOYA (since 9 September 1987);

Head of Government Prime Minister Adrien SIBOMANA (since 26
October 1988)

Political parties and leaders: only party--National Party of
Unity and Progress (UPRONA), President Pierre BUYOYA, chairman, and
Nicolas MAYUGI, secretary general

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

National Assembly--dissolved after the coup of 3 September
1987;

note--The National Unity Charter outlining the principles for
constitutional government was adopted by a national referendum on 5
February 1991

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Julien KAVAKURE; Chancery at
Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Cynthia Shepherd PERRY; Embassy at Avenue du Zaire,
Bujumbura (mailing address is B. P. 1720, Avenue des Etats-Unis,
Bujumbura); telephone 234-54 through 56

Flag: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and
bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk
superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined
in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars
below)

ECONOMY
Overview: A landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage
of economic development, Burundi is predominately agricultural with only
a few basic industries. Its economic health depends on the coffee
crop, which accounts for an average 90% of foreign exchange earnings each
year. The ability to pay for imports therefore continues to rest largely
on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market.

GDP: $1.1 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate 1.5% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.7% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $158 million; expenditures $204 million,
including capital expenditures of $131 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $81 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--coffee 88%, tea, hides, and skins;

partners--EC 83%, US 5%, Asia 2%

Imports: $197 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs,
consumer goods;

partners--EC 57%, Asia 23%, US 3%

External debt: $957 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: real growth rate 5.1% (1986); accounts
for about 10% of GDP

Electricity: 51,000 kW capacity; 105 million kWh produced, 19 kWh
per capita (1989)

Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
assembly of imports; public works construction; food processing

Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP; 90% of population dependent
on subsistence farming; marginally self-sufficient in food production;
cash crops--coffee, cotton, tea; food crops--corn, sorghum, sweet
potatoes, bananas, manioc; livestock--meat, milk, hides, and skins

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $71
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $10.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $32 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million

Currency: Burundi franc (plural--francs); 1 Burundi franc
(FBu) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1--163.29 (January
1991), 171.26 (1990), 158.67 (1989), 140.40 (1988), 123.56 (1987), 114.17
(1986), 120.69 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 5,900 km total; 400 km paved, 2,500 km gravel or
laterite, 3,000 km improved or unimproved earth

Inland waterways: Lake Tanganyika

Ports: Bujumbura (lake port) connects to transportation systems of
Tanzania and Zaire

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 8 total, 7 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none
with runways 1,220 to 2,439 m

Telecommunications: sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and
low-capacity radio relay links; 8,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1
TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (includes naval and air units); paramilitary
Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,268,342; 661,888 fit for
military service; 64,538 reach military age (16) annually

Defense expenditures: $33 million, 3.1% of GDP (1988)



  * CAMBODIA

CAMBODIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 181,040 km2; land area: 176,520 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Land boundaries: 2,572 km total; Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km,
Vietnam 1,228 km

Coastline: 443 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: offshore islands and three sections of the
boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam
not defined; occupied by Vietnam on 25 December 1978

Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to October); dry
season (December to March); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential

Land use: arable land 16%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
3%; forest and woodland 76%; other 4%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: a land of paddies and forests dominated by Mekong
River and Tonle Sap

Note: buffer between Thailand and Vietnam

PEOPLE
Population: 7,146,386 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 125 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 51 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Cambodian(s); adjective--Cambodian

Ethnic divisions: Khmer 90%, Chinese 5%, other 5%

Religion: Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%

Language: Khmer (official), French

Literacy: 35% (male 48%, female 22%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2.5-3.0 million; agriculture 80% (1988 est.)

Organized labor: Kampuchea Federation of Trade Unions (FSC); under
government control

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: disputed between the National Government of Cambodia (NGC)
led by Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK, and the State of Cambodia (SOC) led by
HENG SAMRIN

Capital: Phnom Penh

Administrative divisions: NGC--18 provinces (khet, singular and
plural) and 1 capital city* (rottatheanei);
Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang,
Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah
Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siemreab-Otdar
Meanchey, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev; note--the SOC adds
a province of Banteay Meanchey and an autonomous municipality of
Kampong Saom to the NGC administrative structure

Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France)

Constitution: SOC--27 June 1981

National holidays: NGC--Independence Day, 17 April (1975);
SOC--Liberation Day, 7 January (1979)

Executive branch: NGC--president, prime minister; SOC--chairman
of the Council of State, Council of State, chairman of the Council of
Ministers, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: NGC--none; SOC--unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch: NGC--none; SOC--Supreme People's Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--NGC--President Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK
(since NA July 1982); SOC--Chairman of the Council of State HENG
SAMRIN (since 27 June 1981)

Head of Government--NGC--Prime Minister SON SANN (since NA July
1982);
SOC--Chairman of the Council of Ministers HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)

Political parties and leaders: NGC--three resistance groups
including:
Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge) under KHIEU
SAMPHAN;
Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) under SON SANN;
and National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and
Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) under Prince NORODOM RANNARIDH;
SOC--Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP) led by HENG SAMRIN

Suffrage: NGC--none; SOC--universal at age 18

Elections:

NGC--none;

SOC--National Assembly--last held 1 May 1981; in February 1986 the
Assembly voted to extend its term for five years; results--KPRP is the
only party;
seats--(123 total) KPRP 123

Member of: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag:
NGC--three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue
with a white stylized three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat
centered on the red band;

SOC--two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a gold
stylized five-towered temple representing Angkor Wat in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: Cambodia is a desperately poor country whose economic
development has been stymied by deadly political infighting. The
economy is based on agriculture and related industries.  Over the
past decade Cambodia has been slowly recovering from its near destruction
by war and political upheaval. It still remains, however, one of the
world's poorest countries, with an estimated per capita GDP of about
$130.  The food situation is precarious; during the 1980s famine has
been averted only through international relief. In 1986 the production
level of rice, the staple food crop, was able to meet only 80% of
domestic needs. The biggest success of the nation's recovery program has
been in new rubber plantings and in fishing. Industry, other than rice
processing, is almost nonexistent. Foreign trade is primarily with the
USSR and Vietnam. Statistical data on the economy continues to be sparse
and unreliable. Foreign aid from the USSR and Eastern Europe almost
certainly is being slashed.

GDP: $890 million, per capita $130; real growth rate 0% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (first half 1990)

Exports: $32 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--natural rubber, rice, pepper, wood;

partners--Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India

Imports: $147 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--international food aid; fuels, consumer goods,
machinery;

partners--Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India

External debt: $600 million (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 126,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced,
20 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber,
cement, gem mining

Agriculture: mainly subsistence farming except for rubber
plantations; main crops--rice, rubber, corn; food shortages--rice, meat,
vegetables, dairy products, sugar, flour

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $719
million; Western (non-US) countries (1970-88), $285 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $1,800 million

Currency: riel (plural--riels); 1 riel (CR) = 100 sen

Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1--560 (November 1990), 159.00
(1988), 100.00 (1987), 30.00 (1986), 7.00 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 612 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned

Highways: 13,351 km total; 2,622 km bituminous; 7,105 km crushed
stone, gravel, or improved earth; 3,624 km unimproved earth; some roads
in disrepair

Inland waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6
meters; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 meters

Ports: Kampong Saom, Phnom Penh

Airports: 22 total, 9 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: service barely adequate for government
requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public; international
service limited to Vietnam and other adjacent countries; stations--1 AM,
no FM, 1 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: SOC--Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF); Communist
resistance forces--National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge);
non-Communist resistance forces--Armee National Kampuchea Independent
(ANKI) which is sometimes anglicized as National Army of Independent
Cambodia (NAIC) and Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces
(KPNLAF)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,869,880; 1,030,356 fit for
military service; 57,288 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * CAMEROON

CAMEROON

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 475,440 km2; land area: 469,440 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries: 4,591 km total; Central African Republic 797 km,
Chad 1,094 km, Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km,
Nigeria 1,690 km

Coastline: 402 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 50 nm

Disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad,
the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed
and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria;
Nigerian proposals to reopen maritime boundary negotiations and
redemarcate the entire land boundary have been rejected by Cameroon

Climate: varies with terrain from tropical along coast to semiarid
and hot in north

Terrain: diverse with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau
in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Natural resources: crude oil, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
hydropower potential

Land use: arable land 13%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
18%; forest and woodland 54%; other 13%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous
gases; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification

Note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 11,390,374 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 41 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 118 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 53 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Cameroonian(s); adjective--Cameroonian

Ethnic divisions: over 200 tribes of widely differing background;
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%,
Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%,
non-African less than 1%

Religion: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%

Language: English and French (official), 24 major African language
groups

Literacy: 54% (male 66%, female 43%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: NA; agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%,
other services 14.2% (1983); 50% of population of working age (15-64
years) (1985)

Organized labor: under 45% of wage labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Cameroon

Type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition
parties legalized 1990)

Capital: Yaounde

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under
French administration; formerly French Cameroon)

Constitution: 20 May 1972

Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982);

Head of Government interim Prime Minister Sadou HAYATOU (since
25 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic
Movement (RDPC), Paul BIYA, president, is government-controlled and was
formerly the only party; 17 parties formed by 1 May 1991

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held 24 April 1988 (next to be held April 1993);
results--President Paul BIYA reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 24 April 1988 (next to be
held by the end of 1992);
results--RDPC was the only party;
seats--(180 total) RDPC 180

Communists: no Communist party or significant number of
sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: NA

Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA,
FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA,
UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Paul PONDI; Chancery at
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC  20008; telephone (202)
265-8790 through 8794;

US--Ambassador Frances D. COOK; Embassy at Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
(mailing address is B. P. 817, Yaounde); telephone  [phone]; there is
a US Consulate General in Douala

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and
yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: Over the past decade the economy has registered a
remarkable performance because of the development of an offshore oil
industry. Real GDP growth annually averaged 10% from 1978 to 1985. In
1986 Cameroon had one of the highest levels of income per capita in
tropical Africa, with oil revenues picking up the slack as growth in
other sectors softened. Because of the sharp drop in oil prices, however,
the economy experienced serious budgetary difficulties and
balance-of-payments disequilibrium. Despite the recent upsurge in oil
prices, Cameroon's economic outlook is troubled. Oil reserves currently
being exploited will be depleted in the early 1990s, so ways must be
found to boost agricultural and industrial exports in the medium term.
The Sixth Cameroon Development Plan (1986-91) stresses balanced
development and designates agriculture as the basis of the country's
economic future.

GDP: $11.5 billion, per capita $1,040; real growth rate 0.7%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (FY88)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $2.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA million (FY89)

Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum products 56%, coffee, cocoa, timber,
manufactures;

partners--EC (particularly the French) about 50%, US 10%

Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machines and electrical equipment, transport equipment,
chemical products, consumer goods;

partners--France 41%, Germany 9%, US 4%

External debt: $4.9 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 6.4% (FY87); accounts
for 30% of GDP

Electricity: 752,000 kW capacity; 2,940 million kWh produced,
270 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: crude oil products, food processing, light consumer
goods industries textiles, sawmills

Agriculture: the agriculture and forestry sectors provide
employment for the majority of the population, contributing nearly 25%
to GDP and providing a high degree of self-sufficiency in staple foods;
commercial and food crops include coffee, cocoa, timber, cotton, rubber,
bananas, oilseed, grains, livestock, root starches

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $440
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $29 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $125 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs
(CFAF) per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989),
297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,003 km total; 858 km 1.000-meter gauge, 145 km
0.600-meter gauge

Highways: about 65,000 km total; includes 2,682 km bituminous,
30,000 km unimproved earth, 32,318 km gravel, earth, and improved earth

Inland waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance

Ports: Douala

Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
24,122 GRT/33,509 DWT

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft

Airports: 60 total, 52 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 21 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good system of open wire, cable, troposcatter,
and radio relay; 26,000 telephones; stations--10 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 2
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force; paramilitary
Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,628,909; 1,324,899 fit for
military service; 125,421 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $219 million, 1.7% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * CANADA

CANADA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 9,976,140 km2; land area: 9,220,970 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than US

Land boundaries: 8,893 km with US (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Coastline: 243,791 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary disputes with France (Saint Pierre and
Miquelon) and US

Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in
north

Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
southeast

Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, crude oil, natural gas

Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 3%; forest and woodland 35%; other 57%; includes NEGL%
irrigated

Environment: 80% of population concentrated within 160 km of US
border; continuous permafrost in north a serious obstacle to development

Note: second-largest country in world (after USSR); strategic
location between USSR and US via north polar route

PEOPLE
Population: 26,835,036 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Canadian(s); adjective--Canadian

Ethnic divisions: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%,
other European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%

Religion: Roman Catholic 46%, United Church 16%, Anglican 10%

Language: English and French (both official)

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

Labor force: 13,380,000; services 75%, manufacturing 14%,
agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4% (1988)

Organized labor: 30.6% of labor force; 39.6% of nonagricultural
paid workers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: confederation with parliamentary democracy

Capital: Ottawa

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta,
British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)

Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to
Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs

Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where
civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an
upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or House of Commons
(Chambre des Communes)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Raymond John HNATSHYN (since 29 January
1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister (Martin) Brian MULRONEY (since
4 September 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Donald Frank MAZANKOWSKI (since
NA June 1986)

Political parties and leaders:
Progressive Conservative, Brian MULRONEY;
Liberal, Jean CHRETIEN;
New Democratic, Audrey McLAUGHLIN

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Commons--last held 21 November 1988 (next to be
held by November 1993);
results--Progressive Conservative 43.0%, Liberal 32%,
New Democratic Party 20%, other 5%;
seats--(295 total) Progressive Conservative 159, Liberal 80, New
Democratic Party 44, independent 12

Communists: 3,000

Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB,
BIS, C, CCC, CDB, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Derek BURNEY; Chancery at
1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
785-1400; there are Canadian Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston,
Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis,
New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle;

US--Ambassador Edward N. NEY; Embassy at 100 Wellington Street,
K1P 5T1, Ottawa (mailing address is P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY
13669-0430); telephone [phone], 25106, 25271, and 25170; there
are US Consulates General in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver

Flag: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double
width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada
today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented
economic system, and pattern of production. Since World War II the
impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has
transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily
industrial and urban. In the 1980s Canada registered one of the highest
rates of real growth among the OECD nations, averaging about 3.2%. With
its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital
plant, Canada has excellent economic prospects. In mid-1990, however, the
long-simmering problems between English- and French-speaking areas
became so acute that observers spoke openly of a possible split in the
confederation; foreign investors were becoming edgy.

GDP: $516.7 billion, per capita $19,500; real growth rate 0.9%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 8.1% (1990)

Budget: revenues $105.8 billion; expenditures $131.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)

Exports: $126.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--newsprint, wood pulp, timber, grain, crude petroleum,
machinery, natural gas, ferrous and nonferrous ores, motor vehicles
and parts;

partners--US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, USSR

Imports: $116.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--processed foods, beverages, crude petroleum,
chemicals, industrial machinery, motor vehicles and parts, durable
consumer goods, electronic computers;

partners--US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico

External debt: $247 billion (1987)

Industrial production: growth rate - 2.7% (1990); accounts for 34%
of GDP

Electricity: 105,000,000 kW capacity; 500,000 million kWh produced,
18,840 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products,
wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish
products, petroleum and natural gas

Agriculture: accounts for about 3% of GDP; one of the world's major
producers and exporters of grain (wheat and barley); key source of US
agricultural imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land
area; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric
tons, of which 75% is exported

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic
drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant
large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $7.2
billion

Currency: Canadian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Canadian dollar
(Can$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1--1.1559
(January 1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260
(1987), 1.3895 (1986), 1.3655 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 93,544 km total; two major transcontinental freight
railway systems--Canadian National (government owned) and Canadian
Pacific Railway; passenger service--VIA (government operated)

Highways: 884,272 km total; 712,936 km surfaced (250,023 km paved),
171,336 km earth

Inland waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway

Pipelines: oil, 23,564 km total crude and refined; natural gas,
74,980 km

Ports: Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick),
Saint John's (Newfoundland), Toronto, Vancouver

Merchant marine: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 532,062
GRT/727,118 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 5 short-sea passenger, 2
passenger-cargo, 13 cargo, 2 railcar carrier, 1 refrigerated cargo, 8
roll-on/roll-off, 1 container, 27 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 8 bulk; note--does not
include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes

Civil air: 636 major transport aircraft; Air Canada is the major
carrier

Airports: 1,397 total, 1,154 usable; 443 with permanent-surface
runways; 4 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 328
with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent service provided by modern media;
18.0 million telephones; stations--900 AM, 29 FM, 53 (1,400 repeaters)
TV; 5 coaxial submarine cables; over 300 earth stations operating in
INTELSAT (including 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and domestic
systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Canadian Armed Forces (including Mobile Command,
Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Canadian Forces
Europe, Training Commands), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 7,243,909; 6,297,520 fit for
military service; 188,996 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $11.3 billion, 2% of GDP (FY90)



  * CAPE VERDE

CAPE VERDE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 4,030 km2; land area: 4,030 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 965 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; warm, dry, summer precipitation very erratic

Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin,
fish

Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 6%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 85%; includes irrigated
1%

Environment: subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can
obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active; deforestation;
overgrazing

Note: strategic location 500 km from African coast near major
north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea
and air refueling site

PEOPLE
Population: 386,501 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 63 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 63 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Cape Verdean(s); adjective--Cape Verdean

Ethnic divisions: Creole (mulatto) about 71%, African 28%, European
1%

Religion: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Language: Portuguese and Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West
African words

Literacy: 66% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)

Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.); agriculture (mostly subsistence)
57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981); 51% of population of working age
(1985)

Organized labor: Trade Unions of Cape Verde Unity Center (UNTC-CS)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Cape Verde

Type: republic

Capital: Praia

Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto
Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau,
Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Constitution: 7 September 1980; amended 12 February 1981,
NA December 1988, and 28 September 1990 (legalized opposition parties)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy minister,
secretaries of state, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly
(Assembleia Nacional Popular)

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de
Justia)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Antonio Mascarenhas MONTEIRO (since
22 March 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA (since
13 January 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and
chairman;
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro
Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 17 February 1991
(next to be held February 1996);
results--Antonio Mascarenhas MONTEIRO (MPD) received 72.6% of vote;

People's National Assembly--last held 13 January 1991
(next to be held January 1996);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23; note--this multiparty Assembly
election ended 15 years of single-party rule

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Luis de Matos Monteiro da
FONSECA; Chancery at 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007;
telephone [phone]; there is a Cape Verdean Consulate General in
Boston;

US--Ambassador Francis T. (Terry) McNAMARA; Embassy at Rua Hojl Ya
Yenna 81, Praia (mailing address is C. P. 201, Praia); telephone
 238  614-363 or 614-253

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with
a vertical red band on the hoist side; in the upper portion of the red
band is a black five-pointed star framed by two corn stalks and a
yellow clam shell; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Guinea-Bissau which is longer and has an
unadorned black star centered in the red band

ECONOMY
Overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural
resource base, a 17-year drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is
service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services
accounting for 65% of GDP during the period 1985-88. Although nearly
70% of the population lives in rural areas, agriculture's share of GDP is
only 16%; the fishing sector accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be
imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully
exploited. In 1988 fishing represented only 3.5% of GDP. Cape Verde
annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from
emigrants and foreign aid.

GDP: $262 million, per capita $740; real growth rate 3.2%
(1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.2% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1988)

Budget: revenues $98.3 million; expenditures $138.4
million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)

Exports: $10.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--fish, bananas, salt;

partners--Portugal, Angola, Algeria, France, Italy

Imports: $107.8 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--petroleum, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial
products;

partners--Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, France, Brazil, FRG

External debt: $150 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for
7% of GDP

Electricity: 13,000 kW capacity; 15 million kWh produced,
40 kWh per capita (1990)

Industry: fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship
repair, construction materials, food and beverage production

Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP; largely subsistence farming;
bananas are the only export crop; other crops--corn, beans, sweet
potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector limited by
poor soils and limited rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch
provides for both domestic consumption and small exports

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-89), $88
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $590 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $36 million

Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (plural--escudos); 1 Cape Verdean
escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per
US$1--64.10 (November 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988), 72.5
(1987), 76.56 (1986), 85.38 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Mindelo and Praia

Merchant marine: 7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,708
GRT/19,000 DWT

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft (4 owned, 1 leased)

Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: interisland radio relay system, high-frequency
radio to mainland Portugal and Guinea-Bissau; 1,740 telephones;
stations--5 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP)--Army and
Navy are separate components of FARP; Militia, Security Service

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 70,771; 41,844 fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $15 million, 11% of GDP (1981)



  * CAYMAN ISLANDS

CAYMAN ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 160 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and
cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
8%; forest and woodland 23%; other 69%

Environment: within the Caribbean hurricane belt

Note: important location between Cuba and Central America

PEOPLE
Population: 27,489 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian

Ethnic divisions: 40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates
of various ethnic groups

Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations

Language: English

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%,
construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business
managers 5.9% (1979)

Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: George Town

Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,
South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Legal system: British common law and local statutes

Constitution: 1959, revised 1972

National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 1 July
1991

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987);

Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council
Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)

Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988
(next to be held November 1992); results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(15 total, 12 elected)

Communists: none

Member of: CDB, IOC

Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK;

US--none

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a
shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at
the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP
and 75% of export earnings) and offshore financial services, with
the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering
mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and
consumer goods needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the
highest standards of living in the region.

GDP: $342 million, per capita $13,670 (1989); real growth
rate 15% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $76 million; expenditures $56 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.);

commodities--turtle products, manufactured consumer goods;

partners--mostly US

Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods;

partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

External debt: $15 million (1986)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced,
9,710 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
building materials, furniture making

Agriculture: minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock;
turtle farming

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $35.0 million

Currency: Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar
(CI$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--1.20 (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 160 km of main roads

Ports: George Town, Cayman Brac

Merchant marine: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 372,732
GRT/604,395 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 6 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
2 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 9 bulk; note--a flag of
convenience registry

Airports: 3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1
submarine coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to
link islands and access international services; stations--2 AM, 1 FM,
no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 622,980 km2; land area: 622,980 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: 5,203 km total; Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km,
Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills
in northeast and southwest

Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 64%; other 28%

Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas;
poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges;
desertification

Note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 2,952,382 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 138 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 49 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Central African(s); adjective--Central African

Ethnic divisions: about 80 ethnic groups, the majority of which
have related ethnic and linguistic characteristics; Baya 34%, Banda 27%,
Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%; 6,500 Europeans, of whom
3,600 are French

Religion: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic
25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%; animistic beliefs and practices strongly
influence the Christian majority

Language: French (official); Sangho (lingua franca and national
language); Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili

Literacy: 27% (male 33%, female 15%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.); agriculture 85%, commerce and
services 9%, industry 3%, government 3%; about 64,000 salaried workers;
55% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: 1% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Central African Republic (no short-form name);
abbreviated CAR

Type: republic, one-party presidential regime since 1986

Capital: Bangui

Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
singular--prefecture) and 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures
economiques, singular--prefecture economique); Bamingui-Bangoran,
Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou,
Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka,
Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga; note--there may be a new
autonomous commune of Bangui

Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France; formerly Central African
Empire)

Constitution: 21 November 1986

Legal system: based on French law

National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the republic),
1 December (1958)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale) advised by the Economic and Regional Council (Conseil
Economique et Regional); when they sit together this is known
as the Congress (Congres)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President
Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Centrafrican Democrtic
Rally Party (RDC), Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held 21 November 1986
(next to be held November 1993);
results--President KOLINGBA was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 31 July 1987 (next to be
held July 1992);
results--RDC is the only party;
seats--(52 total) RDC 52

Communists: small number of Communist sympathizers

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ,
G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET;
Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
483-7800 or 7801;

US--Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON; Embassy at Avenue du President
David Dacko, Bangui (mailing address is B. P. 924, Bangui);
telephone 61-02-00 or 61-25-78, 61-43-33

Flag: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and
yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed
star on the hoist side of the blue band

ECONOMY
Overview: The Central African Republic (CAR) had a per capita
income of roughly $440 in 1990. Subsistence agriculture, including
forestry, is the backbone of the economy, with over 70% of the population
living in the countryside. In 1988 the agricultural sector generated
about 40% of GDP. Agricultural products accounted for about 60% of export
earnings and the diamond industry for 30%. Important constraints to
economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor
transportation infrastructure, and a weak human resource base.
Multilateral and bilateral development assistance plays a major role in
providing capital for new investment.

GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $440; real growth rate 2.0%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 4.2% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% in Bangui (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $132 million; current expenditures $305 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA million (1989 est.)

Exports: $148 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco;

partners--France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US

Imports: $239 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery,
electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
consumer goods, industrial products;

partners--France, other EC, Japan, Algeria, Yugoslavia

External debt: $671 million (December 1989)

Industrial production: 0.8% (1988); accounts for 12% of GDP

Electricity: 35,000 kW capacity; 84 million kWh produced,
30 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles,
footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; self-sufficient in food
production except for grain; commercial crops--cotton, coffee, tobacco,
timber; food crops--manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $38 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 22,000 km total; 458 km bituminous, 10,542 km improved
earth, 11,000 unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of
shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 66 total, 49 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system; network relies primarily on radio
relay links, with low-capacity, low-powered radiocommunication also used;
6,000 telephones; stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Central African Armed Forces, Air Force, National
Gendarmerie, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 659,802; 345,049 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $23 million, 1.8% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * CHAD

CHAD

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,284,000 km2; land area: 1,259,200 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
California

Land boundaries: 5,968 km total; Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African
Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan
1,360 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: Libya claims and occupies the 100,000 km2 Aozou
Strip in the far north; demarcation of international boundaries in
Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past,
is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
Nigeria

Climate: tropical in south, desert in north

Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains
in northwest, lowlands in south

Natural resources: crude oil (unexploited but exploration
beginning), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 36%; forest and woodland 11%; other 51%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
drought and desertification adversely affecting south; subject to plagues
of locusts

Note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body
in the Sahel

PEOPLE
Population: 5,122,467 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 22 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 134 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 39 years male, 41 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Chadian(s); adjective--Chadian

Ethnic divisions: some 200 distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are
Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi,
Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba) in the north and center and non-Muslims
(Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) in the south;
some 150,000 nonindigenous, of whom 1,000 are French

Religion: Muslim 44%, Christian 33%, indigenous beliefs, animism
23%

Language: French and Arabic (official); Sara and Sango in south;
more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken

Literacy: 30% (male 42%, female 18%)
age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic (1990 est.)

Labor force: NA; agriculture (engaged in unpaid subsistence
farming, herding, and fishing) 85%

Organized labor: about 20% of wage labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Chad

Type: republic

Capital: N'Djamena

Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
singular--prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti,
Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental,
Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile

Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution: 22 December 1989, suspended 3 December 1990;
Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991

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

National holiday: NA

Executive branch: president, Council of State (cabinet)

Legislative branch: the National Consultative Council (Conseil
National Consultatif) was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by
the Provisional Council of the Republic; 30 members appointed by
President DEBY on 8 March 1991

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Col. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Jean LINGUE Bawoyeu
(since 8 March 1991)

Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS;
former dissident group), Idriss DEBY, chairman; President DEBY has
promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by
September 1993; numerous dissident groups

Suffrage: universal at age NA

Elections:

President--last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA);
results--President Hissein HABRE was elected without opposition;
note--the government of then President HABRE fell on 1 December 1990
and Idriss DEBY seized power on 3 December 1990;

National Consultative Council--last held 8 July 1990;
disbanded 3 December 1990

Communists: no front organizations or underground party; probably a
few Communists and some sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: NA

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Mahamat Ali ADOUM; Chancery
at 2002 R Steet NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN; Embassy at Avenue Felix
Eboue, N'Djamena (mailing address is B. P. 413, N'Djamena); telephone
 235  (51) 62-18, 40-09

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra
which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered
in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

ECONOMY
Overview: The climate, geographic location, and lack of
infrastructure and natural resources potential make Chad one of the most
underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is burdened by
the ravages of civil war, conflict with Libya, drought, and food
shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its 1977 level, with cotton,
the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports. Over 80%
of the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing.
Industry is based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural
products, including cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly
dependent on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions
suffering from shortages. Oil companies are exploring areas north of
Lake Chad and in the Doba basin in the south.

GDP: $1,015 million, per capita $205; real growth rate 0.9% (1989
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 4.9% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget: revenues $78 million; expenditures $127 million, not
including capital expenditures that are mostly financed by foreign
aid donors (1989 est.)

Exports: $174 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish;

partners--France, Nigeria, Cameroon

Imports: $264 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment 39%,
industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%;
note--excludes military equipment;

partners--US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon


External debt: $530 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for
nearly 15% of GDP

Electricity: 38,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 14 kWh
per capita (1989)

Industries: cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron
(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes

Agriculture: accounts for about 45% of GDP; largely subsistence
farming; cotton most important cash crop; food crops include sorghum,
millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc; livestock--cattle, sheep, goats,
camels; self-sufficient in food in years of adequate rainfall

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $80 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous; 7,300 km gravel and
laterite; remainder unimproved

Inland waterways: 2,000 km navigable

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 70 total, 54 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 23 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of radiocommunication stations for
intercity links; 5,000 telephones; stations--3 AM, 1 FM, limited TV
service; many facilities are inoperative; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Patriotic Salvation Force (FPS; Army, Air Force),
paramilitary Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,188,222; 616,932 fit for
military service; 51,713 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $39 million, 4.3% of GDP (1988)



  * CHILE

CHILE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 756,950 km2; land area: 748,800 km2; includes Isla de
Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez

Comparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

Land boundaries: 6,171 km total; Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia
861 km, Peru 160 km

Coastline: 6,435 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is
indefinite; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South
Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884;
dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in
Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine
claim

Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south

Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged
Andes in east

Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious
metals, molybdenum

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 16%; forest and woodland 21%; other 56%; includes irrigated
2%

Environment: subject to severe earthquakes, active volcanism,
tsunami; Atacama Desert one of world's driest regions; desertification

Note: strategic location relative to sea lanes between
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake
Passage)

PEOPLE
Population: 13,286,620 (July 1991), growth rate 1.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Chilean(s); adjective--Chilean

Ethnic divisions: European and European-Indian 95%, Indian 3%,
other 2%

Religion: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, and small Jewish
population

Language: Spanish

Literacy: 93% (male 94%, female 93%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,840,000; services 38.6% (includes government 12%)
38.6%; industry and commerce 31.3%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing
15.9%; mining 8.7%; construction 4.4% (1985)

Organized labor: 11% of labor force (1990)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Chile

Type: republic

Capital: Santiago

Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones,
singular--region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo,
Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador
General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica
Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso;
note--the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981;
amended 30 July 1989

Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and
subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso
Nacional) consisting of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower
house or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Patricio
AYLWIN (since 11 March 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Concertation of Parties for Democracy now consists mainly of six
parties--Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Andres ZALDIVAR;
Party for Democracy (PPD), Erich SCHNAKE;
Radical Party (PR), Mario ASTORGA;
Democratic Socialist Radical Party (PRSD), Jorge IBANEZ;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Rene ABELIUK; and
Socialist Party, Jorge ARRATE;
National Renovation (RN), Andres ALLAMAND;
Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Joaquin LAVIN;
Communist Party of Chile (PCCh), Volodia TEITELBOIM;
Movement of Revolutionary Left (MIR) is splintered, no single
leader

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 14 December 1989
(next to be held December 1993 or January 1994);
results--Patricio AYLWIN (PDC) 55.2%, Hernan BUCHI 29.4%, other 15.4%;

Senate--last held 14 December 1989
(next to be held December 1993 or January 1994); seats--(46 total, 38 elected)
Concertation of Parties for Democracy 22 (PDC 13, PPD 5, PR 2, PSD 1,
PRSD 1), RN 6, UDI 2, independents 8;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 14 December 1989
(next to be held December 1993 or January 1994); seats--(120 total)
Concertation of Parties for Democracy 72 (PDC 38, PPD 17, PR 5, other
12), RN 29, UDI 11, right-wing independents 8

Communists: The PCCh is currently in the process of regaining
legal party status and has less than 60,000 members

Other political or pressure groups: revitalized university student
federations at all major universities dominated by opposition political
groups; labor--United Labor Central (CUT) includes trade unionists from
the country's five-largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church

Member of: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Patricio SILVA Echenique;
Chancery at 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone
[phone]; there are Chilean Consulates General in Chicago, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Charles A. GILLESPIE, Jr.; Embassy at Codina
Building, 1343 Agustinas, Santiago (mailing address is APO Miami 34033);
telephone  56  (2) 710133 or 710190, 710326, 710375

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a
blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of
the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center;
design was based on the US flag

ECONOMY
Overview: In 1990 economic growth slowed from an average of 6.2%
for the previous six years to about 1.5% as a result of tight monetary
policy aimed at reducing inflation. Monetary policy was not
successful at slowing price increases until the end of the year,
however, and inflation, stimulated by higher world oil prices,
increased to 27.3% in 1990 from 21.4% in 1989. Copper prices held strong
in 1990, helping to maintain a balance-of-payments surplus and increase
international reserves. Most observers expect that inflationary
pressures have run their course and price increases will slow during
1991, contributing to growth of 4-5%.

GDP: $26 billion, per capita $2,000; real growth rate 2.0% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1990)

Budget: revenues $6.6 billion; expenditures $7.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $575 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--copper 48%, industrial products 33%, molybdenum,
iron ore, wood pulp, fishmeal, fruits;

partners--EC 34%, US 22%, Japan 10%, Brazil 7%

Imports: $7.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, wheat, capital goods, spare parts, raw
materials;

partners--EC 23%, US 20%, Japan 10%, Brazil 9%

External debt: $18.4 billion (February 1991)

Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1990);
accounts for 30% of GDP

Electricity: 4,138,000 kW capacity; 17,784 million kWh produced,
1,360 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing,
iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement,
textiles

Agriculture: accounts for about 8% of GDP (including fishing and
forestry); major exporter of fruit, fish, and timber products; major
crops--wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, deciduous
fruit; livestock products--beef, poultry, wool; self-sufficient in most
foods; 1986 fish catch of 5.6 million metric tons net agricultural
importer

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $521
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $386 million

Currency: Chilean peso (plural--pesos);
1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1--337.24 (January
1991), 305.06 (1990), 267.16 (1989), 245.05 (1988), 219.54 (1987), 193.02
(1986), 161.08 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 8,613 km total; 4,257 km 1.676-meter gauge, 135 km
1.435-meter standard gauge, 4,221 km 1.000-meter gauge; electrification,
1,865 km 1.676-meter gauge, 80 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 79,025 km total; 9,913 km paved, 33,140 km gravel,
35,972 km improved and unimproved earth (1984)

Inland waterways: 725 km

Pipelines: crude oil, 755 km; refined products, 785 km;
natural gas, 320 km

Ports: Antofagasta, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas,
Valparaiso, San Antonio, Talcahuano, Arica

Merchant marine: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 485,935
GRT/800,969 DWT; includes 14 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1
chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 3 combination ore/oil, 9 bulk;
note--in addition, 2 naval tanker and 2 military transport are sometimes
used commercially

Civil air: 22 major transport aircraft

Airports: 392 total, 353 usable; 50 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
55 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern telephone system based on extensive
radio relay facilities; 768,000 telephones; stations--159 AM, no FM,
131 TV, 11 shortwave; satellite stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3
domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (including Naval Air
and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National
Police)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 3,544,962; 2,647,148 fit for
military service; 119,511 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $737 million, 3% of GNP (1991 est.)



  * CHINA

CHINA
(also see separate Taiwan entry)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 9,596,960 km2; land area: 9,326,410 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than the US

Land boundaries: 23,213.34 km total; Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan
470 km, Burma 2,185 km, Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, North Korea
1,416 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia 4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km,
Pakistan 523 km, USSR 7,520 km, Vietnam 1,281 km

Coastline: 14,500 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: claim to shallow areas of East China Sea
and Yellow Sea

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: boundary with India; bilateral negotiations are under
way to resolve disputed sections of the boundary with the USSR; a short
section of the boundary with North Korea is indefinite; sporadic border
clashes with Vietnam; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly
Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; maritime
boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands
occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims
Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands)

Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains,
deltas, and hills in east

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, crude oil, mercury, tin,
tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum,
lead, zinc, uranium, world's largest hydropower potential

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 31%; forest and woodland 14%; other 45%; includes irrigated 5%

Environment: frequent typhoons (about five times per year along
southern and eastern coasts), damaging floods, tsunamis, earthquakes;
deforestation; soil erosion; industrial pollution; water pollution;
air pollution; desertification

Note: world's third-largest country (after USSR and Canada)

PEOPLE
Population: 1,151,486,981 (July 1991), growth rate 1.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 33 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Chinese (sing., pl.); adjective--Chinese

Ethnic divisions: Han Chinese 93.3%; Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi,
Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities
6.7%

Religion: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and
eclectic; most important elements of religion are Confucianism, Taoism,
and Buddhism; Muslim 2-3%, Christian 1% (est.)

Language: Standard Chinese (Putonghua) or Mandarin (based on the
Beijing dialect); also Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei
(Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, and
minority languages (see ethnic divisions)

Literacy: 73% (male 84%, female 62%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 553,000,000; agriculture and forestry 60%, industry
and commerce 25%, construction and mining 5%, social services 5%,
other 5% (1989 est.)

Organized labor: All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU)
follows the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party; membership over 80
million or about 65% of the urban work force (1985)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: People's Republic of China; abbreviated PRC

Type: Communist Party-led state

Capital: Beijing

Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and
plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3
municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**, Fujian,
Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan,
Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*,
Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**,
Xinjiang*, Xizang*, Yunnan, Zhejiang; note--China considers Taiwan its
23rd province

Independence: unification under the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty 221 BC,
Qing (Ch'ing or Manchu) Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February
1912, People's Republic established 1 October 1949

Constitution: 4 December 1982

Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely
criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new
legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being
made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law

National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949)

Executive branch: president, vice president, premier, five vice
premiers, State Council

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress (Quanguo
Renmin Daibiao Dahui)

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto)--DENG
Xiaoping (since mid-1977);

Chief of State--President YANG Shangkun (since 8 April 1988);
Vice President WANG Zhen (since 8 April 1988);

Head of Government--Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since
24 November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988);
Vice Premier YAO Yilin (since 2 July 1979);
Vice Premier TIAN Jiyun (since 20 June 1983);
Vice Premier WU Xueqian (since 12 April 1988);
Vice Premier ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991);
Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Chinese Communist Party
(CCP), JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee (since
NA June 1989)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 8 April 1988 (next to be held March 1993);
YANG Shangkun was nominally elected by the Seventh National People's
Congress;

National People's Congress--last held NA March 1988 (next to
be held March 1993); results--CCP is the only party but there are
also independents;
seats--(2,976 total) CCP and independents 2,976 (indirectly elected
at county or xian level)

Communists: 49,000,000 party members (1990 est.)

Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition as
exists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party and
government organization, that vary by issue

Member of: AfDB, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UN Security
Council, UN Trusteeship Council, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador ZHU Qizhen; Chancery at
2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] through 2502; there are Chinese Consulates
General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador James R. LILLEY; Embassy at Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3,
Beijing (mailing address is 100600, PRC Box 50, Beijing or FPO San
Francisco 96655-0001); telephone  86  (1) 532-3831; there are US
Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang

Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller
yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle
of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

ECONOMY
Overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been
trying to move the economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally
planned economy to a more productive and flexible economy with market
elements--but still within the framework of monolithic Communist control.
To this end the authorities have switched to a system of household
responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization,
increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in
industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services
and light manufacturing, and opened the foreign economic sector to
increased trade and joint ventures. The most gratifying result has been a
strong spurt in production, particularly in agriculture in the early
1980s. Otherwise, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid
system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude,
corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation).
Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls
at intervals and thereby undermining the credibility of the reform
process. Popular resistance and changes in central policy have
weakened China's population control program, which is essential to the
nation's long-term economic viability.

GNP: $413 billion (1989 est.), per capita $370 (World Bank est.);
real growth rate 5% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.6% in urban areas (1990)

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA

Exports: $62.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--textiles, garments, telecommunications and recording
equipment, petroleum, minerals;

partners--Hong Kong, US, Japan, USSR, Singapore, FRG (1989)

Imports: $53.4 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--specialized industrial machinery, chemicals,
manufactured goods, steel, textile yarn, fertilizer;

partners--Hong Kong, Japan, US, FRG, USSR (1989)

External debt: $51 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7.6% (1990); accounts
for 45% of GNP

Electricity: 117,580,000 kW capacity; 585,000 million kWh produced,
520 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: iron, steel, coal, machine building, armaments,
textiles, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables,
food processing

Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GNP; among the world's largest
producers of rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley,
and pork; commercial crops include cotton, other fibers, and oilseeds;
produces variety of livestock products; basically self-sufficient in
food; fish catch of 8 million metric tons in 1986

Economic aid: donor--to less developed countries (1970-89) $7.0
billion; US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $220.7 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
$13.5 billion

Currency: yuan (plural--yuan); 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao

Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1--5.31 (April 1991),
4.7832 (1990), 3.7651 (1989), 3.7221 (1988), 3.7221 (1987), 3.4528
(1986), 2.9367 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: total about 54,000 km common carrier lines; 53,400 km
1.435-meter standard gauge;  600 km 1.000-meter gauge;
all single track except 11,200 km double track on standard-gauge lines;
6,500 km electrified; 10,000 km industrial lines
(gauges range from 0.762 to 1.067 meters)

Highways: about 980,000 km all types roads; 162,000 km paved
roads, 617,200 km gravel/improved earth roads, 200,800 km unimproved
natural earth roads and tracks

Inland waterways: 138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable

Pipelines: crude, 6,500 km; refined products, 1,100 km; natural
gas, 6,200 km

Ports: Dalian, Guangzhou, Huangpu, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,
Xingang, Zhanjiang, Ningbo, Xiamen, Tanggu, Shantou

Merchant marine: 1,421 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
14,010,317 GRT/21,223,170 DWT; includes 24 passenger, 42 short-sea
passenger, 19 passenger-cargo, 7 cargo/training, 776 cargo, 11
refrigerated cargo, 70 container, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2
multifunction barge carrier, 181 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 9 chemical tanker, 250 bulk, 2 liquefied gas, 2 vehicle carrier,
9 combination bulk; note--China beneficially owns an additional 183 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 5,921,000 DWT that operate
under Maltese and Liberian registry

Airports: 330 total, 330 usable; 260 with permanent-surface
runways; fewer than 10 with runways over 3,500 m; 90 with runways
2,440-3,659 m; 200 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic and international services are
increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed internal
system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and most townships;
11,000,000 telephones (December 1989); stations--274 AM, unknown FM,
202 (2,050 relays) TV; more than 215 million radio receivers; 75 million
TVs; satellite earth stations--4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, and 55 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Chinese People's Liberation Army (CPLA), CPLA Navy
(including Marines), CPLA Air Force, Chinese People's Armed Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 335,382,062; 187,046,680 fit
for military service; 10,967,622 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GNP



  * CHRISTMAS ISLAND

CHRISTMAS ISLAND
(territory of Australia)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 135 km2; land area: 135 km2

Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 138.9 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Natural resources: phosphate

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: almost completely surrounded by a reef

Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 2,278 (July 1991), growth rate NA% (1991)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Christmas Islander(s), adjective--Christmas
Island

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%;
no indigenous population

Religion: Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman
Catholic 8.2%, Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church
0.4%, Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown
4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)

Language: English

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA; all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining
Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Christmas Island

Type: territory of Australia

Capital: The Settlement

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958

Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of
Australia

National holiday: NA

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia,
administrator, Advisory Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: none

Judicial branch: none

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Administrator A. D. TAYLOR (since NA)

Communists: none

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Flag: the flag of Australia is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been
under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to
develop tourism, with a possible opening date during the first half of
1992.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA

Exports: $NA;

commodities--phosphate;

partners--Australia, NZ

Imports: $NA;

commodities--NA;

partners--NA

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 11,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced,
13,170 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Agriculture: NA

Economic aid: none

Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar
($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Flying Fish Cove

Airports: 1 usable with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 4,000 radios (1982)

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia



  * CLIPPERTON ISLAND

CLIPPERTON ISLAND
(French possession)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 7 km2

Comparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 11.1 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Mexico

Climate: tropical

Terrain: coral atoll

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other (coral) 100%

Environment: reef about 8 km in circumference

Note: located 1,120 km southwest of Mexico in the North Pacific
Ocean; also called Ile de la Passion

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered from French Polynesia
by High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT; note--may have
become a dependency of French Polynesia

ECONOMY
Overview: only economic activity is a tuna fishing station

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS

COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 14 km2; land area: 14 km2; main islands are West Island
and Home Island

Comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 42.6 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about
nine months of the year; moderate rainfall

Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms
and other vegetation

Note: located 1,070 km southwest of Sumatra (Indonesia) in the
Indian Ocean about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka

PEOPLE
Population: 684 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Cocos Islander(s); adjective--Cocos Islander(s)

Ethnic divisions: mostly Europeans on West Island and Cocos Malays
on Home Island

Religion: almost all Sunni Muslims

Language: English

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Type: territory of Australia

Capital: West Island

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

National holiday: NA

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia,
administrator, chairman of the Islands Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Administrator D. LAWRIE (since NA 1989);
Chairman of the Islands Council Parson Bin YAPAT (since NA)

Suffrage: NA

Elections: NA

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Flag: the flag of Australia is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash
crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local
gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food
and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment: NA

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA

Exports: $NA;

commodities--copra;

partners--Australia

Imports: $NA;

commodities--foodstuffs;

partners--Australia

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 1,000 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, 2,980 kWh
per capita (1990)

Industries: copra products

Agriculture: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Economic aid: none

Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar
($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only

Airports: 1 airfield with permanent-surface runway, 1,220-2,439 m;
airport on West Island is a link in service between Australia and South
Africa

Telecommunications: 250 radios (1985); linked by telephone,
telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia



  * COLOMBIA

COLOMBIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,138,910 km2; land area: 1,038,700 km2; includes Isla
de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
Montana

Land boundaries: 7,408 km total; Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km,
Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900, Venezuela 2,050 km

Coastline: 3,208 km total (1,448 km North Pacific Ocean;
1,760 Caribbean Sea)

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specified;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the
Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago
de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in
highlands

Terrain: mixture of flat coastal lowlands, plains in east, central
highlands, some high mountains

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,
gold, copper, emeralds

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
29%; forest and woodland 49%; other 16%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions;
deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; periodic droughts

Note: only South American country with coastlines on both
North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 33,777,550 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Colombian(s); adjective--Colombian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%,
mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%

Language: Spanish

Literacy: 87% (male 88%, female 86%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 11,000,000 (1986); services 53%, agriculture 26%,
industry 21% (1981)

Organized labor: 1,400,000 members (1987), about 12% of labor
force; the Communist-backed Unitary Workers Central or CUT is the largest
labor organization, with about 725,000 members (including all affiliate
unions)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Colombia

Type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Capital: Bogota

Administrative divisions: 23 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento), 5 commissariats* (comisarias,
singular--comisaria), and 4 intendancies** (intendencias,
singular--intendencia);
Amazonas*, Antioquia, Arauca**, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas,
Caqueta, Casanare**, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca,
Guainia*, Guaviare*, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino,
Norte de Santander, Putumayo**, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y
Providencia**, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes*,
Vichada*; note--there may be a new special district (distrito especial)
named Bogota; the Constitution of 5 July 1991 states that the
commissariats and intendancies are to become full departments and a
capital district (distrito capital) of Santa Fe de Bogota is to be
established by 1997

Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Constitution: 5 July 1991

Legal system: based on Spanish law; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Executive branch: president, presidential designate, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of a
nationally elected upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a regionally
elected lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Camara de
Representantes)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Cesar
GAVIRIA Trujillo (since 7 August 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party (PL), Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo, president, and
Alfonso LOPEZ Michelsen, party head;
Social Conservative Party (PCS), Misael PASTRANA Borrero;
National Salvation Movement (MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado;
Democratic Alliance (AD) is headed by 19th of April Movement (M-19)
leader Antonio NAVARRO Wolf, coalition of small leftist parties and
dissident liberals and conservatives;
Patriotic Union (UP), is a legal political party formed by
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian
Communist Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 27 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994);
results--Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo (Liberal) 47%, Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado
(National Salvation Movement) 24%, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff (M-19) 13%,
Rodrigo LLOREDA (Conservative) 12%;

Senate--last held 11 March 1990
(next to be held 27 October 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(114 total) Liberal 72, Conservative 40, UP 1, vacant 1;

Chamber of Representatives last held 11 March 1990 (next to be
held 27 October 1991); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(199 total) Liberal 122, Conservative 68, UP 3, M-19 1, other 5;
note--on 5 July 1991 the new Constitution dissolved Congress and
replaced it with a multiparty 36-member legislative commission until
a new congress, to be elected on 27 October 1991, takes office on 1
December 1991

Communists: 18,000 members (est.), including Communist Party Youth
Organization (JUCO)

Other political or pressure groups: three insurgent groups are
active in Colombia--Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC),
led by Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National Liberation Army (ELN),
led by Manuel PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently demobilized People's
Liberation Army (EPL) led by Francisco CARABALLO

Member of: AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jaime GARCIA Parra; Chancery
at 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];
there are Colombian Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles,
San Diego, and Tampa;

US--Ambassador-designate Morris D. BUSBY; Embassy at Calle 38,
No.8-61, Bogota (mailing address is P. O. Box A. A. 3831, Bogota or
APO Miami 34038); telephone  57  (1) 285-1300 or 1688; there is a US
Consulate in Barranquilla

Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue,
and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic development has slowed gradually since 1986, but
growth rates remain high by Latin American standards. Conservative
economic policies have kept inflation and unemployment near 30% and 10%,
respectively. The rapid development of oil, coal, and other
nontraditional industries over the past four years has helped to offset
the decline in coffee prices--Colombia's major export. The collapse of
the International Coffee Agreement in the summer of 1989, a troublesome
rural insurgency, and drug-related violence dampen prospects for future
growth.

GDP: $43.0 billion, per capita $1,300; real growth rate 3.7% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 32.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 10.4% (urban areas 1990) (1990)

Budget: revenues $4.39 billion; current expenditures $3.93
billion, capital expenditures $1.03 billion (1989 est.)

Exports: $6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--coffee 24%, petroleum, coal, bananas, fresh cut
flowers;

partners--US 36%, EC 21%, Japan 5%, Netherlands 4%, Sweden 3%

Imports: $5.0 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--industrial equipment, transportation equipment,
foodstuffs, chemicals, paper products;

partners--US 34%, EC 16%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 3%, Japan 3%

External debt: $16.7 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.0% (1990 est.); accounts
for 25% of GDP

Electricity: 9,435,000 kW capacity; 36,071 million kWh produced,
1,090 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear,
beverages, chemicals, metal products, cement; mining--gold, coal,
emeralds, iron, nickel, silver, salt

Agriculture: growth rate 4.9% (1990); accounts for 22% of GDP;
crops make up two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural output;
climate and soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as coffee,
rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables;
forest products and shrimp farming are becoming more important

Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of cannabis and coca; key
supplier of marijuana and cocaine to the US and other international drug
markets; drug production and trafficking accounts for an estimated 4%
of GDP and 28% of foreign exchange earnings

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $3.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million

Currency: Colombian peso (plural--pesos);
1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1--574.09 (January
1991), 502.24 (1990), 382.57 (1989), 299.17 (1988), 242.61 (1987), 194.26
(1986), 142.31 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,386 km; 3,236 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track
(2,611 km in use), 150 km 1.435-meter gauge

Highways: 75,450 km total; 9,350 km paved, 66,100 km earth and
gravel surfaces

Inland waterways: 14,300 km, navigable by river boats

Pipelines: crude oil, 3,585 km; refined products, 1,350 km;
natural gas, 830 km; natural gas liquids, 125 km

Ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, San Andres,
Santa Marta, Tumaco

Merchant marine: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 330,316
GRT/484,351 DWT; includes 23 cargo, 1 chemical tanker, 3 petroleum, oils,
and lubricants (POL) tanker, 8 bulk; note--2 naval tankers are
sometimes used commercially

Civil air: 106 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1,165 total, 1,045 usable; 69 with permanent-surface
runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
192 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: nationwide radio relay system; 1,890,000
telephones; stations--413 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 28 shortwave 2 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations with 2 antennas and 11 domestic satellite
stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia), National Police (Policia Nacional)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 8,998,759; 6,102,745 fit for
military service; 353,122 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $892 million, 2.2% of GDP (1990)



  * COMOROS

COMOROS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,170 km2; land area: 2,170 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 340 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte

Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains
to low hills

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 35%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and
pastures 7%; forest and woodland 16%; other 34%

Environment: soil degradation and erosion; deforestation;
cyclones possible during rainy season

Note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

PEOPLE
Population: 476,678 (July 1991), growth rate 3.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 87 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 59 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Comoran(s); adjective--Comoran

Ethnic divisions: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Religion: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%

Language: Shaafi Islam (a Swahili dialect), Malagasy, French

Literacy: 48% (male 56%, female 40%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 140,000 (1982); agriculture 80%, government 3%; 51% of
population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

Type: independent republic

Capital: Moroni

Administrative divisions: 3 islands; Anjouan, Grande Comore,
Moheli; note--there may also be 4 municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Mutsamudu

Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)

Constitution: 1 October 1978, amended October 1982 and January 1985

Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee
Federale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Said
Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990)

Political parties:
Comoran Union for Progress (Udzima), Said Mohamed DJOHAR, president;
National Union for Democracy (UNDC), Mohamed TAKI

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996);
results--Said Mohamed DJOHAR (Udzima) 55%; Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim
(UNDC) 45%;

Federal Assembly--last held 22 March 1987
(next to be held March 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(42 total) Udzima 42

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN; Chancery
(temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th
Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Kenneth N. PELTIER; Embassy at address NA, Moroni
(mailing address B. P. 1318, Moroni); telephone 73-22-03, 73-29-22

Flag: green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of
the crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); there
are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of
the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional
symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the
archipelago--Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a territorial
collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)

ECONOMY
Overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made
up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and
rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low
educational level of the labor force contributes to a low level of
economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign
grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing and
forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes about 40%
to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.
The country is not self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the main
staple, accounts for 90% of imports. During the period 1982-86 the
industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 5.3%, but its
contribution to GDP was only 5% in 1988. Despite major investment in the
tourist industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has
stagnated since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of 1.5% during 1985-90 has
led to large budget deficits, declining incomes, and balance-of-payments
difficulties.

GDP: $245 million, per capita $530; real growth rate 1.5% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1989)

Unemployment rate: over 16% (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $88 million; expenditures $92 million,
including capital expenditures of $13 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $16 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra;

partners--US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)

Imports: $41 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products,
consumer goods;

partners--Europe 62% (France 22%, other 40%), Africa 5%, Pakistan,
China (1988)

External debt: $242 million (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.4% (1988 est.); accounts
for 5% of GDP

Electricity: 16,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced,
55 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry,
construction materials

Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in
subsistence agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for
export--vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, and copra; principal food
crops--coconuts, bananas, cassava; world's leading producer of essence of
ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla; large
net food importer

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $406 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $18 million

Currency: Comoran franc (plural--francs); 1 Comoran franc
(CF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1--256.54 (January
1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30
(1986), 449.26 (1985); note--linked to the French franc at 50 to 1 French
franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 750 km total; about 210 km bituminous, remainder crushed
stone or gravel

Ports: Mutsamudu, Moroni

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency
radio communication stations for interisland and external communications
to Madagascar and Reunion; over 1,800 telephones; stations--2 AM, 1 FM,
1 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Comoran Defense Force (FCD), Federal Gendarmerie (GFC)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 101,332; 60,592 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 3% of GDP (1981)



  * CONGO

CONGO

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 342,000 km2; land area: 341,500 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries: 5,504 km total; Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km,
Central African Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km

Coastline: 169 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Disputes: long section with Zaire along the Congo River is
indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)

Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June
to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern
basin

Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium,
copper, phosphates, natural gas

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 29%; forest and woodland 62%; other 7%

Environment: deforestation; about 70% of the population lives in
Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them

PEOPLE
Population: 2,309,444 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 108 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Congolese (sing., pl.); adjective--Congolese
or Congo

Ethnic divisions: about 15 ethnic groups divided into some 75
tribes, almost all Bantu; most important ethnic groups are Kongo (48%) in
the south, Sangha (20%) and M'Bochi (12%) in the north, Teke (17%) in the
center; about 8,500 Europeans, mostly French

Religion: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Language: French (official); many African languages with Lingala
and Kikongo most widely used

Literacy: 57% (male 70%, female 44%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 79,100 wage earners; agriculture 75%, commerce,
industry, and government 25%; 51% of population of working age; 40% of
population economically active (1985)

Organized labor: 20% of labor force (1979 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of the Congo

Type: republic

Capital: Brazzaville

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions,
singular--region); Bouenza, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala,
Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha; note--there may be a new capital district
of Brazzaville

Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France; formerly
Congo/Brazzaville)

Constitution: 8 July 1979, currently being modified

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

National holiday: National Day, 15 August (1960)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly
(Assemblee Nationale Populaire)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 8 February
1979);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Brig. Gen. Louis-Sylvain
GOMA (since 9 January 1991)

Political parties and leaders: Congolese Labor Party
(PCT), President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, leader; note--multiparty system
legalized, with over 50 parties established

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 26-31 July 1989 (next to be held July 1994);
results--President SASSOU-NGUESSO unanimously reelected leader of the
PCT by the Party Congress, which automatically made him president;

People's National Assembly--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held NA 1994); results--PCT was the only party;
seats--(153 total) single list of candidates nominated by the PCT

Communists: unknown number of Communists and sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist
Youth (UJSC), Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC), Revolutionary Union
of Congolese Women (URFC), General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students
(UGEEC)

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Roger ISSOMBO; Chancery at
4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington DC 20011; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador James Daniel PHILLIPS; Embassy at Avenue
Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville (mailing address is B. P. 1015, Brazzaville,
or Box C, APO New York 09662-0006); telephone [phone] or 83-26-24

Flag: red with the national emblem in the upper hoist-side corner;
the emblem includes a yellow five-pointed star above a crossed hoe and
hammer (like the hammer and sickle design) in yellow, flanked by two
curved green palm branches; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the
economy, providing about two-thirds of government revenues and
exports. In the early 1980s rapidly rising oil revenues enabled Congo
to finance large-scale development projects with growth averaging 5%
annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The world decline in
oil prices, however, has forced the government to launch an austerity
program to cope with declining receipts and mounting foreign debts.

GDP: $2.26 billion, per capita $1,050; real growth rate 0.6%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.6% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $522 million; expenditures $767 million,
including capital expenditures of $141 million (1989)

Exports: $751 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--crude petroleum 72%, lumber, plywood, coffee, cocoa,
sugar, diamonds;

partners--US, France, other EC

Imports: $564 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--foodstuffs, consumer goods, intermediate manufactures,
capital equipment;

partners--France, Italy, other EC, US, FRG, Spain, Japan, Brazil

External debt: $4.5 billion (December 1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.2% (1989); accounts for
33% of GDP, including petroleum

Electricity: 133,000 kW capacity; 300 million kWh produced,
130 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: crude oil, cement, sawmills, brewery, sugar mill, palm
oil, soap, cigarettes

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing and
forestry); cassava accounts for 90% of food output; other crops--rice,
corn, peanuts, vegetables; cash crops include coffee and cocoa; forest
products important export earner; imports over 90% of food needs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $60
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $15 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $338 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 797 km, 1.067-meter gauge, single track (includes 285 km
that are privately owned)

Highways: 12,000 km total; 560 km bituminous surface treated;
850 km gravel, laterite; 5,350 km improved earth; 5,240 km unimproved
roads

Inland waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide
1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; the rest are used for
local traffic only

Pipelines: crude oil 25 km

Ports: Pointe-Noire (ocean port), Brazzaville (river port)

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 50 total, 45 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 18 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: services adequate for government use; primary
network is composed of radio relay routes and coaxial cables; key centers
are Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; 18,100 telephones;
stations--3 AM, 1 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, paramilitary
National People's Militia, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 509,040; 258,861 fit for
military service; 24,068 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $99 million, 4.6% of GDP (1987 est.)



  * COOK ISLANDS

COOK ISLANDS
(free association with New Zealand)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 240 km2; land area: 240 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 1.3 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 120 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or minimum of 200
nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in
south

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops 22%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 74%

Environment: subject to typhoons from November to March

Note: located 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 17,882 (July 1991), growth rate 0.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 24 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Cook Islander(s); adjective--Cook Islander

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and
European 7.7%, Polynesian and other 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%

Religion: Christian, majority of populace members of Cook Islands
Christian Church

Language: English

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 5,810; agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%,
industry 15%, and other 4% (1981)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook
Islands fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook
Islands

Capital: Avarua

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: became self-governing in free association with
New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to
full independence by unilateral action

Constitution: 4 August 1965

National holiday: NA

Executive branch: British monarch, representative of the UK,
representative of New Zealand, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament; note--the House of
Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative
powers

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Representative of the UK Sir Tangaroa TANGAROA (since NA);
Representative of New Zealand Adrian SINCOCK (since NA);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY
(since NA February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since NA
February 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY;
Democratic Tumu Party, Vincent INGRAM;
Democratic Party, Dr. Vincent Pupuke ROBATI;
Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena JONASSEN;
Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

Parliament--last held 19 January 1989
(next to be held by January 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(24 total) Cook Islands Party 12, Democratic
Tumu Party 2, opposition coalition (including Democratic Party) 9,
independent 1

Member of: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, IOC, SPC,
SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing in free association
with New Zealand)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island)
centered in the outer half of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export
earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are
limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories.
Economic development is hindered by the isolation of the islands from
foreign markets and a lack of natural resources and good transportation
links. A large trade deficit is annually made up for by remittances from
emigrants and from foreign aid. Current economic development plans call
for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the fishing industry.

GDP: $40.0 million, per capita $2,200 (1988 est.); real growth rate
5.3% (1986-88 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.0% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $33.8 million; expenditures $34.4 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $4.0 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing;

partners--NZ 80%, Japan

Imports: $38.7 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber;

partners--NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 14,000 kW capacity; 21 million kWh produced,
1,170 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: fruit processing, tourism

Agriculture: export crops--copra, citrus fruits, pineapples,
tomatoes, bananas; subsistence crops--yams, taro

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-89), $128 million

Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars); 1 New Zealand
dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6798 (January
1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088
(1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 187 km total (1980); 35 km paved, 35 km gravel, 84 km
improved earth, 33 km unimproved earth

Ports: Avatiu

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 7 total, 6 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--2 AM, no FM, no TV; 10,000 radio
receivers; 2,052 telephones; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand



  * CORAL SEA ISLANDS

CORAL SEA ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: undetermined; includes numerous small islands and reefs
scattered over a sea area of about 1 million km2, with Willis Islets the
most important

Comparative area: undetermined

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 3,095 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical

Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other, mostly grass or scrub cover 100%;
Lihou Reef Reserve and Coringa-Herald Reserve were declared National
Nature Reserves on 3 August 1982

Environment: subject to occasional tropical cyclones; no permanent
fresh water; important nesting area for birds and turtles

Note: the islands are located just off the northeast coast of
Australia in the Coral Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 3 meteorologists (1991)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Coral Sea Islands Territory

Type: territory of Australia administered by the Minister for
Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories Roslyn
KELLY

Flag: the flag of Australia is used

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorages only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly
by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities
of visitors



  * COSTA RICA

COSTA RICA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 51,100 km2; land area: 50,660 km2; includes Isla del
Coco

Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries: 639 km total; Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Coastline: 1,290 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season
(May to November)

Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

Natural resources: hydropower potential

Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
45%; forest and woodland 34%; other 8%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along
Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season;
active volcanoes; deforestation; soil erosion

PEOPLE
Population: 3,111,403 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Costa Rican(s); adjective--Costa Rican

Ethnic divisions: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian
1%, Chinese 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%

Language: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Literacy: 93% (male 93%, female 93%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 868,300; industry and commerce 35.1%, government and
services 33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: 15.1% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Costa Rica

Type: democratic republic

Capital: San Jose

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon,
Puntarenas, San Jose

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 9 November 1949

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea
Legislativa)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Rafael Angel
CALDERON Fournier (since 8 May 1990); First Vice President German
SERRANO Pinto (since 8 May 1990); Second Vice President Arnoldo LOPEZ
Echandi (since 8 May 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
National Liberation Party (PLN), Rolando ARAYA Monge;
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier;
Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto VARGAS Carbonell;
New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON Ramirez;
Progressive Party (PP), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos;
People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin ChACON Vargas;
Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 4 February 1990
(next to be held February 1994);
results--Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier 51%,
Carlos Manuel CASTILLO 47%;

Legislative Assembly--last held 4 February 1990
(next to be held February 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(57 total) PUSC 29, PLN 25, PVP/PPC 1, regional parties 2

Communists: 7,500 members and sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: Costa Rican Confederation of
Democratic Workers (CCTD; Liberation Party affiliate), Confederated Union
of Workers (CUT; Communist Party affiliate), Authentic Confederation of
Democratic Workers (CATD; Communist Party affiliate), Chamber of Coffee
Growers, National Association for Economic Development (ANFE), Free Costa
Rica Movement (MCRL; rightwing militants), National Association of
Educators (ANDE)

Member of: AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Gonzalo FACIO Segreda;
Chancery at Suite 211, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009;
telephone [phone] through 2947; there are Costa Rican Consulates
General at Albuquerque, Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico),
and Tampa, and Consulates in Austin, Buffalo, Honolulu, and Raleigh;

US--Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert O. HOMME;
Embassy at Pavas Road, San Jose (mailing address is APO Miami 34020);
telephone  [phone]

Flag: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double
width), white, and blue with the coat of arms in a white disk on the
hoist side of the red band

ECONOMY
Overview: In 1990 the economy grew at an estimated 3.5%
rate, a decrease from the strong 5.0% gain of the previous year.
Gains in agricultural production (on the strength of good coffee and
banana crops) and in construction, were partially offset by lower
rates of growth for industry. In 1990 consumer prices rose by about 25%
and the trade deficit widened. Unemployment is officially reported at
6%, but much underemployment remains. External debt, on a per
capita basis, is among the world's highest.

GDP: $5.5 billion, per capita $1,810; real growth rate 3.6% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6% (1990)

Budget: revenues $831 million; expenditures $1.08 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar;

partners--US 75%, FRG, Guatemala, Netherlands, UK, Japan

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, machinery, consumer durables, chemicals,
fertilizer, foodstuffs;

partners--US 35%, Japan, Guatemala, FRG

External debt: $4.5 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1990 est.); accounts for
23% of GDP

Electricity: 927,000 kW capacity; 2,987 million kWh produced,
980 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction
materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Agriculture: accounts for 20-25% of GDP and 70% of exports; cash
commodities--coffee, beef, bananas, sugar; other food crops include corn,
rice, beans, potatoes; normally self-sufficient in food except for
grain; depletion of forest resources resulting in lower timber output

Illicit drugs: illicit production of cannabis on small scattered
plots; transshipment country for cocaine from South America

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $781 million; Communist countries (1971-88), $27 million

Currency: Costa Rican colon (plural--colones);
1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1--105.82 (January
1991), 91.58 (1990), 81.504 (1989), 75.805 (1988), 62.776 (1987), 55.986
(1986), 50.453 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 950 km total, all 1.067-meter gauge; 260 km electrified

Highways: 15,400 km total; 7,030 km paved, 7,010 km gravel,
1,360 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable

Pipelines: refined products, 176 km

Ports: Puerto Limon, Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puntarenas

Merchant marine: 12 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 2,831 GRT/4,506 DWT

Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft

Airports: 173 total, 159 usable; 26 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
11 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: very good domestic telephone service; 292,000
telephones; connection into Central American Microwave System;
stations--71 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 13 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard; note--Constitution
prohibits armed forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 807,853; 545,541 fit for
military service; 32,149 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $20 million, 0.4% of GDP (1988)



  * CUBA

CUBA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 110,860 km2; land area: 110,860 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundary: 29.1 km with US Naval Base at Guantanamo;
note--Guantanamo is leased and as such remains part of Cuba

Coastline: 3,735 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: US Naval Base at Guantanamo is leased to US and only
mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November
to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and
mountains in the southeast

Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese,
salt, timber, silica

Land use: arable land 23%; permanent crops 6%; meadows and pastures
23%; forest and woodland 17%; other 31%; includes irrigated 10%

Environment: averages one hurricane every other year

Note: largest country in Caribbean; 145 km south of Florida

PEOPLE
Population: 10,732,037 (July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Cuban(s); adjective--Cuban

Ethnic divisions: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%

Religion: 85% nominally Roman Catholic before Castro assumed power

Language: Spanish

Literacy: 94% (male 95%, female 93%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,578,800 in state sector; services and government
30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%,
transportation and communications 7% (June 1990); economically active
population 4,620,800 (1988)

Organized labor: Workers Central Union of Cuba (CTC), only labor
federation approved by government; 2,910,000 members; the CTC is an
umbrella organization composed of 17 member unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Cuba

Type: Communist state

Capital: Havana

Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial);
Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma,
Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas,
Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa
Clara

Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898;
administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)

Constitution: 24 February 1976

Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large
elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 January (1959)

Executive branch: president of the Council of State, first vice
president of the Council of State, Council of State, president of the
Council of Ministers, first vice president of the Council of Ministers,
Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of the People's
Power (Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular)

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President of the Council of
State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz
(became Prime Minister in February 1959 and President since 2 December
1976);
First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President
of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December
1976)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Cuban Communist Party
(PCC), Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary

Suffrage: universal at age 16

Elections:

National Assembly of the People's Power--last held NA December 1986
(next to be held December 1991);
results--PCC is the only party;
seats--(510 total) PCC 510 (indirectly elected)

Communists: about 600,000 full and candidate members

Member of: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBEC,
ICAO, IFAD, IIB, ILO, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation
since 1962), OPANAL (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none; protecting power in the US is
Switzerland--Cuban Interests Section; Counselor Jose Antonio ARBESU
Fraga; 2630 and 2639 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202)
797-8518 or 8519, 8520, 8609, 8610;

US--protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland--US Interests Section;
Principal Officer Alan H. FLANIGAN; Calzada entre L y M, Vedado Seccion,
Havana (mailing address is USINT, c/o International Purchasing Group,
2052 NW 93rd Avenue, Miami, FL 33172); telephone 329-700

Flag: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom)
alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist
side bears a white five-pointed star in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy, centrally planned and largely state owned,
is highly dependent on the agricultural sector and foreign trade. Sugar
provides about 75% of export revenues and over half is exported to the
USSR. The economy has stagnated since 1985 under policies that have
deemphasized material incentives in the workplace, abolished farmers'
informal produce markets, and raised prices of government-supplied goods
and services. In 1990 the economy probably fell 3%, largely as a result
of declining trade with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Recently
the government has been trying to increase trade with Latin America and
China. Cuba has had difficulty servicing its foreign debt since 1982. The
government currently is encouraging foreign investment in tourist
facilities. Other investment priorities include sugar, basic foods, and
nickel. The annual $4 billion Soviet subsidy, a main prop to Cuba's
threadbare economy, is likely to show a substantial decline over the
next few years in view of the USSR's mounting economic problems. Instead
of highly subsidized trade, Cuba will be shifting to trade at market
prices in convertible currencies. In early 1991, the shortages of fuels,
spare parts, and industrial products in general had become so severe as
to amount to a deindustrialization process in the eyes of some observers.

GNP: $20.9 billion, per capita $2,000; real growth rate - 3%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment: 6% overall, 10% for women (1989)

Budget: revenues $12.46 billion; expenditures $14.45 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--sugar, nickel, shellfish, citrus, tobacco, coffee;

partners--USSR 67%, GDR 6%, China 4% (1988)

Imports: $8.1 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--capital goods, industrial raw materials, food,
petroleum;

partners--USSR 71%, other Communist countries 15% (1988)

External debt: $6.8 billion (convertible currency, July 1989)

Industrial production: 3% (1988); accounts for 45% of GDP

Electricity: 3,890,000 kW capacity; 16,267 million kWh produced,
1,530 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar milling, petroleum refining, food and tobacco
processing, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals
(particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural
machinery

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP (including fishing and
forestry); key commercial crops--sugarcane, tobacco, and citrus fruits;
other products--coffee, rice, potatoes, meat, beans; world's largest
sugar exporter; not self-sufficient in food (excluding sugar)

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $695 million; Communist countries (1970-89),
$18.5 billion

Currency: Cuban peso (plural--pesos); 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100
centavos

Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1--1.0000 (linked to the
US dollar)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 14,925 km total; Cuban National Railways operates
5,295 km of 1.435-meter gauge track; 199 km electrified; 9,630 km of
sugar plantation lines of 0.914-1.435-meter gauge

Highways: 26,477 km total; 14,477 km paved, 12,000 km gravel
and earth surfaced (1989 est.)

Inland waterways: 240 km

Ports: Cienfuegos, Havana, Mariel, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba;
7 secondary, 35 minor

Merchant marine: 87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
638,462 GRT/925,380 DWT; includes 54 cargo, 9 refrigerated cargo, 2
cargo/training, 12 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1
chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 6 bulk; note--Cuba beneficially owns
an additional 37 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 512,346 DWT under
the registry of Panama, Cyprus, and Malta

Civil air: 59 major transport aircraft

Airports: 205 total, 176 usable; 75 with permanent-surface runways;
3 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--150 AM, 5 FM, 58 TV; 1,530,000 TVs;
2,140,000 radios; 229,000 telephones; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (including Ground Forces,
Revolutionary Navy, Air and Air Defense Force), Ministry of Interior
Special Troops, Border Guard Troops, Territorial Militia Troops, Youth
Labor Army, Civil Defense, National Revolutionary Police

Manpower availability: eligible 15-49, 6,087,253; of the 3,054,158
males 15-49, 1,914,080 are fit for military service; of the 3,033,095
females 15-49, 1,896,449 are fit for military service; 89,194 males and
85,968 females reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.2-$1.4 billion, 6% of GNP (1989 est.)



  * CYPRUS

CYPRUS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 9,250 km2; land area: 9,240 km2

Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto
autonomous areas--a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (60%
of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (35% of the island)
that are separated by a narrow UN buffer zone; in addition, there are two
UK sovereign base areas (about 5% of the island's land area)

Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool,
wet winters

Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south

Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt,
marble, clay earth pigment

Land use: arable land 40%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
10%; forest and woodland 18%; other 25%; includes irrigated 10% (most
irrigated lands are in the Turkish-Cypriot area of the island)

Environment: moderate earthquake activity; water resource problems
(no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and
most potable resources concentrated in the Turkish-Cypriot area)

PEOPLE
Population: 709,343 (July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Cypriot(s); adjective--Cypriot

Ethnic divisions: Greek 78%; Turkish 18%; other 4%

Religion: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian,
Apostolic, and other 4%

Language: Greek, Turkish, English

Literacy: 90% (male 96%, female 85%)
age 10 and over can read and write (1976)

Labor force: Greek area--246,100; services 42%, industry 33%,
agriculture 22%; Turkish area--NA (1989)

Organized labor: 156,000 (1985 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Cyprus

Type: republic; a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities
inhabiting the island began after the outbreak of communal strife in
1963; this separation was further solidified following the Turkish
invasion of the island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de
facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only
internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish
Cypriot President Rauf Denktash declared independence and the formation
of a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has been recognized
only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of
intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of
government

Capital: Nicosia

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)

Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for
a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own Constitution
and governing bodies within the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, which
was renamed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983; a new
Constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum in May 1985

Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet);
note--there is a president, prime minister, and Council of Ministers
(cabinet) in the Turkish area

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (Vouli
Antiprosopon); note--there is a unicameral Assembly of the Republic
(Cumhuriyet Meclisi) in the Turkish area

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; note--there is also a Supreme Court
in the Turkish area

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President George VASSILIOU
(since February 1988); note--Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president
of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975

Political parties and leaders:
Greek Cypriot--Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL;
Communist Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS,
Democratic Rally (DESY), Glafcos CLERIDES;
Democratic Party (DEKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU;
United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDES;
Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADESOK), Pavlos DINGLIS, chairman;
Liberal Party, Nikos ROLANDIS;

Turkish area--National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU;
Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI;
Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Ozker OZGUR;
New Cyprus Party (NKP), Alpay DURDURAN;
New Dawn Party (YDP), Ali Ozkan ALTINISHIK;
Free Democratic Party, Ismet KOTAK; note--CTP, TKP, and YDP joined
in the coalition Democratic Struggle Party (DMP) for the 22 April
1990 legislative election

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 14 February and 21 February 1988
(next to be held February 1993);
results--George VASSILIOU 52%, Glafcos CLERIDES 48%;

House of Representatives--last held 8 December 1985 (next to
be held 19 May 1991);
results--DESY 33.56%, DEKO 27.65%, AKEL (Communist) 27.43%, EDEK 11.07%;
seats--(56 total) DESY 19, DEKO 16, AKEL (Communist) 15, EDEK 6;

Turkish Area: President--last held 22 April 1990 (next to be
held April 1995);
results--Rauf R. DENKTASH 66%, Ismail BOZKURT 32.05%;

Turkish Area: Assembly of the Republic--last held 6 May 1990
(next to be held May 1995);
results--UBP (conservative) about 55%, DMP NA%;
seats--(50 total) UBP (conservative) 34, CTP (Communist) 7,
TKP (center-right) 7, New Dawn Party 2

Communists: about 12,000

Other political or pressure groups: United Democratic Youth
Organization (EDON; Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers (EKA;
Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK; pro-West); Pan-Cyprian
Labor Federation (PEO; Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot
Workers (SEK; pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions
(Turk-Sen); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)

Member of: C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS;
Chancery at 2211 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
462-5772; there is a Cypriot Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Robert E. LAMB; Embassy at the corner of Therissos
Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia (mailing address is FPO New York
09530); telephone  357  (2) 4651511

Flag: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the
name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green
crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize
the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish
communities

ECONOMY
Overview: These data are for the area controlled by the Republic of
Cyprus (information on the northern Turkish-Cypriot area is sparse).
The economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry contributes
about 25% to GDP and employs 35% of the labor force, while the service
sector contributes about 55% to GDP and employs 40% of the labor force.
Rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products
and in tourism have played important roles in the average 6% rise in GDP
in recent years.

GDP: $5.4 billion, per capita $7,960; real growth rate 5.5%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1990)

Unemployment rate: below 2% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including
capital expenditures of $178 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $770 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and
shoes;

partners--UK 23%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 9%, Saudi Arabia 4%

Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and
feed grains, machinery;

partners--France 12%, UK 11%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%

External debt: $2.2 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 6.5% (1988); accounts for
27% of GDP

Electricity: 620,000 kW capacity; 1,770 million kWh produced,
2,530 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
tourism, wood products

Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP and employs 22% of labor force;
major crops--potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, and citrus
fruits; vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $292
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $230 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $24 million

Currency: Cypriot pound (plural--pounds) and in Turkish area,
Turkish lira (plural--liras); 1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents and
1 Turkish lira
(TL) = 100 kurus

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds (LC) per US$1--0.4325 (December
1990), 0.4572 (1990), 0.4933 (1989), 0.4663 (1988), 0.4807 (1987), 0.5167
(1986), 0.6095 (1985); in Turkish area, Turkish liras (TL) per
US$1--2,873.9 (December 1990), 2,608.6 (1990), 2,121.7 (1989), 1,422.3
(1988), 857.2 (1987), 674.5 (1986), 522.0 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 10,780 km total; 5,170 km bituminous surface treated;
5,610 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth

Ports: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos

Merchant marine: 1,169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
19,310,063 GRT/34,338,028 DWT; 10 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo,
435 cargo, 76 refrigerated cargo, 20 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 48
container, 4 multifunction large load carrier, 111 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 8 liquefied gas, 17
chemical tanker, 30 combination ore/oil, 360 bulk, 2 vehicle carrier, 44
combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry; Cuba owns at
least 25 of these ships, USSR owns 52, and Yugoslavia owns 1

Civil air: 11 major transport aircraft

Airports: 13 total, 13 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent in the area controlled by the Cypriot
Government (Greek area), moderately good in the Turkish-Cypriot
administered area; 210,000 telephones; stations--14 AM, 7 (7 repeaters)
FM, 2 (40 repeaters) TV; tropospheric scatter circuits to Greece and
Turkey; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations--INTELSAT, 1
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Greek area--Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG;
includes air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish
area--Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 182,426; 125,839 fit for
military service; 5,169 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $209 million, 5% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * CZECHOSLOVAKIA

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 127,870 km2; land area: 125,460 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New York State

Land boundaries: 3,446 km total; Austria 548 km, Germany 815 km,
Hungary 676 km, Poland 1,309 km, USSR 98 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: Nagymaros Dam dispute with Hungary

Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain: mixture of hills and mountains separated by plains and
basins

Natural resources: coal, timber, lignite, uranium, magnesite,
iron ore, copper, zinc

Land use: arable land 40%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
13%; forest and woodland 37%; other 9%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: infrequent earthquakes; acid rain; water pollution;
air pollution

Note: landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest
and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a
traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the
Danube in central Europe

PEOPLE
Population: 15,724,940 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Czechoslovak(s); adjective--Czechoslovak

Ethnic divisions: Czech 62.9%, Slovak 31.8%, Hungarian 3.8%,
Polish 0.5%, German 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%, Russian 0.1%, other 0.3%

Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Orthodox 2%,
other 28%

Language: Czech and Slovak (official), Hungarian

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

Labor force: 8,200,000 (1987); industry 36.9%, agriculture 12.3%,
construction, communications, and other 50.8% (1982)

Organized labor: Czech and Slovak Confederation of Trade
Unions (CSKOS); new independent trade unions forming

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Czech and Slovak Federal Republic; note--on
23 March 1990 the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was renamed the
Czechoslovak Federative Republic; Slovak concerns about their
status in the federation prompted the Federal Assembly to approve the
name Czech and Slovak Federative Republic on 20 April 1990; on 23 April
1990 the name was modified to Czech and Slovak Federal Republic

Type: federal republic in transition to a confederative republic

Capital: Prague

Administrative divisions: 2 republics (republiky,
singular--republika); Czech Republic (Ceska Republika),
Slovak Republic (Slovenska Republika)

Independence: 28 October 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)

Constitution: 11 July 1960; amended in 1968 and 1970; new
Czech, Slovak, and federal constitutions to be drafted in 1991-92

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes,
modified by Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code in
process of modification to bring it in line with Conference on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) obligations and to expunge
Marxist-Leninist legal theory

National holiday: National Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) and
Founding of the Republic, 28 October (1918)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Federalni
Shromazdeni) consists of an upper house or Chamber of Nations
(Snemovna Narodu) and a lower house or Chamber of the People
(Snemovna Lidu)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Vaclav HAVEL;
(interim president from 29 December 1989 and president since
5 July 1990);

Head of Government--Premier Marian CALFA (since
10 December 1989);
Deputy Premier Vaclav VALES (since 28 June 1990);
Deputy Premier Jiri DIENSTBIER (since 28 June 1990);
Deputy Premier Jozef MIKLOSKO (since 28 June 1990);
Deputy Premier Pavel RYCHETSKY (since 28 June 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Civic Forum, Vaclav KLAUS, chairman;
Public Against Violence, Fedor GAL, chairman;
Christian and Democratic Union, Vaclav BENDA;
Christian Democratic Movement, Jan CARNOGURSKY;
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC), Pavol KANIS, chairman;
KSC toppled from power in November 1989 by massive antiregime
demonstrations, minority role in coalition government since 10 December
1989

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 5 July 1990 (next to be held July 1992);
results--Vaclav HAVEL elected by the Federal Assembly;

Federal Assembly--last held 8-9 June 1990
(next to be held June 1992);
results--Civic Forum/Public Against Violence coalition 46%, KSC 13.6%;
seats--(300 total) Civic Forum/Public Against Violence coalition 170,
KSC 47, Christian and Democratic Union/Christian Democratic
Movement 40, Czech, Slovak, Moravian, and Hungarian groups 43

Communists: 760,000 party members (September 1990); about
1,000,000 members lost since November 1989

Other political or pressure groups: Czechoslovak Socialist Party,
Czechoslovak People's Party, Czechoslovak Social Democracy, Slovak
Nationalist Party, Slovak Revival Party, Christian Democratic Party;
over 80 registered political groups fielded candidates in the 8-9 June
1990 legislative election

Member of: BIS, CCC, CSCE, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBEC,
ICAO, IIB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN,
UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Rita KLIMOVA;
Chancery at 3900 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
363-6315 or 6316;

US--Ambassador Shirley Temple BLACK; Embassy at Trziste 15,
125 48, Prague 1 (mailing address is AMEM, Box 5630, APO New York
09213-5630); telephone  42  (2) 536641 through 536649

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue
isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Czechoslovakia is highly industrialized and has a
well-educated and skilled labor force. Its industry, transport, energy
sources, banking, and most other means of production are state owned. The
country is deficient, however, in energy and in many raw materials.
Moreover, its aging capital plant lags well behind West European
standards. Industry contributes almost 50% to GNP and construction
contributes 10%. About 95% of agricultural land is in collectives or
state farms. The centrally planned economy has been tightly linked in
trade (80%) to the USSR and Eastern Europe. Growth has been sluggish,
averaging less than 2% in the period 1982-89. GNP per capita is the
highest in Eastern Europe. As in the rest of Eastern Europe, the sweeping
political changes of 1989-90 have been disrupting normal channels of
supply and compounding the government's economic problems. Having eased
restrictions on private enterprise in 1990 and having adjusted some key
prices, Czechoslovakia is now implementing a broad two-year program
to make the difficult transition from a command to a market economy.
Inflation and unemployment are beginning to rise, albeit from
comparatively low levels.

GNP: $120.3 billion, per capita $7,700; real growth rate - 2.9%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: officially 0.8% (1990)

Budget: revenues $17.1 billion; expenditures $16.8 billion,
including capital expenditures of $1.5 billion (1991)

Exports: $14.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and equipment 42.7%; fuels, minerals,
and metals 16.4%; agricultural and forestry products 12.5%, other
28.4%;

partners--USSR, GDR, Poland, Hungary, FRG, Yugoslavia, Austria,
Bulgaria, Romania, US

Imports: $14.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and equipment 38.6%;
fuels, minerals, and metals 24.1%; agricultural and forestry
products 16.4%; other 20.9%;

partners--USSR, GDR, Poland, Hungary, FRG, Yugoslavia, Austria,
Bulgaria, Romania, US

External debt: $7.6 billion, hard currency indebtedness (September
1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 3.3% (1990 est.); accounts
for almost 50% of GDP

Electricity: 23,000,000 kW capacity; 90,000 million kWh produced,
5,740 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: iron and steel, machinery and equipment, cement, sheet
glass, motor vehicles, armaments, chemicals, ceramics, wood, paper
products, footwear

Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GNP (includes forestry); largely
self-sufficient in food production; diversified crop and livestock
production, including grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit, hogs,
cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest products

Economic aid: donor--$4.2 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist
less developed countries (1954-89)

Currency: koruna (plural--koruny); 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru

Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1--27.65 (January 1991),
17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989), 14.36 (1988), 13.69 (1987), 14.99 (1986),
17.14 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 13,103 km total; 12,855 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
102 km 1.520-meter broad gauge, 146 km 0.750- and 0.760-meter narrow
gauge; 2,861 km double track; 3,798 km electrified; government owned
(1988)

Highways: 73,540 km total; including 517 km superhighway (1988)

Inland waterways: 475 km (1988); the Elbe (Labe) is the principal
river

Pipelines: crude oil, 1,448 km; refined products, 1,500 km; natural
gas, 8,100 km

Ports: maritime outlets are in Poland (Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin),
Yugoslavia (Rijeka, Koper), Germany (Hamburg, Rostock); principal river
ports are Prague on the Vltava, Decin on the Elbe (Labe),
Komarno on the Danube, Bratislava on the Danube

Merchant marine: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 363,002 GRT/
565,813 DWT; includes 15 cargo, 6 bulk

Civil air: 47 major transport aircraft

Airports: 158 total, 158 usable; 40 with permanent-surface
runways; 19 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 37 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 4 million telephones; 25% of households
have a telephone; stations--60 AM, 16 FM, 39 TV (11 Soviet TV
relays); 4.4 million TVs (1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Czechoslovak People's Army, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Civil Defense, Border Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,066,419; 3,110,958 fit for
military service; 140,620 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: 26.9 billion koruny, NA% of GDP (1991);
note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
official administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading
results



  * DENMARK

DENMARK

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 43,070 km2; land area: 42,370 km2; includes the island
of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but
excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of
Massachusetts

Land boundaries: 68 km with Germany

Coastline: 3,379 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 4 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland,
Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement
in the Rockall area); Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims
between Greenland and Jan Mayen

Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and
cool summers

Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone

Land use: arable land 61%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 6%; forest and woodland 12%; other 21%; includes irrigated 9%

Environment: air and water pollution

Note: controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

PEOPLE
Population: 5,132,626 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Dane(s); adjective--Danish

Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)

Language: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect); small
German-speaking minority

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

Labor force: 2,581,400; private services 36.4%; government services
30.2%; manufacturing and mining 20%; construction 6.8%; agriculture,
forestry, and fishing 5.9%; electricity/gas/water 0.7% (1990)

Organized labor: 65% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Denmark

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Copenhagen

Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark--14 counties (amter,
singular--amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksborg,
Fyn, Kobenhavn, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde,
Sonderjylland, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjaelland,
Viborg; note--see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland
which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative
divisions

Independence: became a constitutional monarchy in 1849

Constitution: 5 June 1953

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Executive branch: monarch, heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Folketing)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since January 1972);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the Queen (born 26
May 1968);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Poul SCHLUTER (since 10
September 1982)

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic, Svend AUKEN;
Conservative, Poul SCHLUTER;
Liberal, Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN;
Socialist People's, Holger K. NIELSEN;
Progress Party, Pia KJAERSGAARD;
Center Democratic, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN;
Radical Liberal, Marianne JELVED;
Christian People's, Flemming KOTOED-SVENDSEN;
Left Socialist, Elizabeth BRUN-OLESEN;
Justice, Poul Gerhard KRISTIANSEN;
Socialist Workers Party, leader NA;
Communist Workers' Party (KAP), leader NA;
Common Course, Preben Moller HANSEN;
Green Party, Inger BORLEHMANN

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

Parliament--last held 12 December 1990
(next to be held by December 1994);
results--Social Democratic 37.4%, Conservative 16.0%, Liberal 15.8%,
Socialist People's 8.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Center Democratic 5.1%,
Radical Liberal 3.5%, Christian People's 2.3%, other 5.2%;
seats--(175 total; includes 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe
Islands) Social Democratic 69, Conservative 30, Liberal 29,
Socialist People's 15, Progress Party 12, Center Democratic 9, Radical
Liberal 7, Christian People's 4

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM,
CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Peter Pedersen DYVIG;
Chancery at 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there are Danish Consulates General at Chicago, Houston,
Los Angeles, and New York;

US--Ambassador Keith L. BROWN; Embassy at Dag Hammarskjolds Alle
24, 2100 Copenhagen O (mailing address is APO New York 09170);
telephone  45  (31) 42 31 44

Flag: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag;
the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side and that
design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently
adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and
Sweden

ECONOMY
Overview: This modern economy features high-tech
agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive
government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high
dependence on foreign trade. The Danish economy is likely to maintain
its slow but steady improvement in 1991. GDP grew by 1.3% in 1990
and probably will grow by about 1.25% in 1991; unemployment is running
close to 10%. In 1990 Denmark had the lowest inflation rate in the EC,
a record trade surplus, and the first balance-of-payments surplus in
26 years. As the government prepares for the economic integration of
Europe during 1992, growth, investment, and competitiveness are expected
to improve, reducing unemployment, inflation, and debt.

GDP: $78.0 billion, per capita $15,200; real growth rate 1.3%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1990)

Budget: revenues $62.5 billion; expenditures $60 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA billion (1989)

Exports: $34.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--meat and meat products, dairy products, transport
equipment, fish, chemicals, industrial machinery;

partners--EC 52.2% (Germany 19.5%, UK 10.9%, France 6.1%), Sweden
12.5%, Norway 5.8%, US 5.0%, Japan 4.3% (1990)

Imports: $31.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain
and foodstuffs, textiles, paper;

partners--EC 57% (Germany 25.6%, UK 8.4%), Sweden 12.7%, US 6.7%
(1990)

External debt: $45 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.1% (1989)

Electricity: 11,215,000 kW capacity; 30,910 million kWh produced,
6,030 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and
clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and
other wood products

Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP and employs 6% of labor force
(includes fishing and forestry); farm products account for nearly 15%
of export revenues; principal products--meat, dairy, grain, potatoes,
rape, sugar beets, fish; self-sufficient in food production

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89) $5.9 billion

Currency: Danish krone (plural--kroner); 1 Danish krone
(DKr) = 100 ore

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--5.817 (January
(1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091
(1986), 10.596 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,675 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Danish State
Railways (DSB) operate 2,025 km (1,999 km rail line and 121 km rail ferry
services); 188 km electrified, 730 km double tracked; 650 km of
standard-gauge lines are privately owned and operated

Highways: 66,482 km total; 64,551 km concrete, bitumen, or stone
block; 1,931 km gravel, crushed stone, improved earth

Inland waterways: 417 km

Pipelines: crude oil, 110 km; refined products, 578 km; natural
gas, 700 km

Ports: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia;
numerous secondary and minor ports

Merchant marine: 281 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,888,064
GRT/7,131,949 DWT; includes 13 short-sea passenger, 85 cargo, 15
refrigerated cargo, 35 container, 40 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 railcar
carrier, 37 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 14 chemical
tanker, 22 liquefied gas, 4 livestock carrier, 14 bulk, 1 combination
bulk; note--Denmark has created its own internal register, called the
Danish International Ship Register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to
meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of convenience
within the Danish register; by the end of 1990, 258 of the Danish-flag
ships belonged to the DIS

Civil air: 69 major transport aircraft

Airports: 129 total, 112 usable; 27 with permanent-surface
runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 9 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent telephone, telegraph, and broadcast
services; 4,509,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 15 (39 repeaters) FM, 27
(25 repeaters) TV; 7 submarine coaxial cables; 1 earth station operating
in INTELSAT, 4 Atlantic Ocean, EUTELSAT, and domestic systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air
Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,369,684; 1,179,991 fit for
military service; 36,991 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $2.4 billion, 2% of GDP (1990)



  * DJIBOUTI

DJIBOUTI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 22,000 km2; land area: 21,980 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Land boundaries: 517 km total; Ethiopia 459 km, Somalia 58 km

Coastline: 314 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic
Somalis

Climate: desert; torrid, dry

Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Natural resources: geothermal areas

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
9%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 91%

Environment: vast wasteland

Note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes
and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia

PEOPLE
Population: 346,311 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 117 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 46 years male, 50 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Djiboutian(s); adjective--Djiboutian

Ethnic divisions: Somali (Issa) 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab,
Ethiopian, and Italian 5%

Religion: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Language: French and Arabic (both official); Somali and Afar widely
used

Literacy: 48% (male 63%, female 34%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: NA, but a small number of semiskilled laborers at
the port and 3,000 railway workers; 52% of population of working age
(1983)

Organized labor: 3,000 railway workers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Djibouti

Type: republic

Capital: Djibouti

Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular--cercle);
Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura

Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France; formerly French Territory
of the Afars and Issas)

Constitution: partial constitution ratified January 1981 by the
National Assembly

Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional
practices, and Islamic law

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Hassan GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June
1977);

Head of Government--Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30
September 1978)

Political parties and leaders: only party--People's Progress
Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

President--last held 24 April 1987 (next to be held April 1993);
results--President Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected without
opposition;

National Assembly--last held 24 April 1987 (next to be
held April 1992); results--RPP is the only party; seats--(65 total)
RPP 65

Communists: NA

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE; Chancery
(temporary) at the Djiboutian Permanent Mission to the UN; 866 United
Nations Plaza, Suite 4011, New York, NY 10017; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Robert S. BARRETT IV; Embassy at Villa Plateau du
Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti (mailing address is B. P.
185, Djibouti); telephone  [phone]

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light
green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a
red five-pointed star in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with
the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in
northeast Africa. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port
for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center.
It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is,
therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its
balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment
rate of over 40% continues to be a major problem. Per capita
consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last five years with
a population growth rate of 6% (including immigrants and refugees) and a
recession.

GDP: $340 million, $1,030 per capita; real growth rate - 1.0% (1989
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1989)

Unemployment rate: over 40% (1989)

Budget: revenues $131 million; expenditures $154 million, including
capital expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $190 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--hides and skins, coffee (in transit);

partners--Middle East 50%, Africa 43%, Western Europe 7%

Imports: $311 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals,
petroleum products;

partners--EC 36%, Africa 21%, Asia 12%, US 2%

External debt: $355 million (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% (1989); manufacturing
accounts for 4% of GDP

Electricity: 110,000 kW capacity; 190 million kWh produced,
580 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as
dairy products and mineral-water bottling

Agriculture: accounts for only 5% of GDP; scanty rainfall limits
crop production to mostly fruit and vegetables; half of population
pastoral nomads herding goats, sheep, and camels; imports bulk of food
needs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39
million; Western (non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $1,035 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89),
$149 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million

Currency: Djiboutian franc (plural--francs); 1 Djiboutian franc
(DF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1--177.721 (fixed
rate since 1973)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km
through Djibouti

Highways: 2,900 km total; 280 km bituminous surface, 2,620 km
improved or unimproved earth (1982)

Ports: Djibouti

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 13 total, 10 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of urban facilities in Djibouti and
radio relay stations at outlying places; 7,300 telephones; stations--2
AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 ARABSAT;
1 submarine cable to Saudi Arabia

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (including Navy and Air Force), paramilitary
National Security Force, National Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 89,519; 52,093 fit for military
service



  * DOMINICA


DOMINICA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 750 km2; land area: 750 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 148 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy
rainfall

Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Natural resources: timber

Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops 13%; meadows and pastures
3%; forest and woodland 41%; other 34%

Environment: flash floods a constant hazard; occasional hurricanes

Note: located 550 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 86,285 (July 1991), growth rate 1.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 13 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Dominican(s); adjective--Dominican

Ethnic divisions: mostly black; some Carib indians

Religion: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%,
Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%),
none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

Language: English (official); French patois widely spoken

Literacy: 94% (male 94%, female 94%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 25,000; agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%,
services 28% (1984)

Organized labor: 25% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Commonwealth of Dominica

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Roseau

Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)

Constitution: 3 November 1978

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET (since
19 December 1983);

Head of Government--Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21
July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES;
Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Michael DOUGLAS;
United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 20 December 1988
(next to be held December 1993);
the president is elected by the House of Assembly;

House of Assembly--last held 28 May 1990
(next to be held May 1995); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives)
DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement
(DLM), a small leftist group

Member of: ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM (observer),
OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: there is no Chancery in the US;

US--no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown
(Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands--the
vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white--the horizontal
part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the
cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green
five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10
administrative divisions (parishes)

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is
highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about
30% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include
bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. In 1988 the economy
achieved a 5.6% growth in real GDP on the strength of a boost in
construction, higher agricultural production, and growth of the small
manufacturing sector based on the soap and garment industries. In 1989,
however, Hurricane Hugo wiped out 70% of the banana crop and affected
other economic activity. The tourist industry remains undeveloped because
of a rugged coastline and the lack of an international-class airport.

GDP: $153 million, per capita $1,840; real growth rate - 1.7%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.3% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $48 million; expenditures $85 million,
including capital expenditures of $41 million (FY90)

Exports: $59 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--bananas, coconuts, grapefruit, soap, galvanized
sheets;

partners--UK 72%, Jamaica 10%, OECS 6%, US 3%, other 9%

Imports: $115 million (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--food, oils and fats, chemicals, fuels and lubricants,
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment;

partners--US 23%, UK 18%, CARICOM 15%, OECS 15%, Japan 5%,
Canada 3%, other 21%

External debt: $73 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% in manufacturing (1988
est.); accounts for 11% of GDP

Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 16 million kWh produced,
190 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: soap, beverages, tourism, food processing, furniture,
cement blocks, shoes

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops--bananas,
citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts; bananas provide the bulk
of export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $115 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar
(EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 750 km total; 370 km paved, 380 km gravel and earth

Ports: Roseau, Portsmouth

Civil air: NA

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 4,600 telephones in fully automatic network;
VHF and UHF link to Saint Lucia; new SHF links to Martinique and
Guadeloupe; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 48,730 km2; land area: 48,380 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New
Hampshire

Land boundary 275 km with Haiti

Coastline: 1,288 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 6 nm

Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys
interspersed

Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Land use: arable land 23%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
43%; forest and woodland 13%; other 14%; includes irrigated 4%

Environment: subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October);
deforestation

Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (western one-third is
Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

PEOPLE
Population: 7,384,837 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 69 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Dominican(s); adjective--Dominican

Ethnic divisions: mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%

Language: Spanish

Literacy: 83% (male 85%, female 82%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,300,000-2,600,000; agriculture 49%, services 33%,
industry 18% (1986)

Organized labor: 12% of labor force (1989 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Dominican Republic (no short-form name)

Type: republic

Capital: Santo Domingo

Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona,
Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo,
Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega,
Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata,
Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez
Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro De Macoris, Santiago,
Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Constitution: 28 November 1966

Legal system: based on French civil codes

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and lower chamber or
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Joaquin BALAGUER
Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth elected term began 16 August 1990);
Vice President Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso (since 16 August 1986)

Political parties and leaders:

Major parties--
Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo;
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Francisco PENA Gomez;
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Juan BOSCH Gavino;
Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA;

Minor parties--
National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier;
Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST;
Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez;
Constitutional Action Party (PAC), Luis ARZENO Rodriguez;
National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo;
Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert;
Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde;
Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ivan RODRIGUEZ;

note--in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to
form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain
individual party structures

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 or if married; members
of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Elections:

President--last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994);
results--Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 35.7%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD)
34.4%;

Senate--last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(30 total) PRSC 16, PLD 12, PRD 2;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 16 May 1990 (next to be
held May 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(120 total) PLD 44, PRSC 41, PRD 33, PRI 2

Communists: an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 members in several legal
and illegal factions; effectiveness limited by ideological differences,
organizational inadequacies, and severe funding shortages

Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest),
OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso
(serves concurrently as Vice President); Chancery at
1715 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];
there are Dominican Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles,
Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San
Juan (Puerto Rico), and Consulates in Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands),
Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, Ponce (Puerto
Rico), and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Paul D. TAYLOR; Embassy at the corner of
Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
(mailing address is APO Miami 34041-0008); telephone  [phone]

Flag: a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the
flag into four rectangles--the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red,
the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at
the center of the cross

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is largely dependent on trade; imported
components average 60% of the value of goods consumed in the domestic
market. Rapid growth of free trade zones has established a significant
expansion of manufacturing for export, especially wearing apparel.
Over the past decade tourism has also increased in importance and is a
major earner of foreign exchange and a source of new jobs. Agriculture
remains a key sector of the economy. The principal commercial crop is
sugarcane, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco. Domestic
industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, durable
consumer goods, minerals, and chemicals. Unemployment is officially
reported at about 30%, but there is considerable underemployment. An
increasing foreign debt burden and galloping inflation are the economy's
greatest weaknesses.

GDP: $6.68 billion, per capita $940; real growth rate 4.2% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 29% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $413 million; expenditures $522 million,
including capital expenditures of $218 million (1988)

Exports: $922 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--sugar, coffee, cocoa, gold, ferronickel;

partners--US 60%, EC 19%, Puerto Rico 8% (1990)

Imports: $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals
and pharmaceuticals;

partners--US 50%

External debt: $4.2 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1989 est.); accounts
for 18% of GDP

Electricity: 1,445,000 kW capacity; 4,200 million kWh produced,
580 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining,
textiles, cement, tobacco

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor
force; sugarcane most important commercial crop, followed by coffee,
cotton, cocoa, and tobacco; food crops--rice, beans, potatoes, corn,
bananas; animal output--cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not
self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $576.5
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $569 million

Currency: Dominican peso (plural--pesos); 1 Dominican peso
(RD$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Dominican pesos per US$1--11.850 (January 1991),
8.290 (1990), 6.3400 (1989), 6.1125 (1988), 3.8448 (1987), 2.9043 (1986),
3.1126 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,655 km total in numerous segments; 4 different gauges
from 0.558 m to 1.435 m

Highways: 12,000 km total; 5,800 km paved, 5,600 km gravel and
improved earth, 600 km unimproved

Pipelines: crude oil, 96 km; refined products, 8 km

Ports: Santo Domingo, Haina, San Pedro de Macoris, Puerto Plata

Merchant marine: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,326
GRT/38,661 DWT

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

Airports: 44 total, 30 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 9 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: relatively efficient domestic system based on
islandwide radio relay network; 190,000 telephones; stations--120 AM, no
FM, 18 TV, 6 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,963,260; 1,241,370 fit for
military service; 81,083 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $70 million, 1% of GDP (1990)



  * ECUADOR

ECUADOR

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 283,560 km2; land area: 276,840 km2; includes
Galapagos Islands

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries: 2,010 km total; Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline: 2,237 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and
Galapagos Islands;

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Disputes: two sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute

Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland

Terrain: coastal plain (Costa), inter-Andean central highlands
(Sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (Oriente)

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber

Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
17%; forest and woodland 51%; other 23% ; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: subject to frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic
activity; deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; periodic droughts

Note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

PEOPLE
Population: 10,751,648 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 30 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ecuadorian(s); adjective--Ecuadorian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian
25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%

Language: Spanish (official); Indian languages, especially Quechua

Literacy: 86% (male 88%, female 84%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,800,000; agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%,
commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)

Organized labor: less than 15% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Ecuador

Type: republic

Capital: Quito

Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo,
Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja,
Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha,
Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain; Battle of Pichincha)

Constitution: 10 August 1979

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809, independence
of Quito)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress (Congreso
Nacional)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Rodrigo BORJA
Cevallos (since 10 August 1988); Vice President Luis PARODI Valverde
(since 10 August 1988)

Political parties and leaders:

Right to center parties--
Social Christian Party (PSC), former President Leon FEBRES Cordero
Rivadeneira;
Conservative Party (PC), Alberto DAHIK, leader;
Radical Liberal Party (PLR), Blasco Manuel PENAHERRERA Padilla,
director;

Centrist parties--
Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Averroes BUCARAM Saxida, director;
Radical Alfarist Front (FRA), Cecilia CALDERON de Castro, leader;
People, Change, and Democracy (PCD), Aquiles RIGAIL Santistevan,
director;
Revolutionary Nationalist Party (PNR), Carlos Julio AROSEMENA Monroy,
leader;

Center-left parties--
Democratic Left (ID), President Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leader;
Roldosist Party of Ecuador (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director;
Popular Democracy (DP), Vladimiro ALVAREZ, president;
Christian Democratic (CD), Julio Cesar TRUJILLO;
Democratic Party (PD), Francisco HUERTA Montalvo, leader;

Far-left parties--
Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Rene MAUGE Mosquera, director;
Socialist Party (PSE), Victor GRANDA Aguilar, secretary general;
Democratic Popular Movement (MPD), Jaime HURTADO Gonzalez, leader;
Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, president;
Popular Revolutionary Action Party (APRE), Lt. Gen. Frank VARGAS Pazzos,
leader

Suffrage: universal at age 18; compulsory for literate persons ages
18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Elections:

President--first round held 31 January 1988 and second round on 8 May 1988
(next first round to be held May 1992 and second round June 1992);
results--Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos (ID) 54%, Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz (PRE) 46%;

Chamber of Representatives--last held 17 June 1990
(next to be held June 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(72 total) PSC 16, ID 14, PRE 13, PSE 8, DP 7, CFP 3,
PC 3, PLR 3, FADI 2, FRA 2, MPD 1

Communists: Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-Moscow), Rene
Mauge Mosquera, secretary general, 5,000 members; Communist Party of
Ecuador/Marxist Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist), 3,000 members; Socialist
Party of Ecuador (PSE, pro-Cuba), 5,000 members (est.); National
Liberation Party (PLN, Communist), 5,000 members (est.)

Member of: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jaime MONCAYO; Chancery at
2535 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone];
there are Ecuadorian Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco, and a Consulate in San
Diego;

US--Ambassador Paul C. LAMBERT; Embassy at Avenida Patria
120, on the corner of Avenida 12 de Octubre, Quito (mailing address is
P. O. Box 538, Quito, or APO Miami 34039); telephone  593  (2) 562-890;
there is a US Consulate General in Guayaquil

Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue,
and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag;
similar to the flag of Colombia which is shorter and does not bear a coat
of arms

ECONOMY
Overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich
agricultural areas.  Growth has been uneven because of natural disasters
(e.g., a major earthquake in 1987), fluctuations in global oil prices,
and government policies designed to curb inflation.  The government has
not taken a supportive attitude toward either domestic or foreign
investment, although its agreement to enter the Andean free trade zone
is an encouraging move.

GDP: $10.6 billion, per capita $1,010; real growth rate 1.5% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 49.5% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 8.0% (1990)

Budget: revenues $2.2 billion; expenditures $2.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $375 million (1991)

Exports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--petroleum 47%, coffee, bananas, cocoa products,
shrimp, fish products;

partners--US 60%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC countries

Imports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--transport equipment, vehicles, machinery, chemicals;

partners--US 34%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC, Japan

External debt: $11.8 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 3.8% (1989); accounts for
almost 40% of GDP, including petroleum

Electricity: 1,983,000 kW capacity; 6,011 million kWh produced,
570 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal works, paper
products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, timber

Agriculture: accounts for 18% of GDP and 35% of labor force
(including fishing and forestry); leading producer and exporter of
bananas and balsawood; other exports--coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; crop
production--rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock
sector--cattle, sheep, hogs, beef, pork, dairy products; net importer
of foodgrains, dairy products, and sugar

Illicit drugs: relatively small producer of coca following the
successful eradication campaign of 1985-87; significant transit country,
however, for derivatives of coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and
Peru

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $498
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.7 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $64 million

Currency: sucre (plural--sucres); 1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1--869.54 (December 1990),
767.75 (1990), 526.35 (1989), 301.61 (1988), 170.46 (1987), 122.78
(1986), 69.56 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 965 km total; all 1.067-meter-gauge single track

Highways: 28,000 km total; 3,600 km paved, 17,400 km gravel and
improved earth, 7,000 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 1,500 km

Pipelines: crude oil, 800 km; refined products, 1,358 km

Ports: Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Esmeraldas

Merchant marine: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 342,411
GRT/495,482 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 8 cargo, 17 refrigerated cargo,
2 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 16 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
(POL) tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk

Civil air: 44 major transport aircraft

Airports: 153 total, 151 usable; 46 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 23 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic facilities generally adequate; 318,000
telephones; stations--272 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 39 shortwave; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,716,919; 1,840,296 fit for
military service; 117,113 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $176 million, 1.6% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * EGYPT

EGYPT

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,001,450 km2; land area: 995,450 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of New
Mexico

Land boundaries: 2,689 km total; Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km,
Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km

Coastline: 2,450 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: undefined;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide
with international boundary

Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 95%; includes irrigated 5%

Environment: Nile is only perennial water source; increasing soil
salinization below Aswan High Dam; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin
occurs in spring; water pollution; desertification

Note: controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa
and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea
link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean; size and juxtaposition to
Israel establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics

PEOPLE
Population: 54,451,588 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 33 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 82 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 61 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Egyptian(s); adjective--Egyptian

Ethnic divisions: Eastern Hamitic stock 90%; Greek, Italian,
Syro-Lebanese 10%

Religion: (official estimate) Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%;
Coptic Christian and other 6%

Language: Arabic (official); English and French widely understood
by educated classes

Literacy: 48% (male 63%, female 34%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 15,000,000 (1989 est.); government, public sector
enterprises, and armed forces 36%; agriculture 34%; privately owned
service and manufacturing enterprises 20% (1984); shortage of skilled
labor; 2,500,000 Egyptians work abroad, mostly in Iraq and the Gulf Arab
states (1988 est.)

Organized labor: 2,500,000 (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Arab Republic of Egypt

Type: republic

Capital: Cairo

Administrative divisions: 24 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar,
Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah,
Al Ismailiyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya,
Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash
Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur
Said, Dumyat, Janub Sina, Matruh,
Shamal Sina, Suhaj

Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK); formerly United Arab
Republic

Constitution: 11 September 1971

Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and
Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State
(oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Majlis
al-Chaab); note--there is an Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura) that
functions in a consultative role

Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (was made acting
President on 6 October 1981 upon the assassination of President Sadat and
sworn in as President on 14 October 1981);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY
(since 12 November 1986)

Political parties and leaders: formation of political parties must
be approved by government;
National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK,
leader, is the dominant party;
legal opposition parties are
Socialist Liberal Party (SLP), Kamal MURAD;
Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim SHUKRI;
National Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid MUHYI-AL-DIN;
Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI;
New Wafd Party (NWP), Fuad SIRAJ AL-DIN;
Misr al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), Ali al-Din SALIH;
Democratic Unionist Party, Muhammad Abd al-Mun'im TURK;
The Greens Party, Hasan RAJAB

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 5 October 1987 (next to be held October 1993);
results--President Hosni MUBAREK was reelected;

People's Assembly--last held 29 November 1990
(next to be held November 1995); results--NDP 78.4%, NPUG 1.4%,
independents 18.7%; seats--(454 total, 444 elected)--including NDP 348,
NPUG 6, independents 83; note--most opposition parties boycotted;

Advisory Council--last held 8 June 1989 (next to be held June 1995);
results--NDP 100%;
seats--(258 total, 172 elected) NDP 172

Communists: about 500 party members

Other political or pressure groups: Islamic groups are illegal, but
the largest one, the Muslim Brotherhood, is tolerated by the government;
trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned

Member of: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer),
AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC,
OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador El Sayed Abdel Raouf EL
REEDY; Chancery at 2310 Decatur Place NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone]; there are Egyptian Consulates General in
Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Frank G. WISNER; Embassy at Lazougi Street,
Garden City, Cairo (mailing address is APO New York 09674-0006);
telephone  20  (2) 355-7371; there is a US Consulate General in
Alexandria

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing
the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic)
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen which has a
plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria which has two green
stars and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic
inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: Egypt has one of the largest public sectors of all
the Third World economies, most industrial plants being owned by the
government. Overregulation holds back technical modernization and
foreign investment. Even so, the economy grew rapidly during the late
1970s and early 1980s, but in 1986 the collapse of world oil prices
and an increasingly heavy burden of debt servicing led Egypt to begin
negotiations with the IMF for balance-of-payments support. As part of
the 1987 agreement with the IMF, the government agreed to institute
a reform program to reduce inflation, promote economic growth, and
improve its external position. The reforms have been slow in coming,
however, and the economy has been largely stagnant for the past
three years. The addition of 1 million people every seven months
to Egypt's population exerts enormous pressure on the 5% of the total
land area available for agriculture.

GDP: $37.0 billion, per capita $700; real growth rate 1.0% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 26% (FY90)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $7 billion; expenditures $11.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $4 billion (FY89 est.)

Exports: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--crude and refined petroleum, cotton yarn, raw cotton,
textiles, metal products, chemicals;

partners--EC, Eastern Europe, US, Japan

Imports: $11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood
products, durable consumer goods, capital goods;

partners--EC, US, Japan, Eastern Europe

External debt: $52 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 2-4% (1989 est.); accounts
for 24% of GDP

Electricity: 11,273,000 kW capacity; 42,500 million kWh produced,
780 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals,
petroleum, construction, cement, metals

Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GNP and employs more than
one-third of labor force; dependent on irrigation water from the Nile;
world's sixth-largest cotton exporter; other crops produced include rice,
corn, wheat, beans, fruit, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food;
livestock--cattle, water buffalo, sheep, and goats; annual fish catch
about 140,000 metric tons

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15.7
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $9.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.9 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4 billion

Currency: Egyptian pound (plural--pounds); 1 Egyptian pound
(LE) = 100 piasters

Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (LE) per US$1--2.9030 (January
1991), 2.7072 (1990), 2.5171 (1989), 2.2233 (1988), 1.5183 (1987), 1.3503
(1986), 1.3010 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 5,110 km total; 4,763 km 1,435-meter standard gauge,
347 km 0.750-meter gauge; 951 km double track; 25 km electrified

Highways: 51,925 km total; 17,900 km paved, 2,500 km gravel,
13,500 km improved earth, 18,025 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser,
Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta);
Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoing
vessels drawing up to 16.1 meters of water

Pipelines: crude oil, 1,171 km; refined products, 596 km; natural
gas, 460 km

Ports: Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Bur Safajah, Damietta

Merchant marine: 144 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,121,534
GRT/1,725,369 DWT; includes 5 passenger, 7 short-sea passenger,
2 passenger-cargo, 85 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 13 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 14 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 15 bulk

Civil air: 43 major transport aircraft

Airports: 91 total, 82 usable; 66 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 44 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: system is large but still inadequate for needs;
principal centers are Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, and
Tanta; intercity connections by coaxial cable and microwave;
extensive upgrading in progress; 600,000 telephones (est.); stations--25
AM, 5 FM, 47 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT; 4 submarine coaxial
cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; radio relay to Libya (may not be
operational); radio relay to Jordan

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 13,333,285; 8,665,260 fit for
military service; 584,780 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $2.8 billion, 7.3% of GDP (1991)



  * EL SALVADOR

EL SALVADOR

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 21,040 km2; land area: 20,720 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries: 545 km total; Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Coastline: 307 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond
12 nm)

Disputes: dispute with Honduras over several sections of the land
boundary; dispute over Golfo de Fonseca maritime boundary because of
disputed sovereignty of islands

Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season
(November to April)

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central
plateau

Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, crude oil

Land use: arable land 27%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures
29%; forest and woodland 6%; other 30%; includes irrigated 5%

Environment: The Land of Volcanoes; subject to frequent and
sometimes very destructive earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion;
water pollution

Note: smallest Central American country and only one without a
coastline on Caribbean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 5,418,736 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Salvadoran(s); adjective--Salvadoran

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 89%, Indian 10%, white 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic about 75%, with extensive activity by
Protestant groups throughout the country (more than 1 million
Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador at the end of 1990)

Language: Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)

Literacy: 73% (male 76%, female 70%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,700,000 (1982 est.); agriculture 40%, commerce 16%,
manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation
6%, other 1%; shortage of skilled labor and a large pool of unskilled
labor, but manpower training programs improving situation (1984 est.)

Organized labor: total labor force 15%; agricultural labor force
10%; urban labor force 7% (1987 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of El Salvador

Type: republic

Capital: San Salvador

Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango,
Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel,
San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 20 December 1983

Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common
law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea
Legislativa)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Alfredo CRISTIANI
(since 1 June 1989); Vice President Jose Francisco MERINO (since 1 June
1989)

Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance
(ARENA), Armando CALDERON Sol;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Fidel CHAVEZ Mena;
National Conciliation Party (PCN), Ciro CRUZ Zepeda;
National Democratic Union (UDN), Mario AGUINADA Carranza;
the Democratic Convergence (CD) is a coalition of three
parties--the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Wilfredo BARILLAS;
the National Revolutionary Movement (MNR), Rene FLORES;
and the Popular Social Christian Movement (MPSC), Ruben ZAMORA;
Authentic Christian Movement (MAC), Julio REY PRENDES;
Democratic Action (AD), Ricardo GONZALEZ Camacho

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 19 March 1989 (next to be held March 1994);
results--Alfredo CRISTIANI (ARENA) 53.8%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 36.6%,
other 9.6%;

Legislative Assembly--last held 10 March 1991 (next to be
held March 1994);
results--ARENA 44.3%, PDC 27.96%, CD 12.16%, PCN 8.99%, MAC 3.23%,
UDN 2.68%;
seats--(84 total) ARENA 39, PDC 26, PCN 9, CD 8, UDN 1, MAC 1

Other political or pressure groups:

Leftist revolutionary movement--Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front (FMLN), leadership body of the insurgency, four
factions--Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), Armed Forces of National
Resistance (FARN), People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), Salvadoran
Communist Party/Armed Forces of Liberation (PCES/FAL), and Central
American Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRTC)/Popular Liberation
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARLP);

Leftist political parties--National Democratic Union (UDN),
National Revolutionary Movement (MNR), and Popular Social Movement
(MPSC);

FMLN front organizations:

Labor fronts include--National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS),
leftist umbrella front group, leads FMLN front network;
National Federation of Salvadoran Workers (FENASTRAS), best
organized of front groups and controlled by FMLN's National Resistance
(RN); Social Security Institute Workers Union (STISSS), one of the most
militant fronts, is controlled by FMLN'S Armed Forces of National
Resistance (FARN) and RN;
Association of Telecommunications Workers (ASTTEL);
Centralized Union Federation of El Salvador (FUSS);
Treasury Ministry Employees (AGEMHA);

Nonlabor fronts include--Committee of Mothers and Families of Political
Prisoners, Disappeared Persons, and Assassinated of El Salvador
(COMADRES);
Nongovernmental Human Rights Commission (CDHES);
Committee of Dismissed and Unemployed of El Salvador (CODYDES);
General Association of Salvadoran University Students (AGEUS);
National Association of Salvadoran Educators (ANDES-21 DE JUNIO);
Salvadoran Revolutionary Student Front (FERS), associated with the
Popular Forces of Liberation (FPL);
Association of National University Educators (ADUES);
Salvadoran University Students Front (FEUS);
Christian Committee for the Displaced of El Salvador (CRIPDES),
an FPL front;
The Association for Communal Development in El Salvador (PADECOES),
controlled by the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP);
Confederation of Cooperative Associations of El Salvador (COACES);

Labor organizations--Federation of Construction and Transport
Workers Unions (FESINCONSTRANS), independent;
Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association;
Unitary Federation of Salvadoran Unions (FUSS), leftist;
National Federation of Salvadoran Workers (FENASTRAS), leftist;
Democratic Workers Central (CTD), moderate;
General Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate;
National Unity of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS), leftist;
National Union of Workers and Peasants (UNOC),
moderate labor coalition of democratic labor organizations;
United Workers Front (FUT);

Business organizations--National Association of Private Enterprise
(ANEP), conservative;
Productive Alliance (AP), conservative;
National Federation of Salvadoran Small Businessmen (FENAPES),
conservative

Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Miguel Angel SALAVERRIA;
Chancery at 2308 California Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone] through 3482; there are Salvadoran Consulates General in
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador William G. WALKER; Embassy at 25 Avenida Norte No.
1230, San Salvador (mailing address is APO Miami 34023); telephone  503
26-7100

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

ECONOMY
Overview: The agricultural sector accounts for 25% of GDP, employs
about 40% of the labor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports.
Coffee is the major commercial crop, accounting for 45% of export
earnings. The manufacturing sector, based largely on food and beverage
processing, accounts for 18% of GDP and 15% of employment. Economic
losses because of guerrilla sabotage total more than $2.0 billion
since 1979. The costs of maintaining a large military seriously
constrain the government's efforts to provide essential social services.
Nevertheless, growth in national output last year exceeded growth in
population for the first time since 1987.

GDP: $5.4 billion, per capita $1,030; real growth rate 2.8%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1989)

Budget: revenues $751 million; expenditures $790 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $571 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--coffee 45%, sugar, cotton, shrimp;

partners--US 49%, FRG 24%, Guatemala 7%, Costa Rica 4%, Japan 4%

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum products, consumer goods, foodstuffs,
machinery, construction materials, fertilizer;

partners--US 40%, Guatemala 12%, Venezuela 7%, Mexico 7%, FRG 5%,
Japan 4%

External debt: $2.1 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.4% (1990); accounts for
22% of GDP

Electricity: 682,000 kW capacity; 1,849 million kWh produced,
350 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food processing, textiles, clothing, beverages,
petroleum, tobacco products, chemicals, furniture

Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP and 40% of labor force
(including fishing and forestry); coffee most important commercial crop;
other products--sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef, dairy
products, shrimp; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $455 million

Currency: Salvadoran colon (plural--colones); 1 Salvadoran
colon (C) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1--8.0 (April
1991, floating rate since mid-1990); 5.0000 (fixed rate 1986 to mid-1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 602 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track

Highways: 10,000 km total; 1,500 km paved, 4,100 km gravel,
4,400 km improved and unimproved earth

Inland waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable

Ports: Acajutla, Cutuco

Civil air: 7 major transport aircraft

Airports: 116 total, 82 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: nationwide trunk radio relay system; connection
into Central American Microwave System; 116,000 telephones; stations--77
AM, no FM, 5 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police,
Treasury Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,220,088; 780,108 fit for
military service; 71,709 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $220 million, 3.6% of GDP (1990)



  * EQUATORIAL GUINEA

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 28,050 km2; land area: 28,050 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: 539 km total; Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Coastline: 296 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of
disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Climate: tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
volcanic

Natural resources: timber, crude oil, small unexploited deposits
of gold, manganese, uranium

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
4%; forest and woodland 51%; other 33%

Environment: subject to violent windstorms

Note: insular and continental regions rather widely separated

PEOPLE
Population: 378,729 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 116 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 53 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s);
adjective--Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic divisions: indigenous population of Bioko, primarily Bubi,
some Fernandinos; Rio Muni, primarily Fang; less than 1,000 Europeans,
mostly Spanish

Religion: natives all nominally Christian and predominantly Roman
Catholic; some pagan practices retained

Language: Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo

Literacy: 50% (male 64%, female 37%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 66%, services 23%,
industry 11% (1980); labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population
of working age (1985)

Organized labor: no formal trade unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Type: republic

Capital: Malabo

Administrative divisions: 2 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Bioko, Rio Muni; note--there may now be 6 provinces
named Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele Nzas

Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain; formerly Spanish Guinea)

Constitution: 15 August 1982

Legal system: in transition; partly based on Spanish civil law and
tribal custom

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives of the
People (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo)

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Cristino SERICHE BIOKO MALABO
(since 15 August 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Isidoro Eyi MONSUY ANDEME
(since 15 August 1989)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Democratic Party for
Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO, party leader

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

President--last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June 1996);
results--President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO
was reelected without opposition;

Chamber of People's Representatives--last held 10 July 1988
(next to be held 10 July 1993);
results--PDGE is the only party;
seats--(41 total) PDGE 41

Communists: no significant number

Member of: ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate),
NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONG; Chancery
at 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1403, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212)
599-1523;

US--Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William MITHOEFER;
Embassy at Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo (mailing address is P. O.
Box 597, Malabo; telephone  240  (9) 2185, 2406, 2507

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red
with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of
arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow
six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands)
above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a
scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy, destroyed during the regime of former
President Macias Nguema, is now based on agriculture, forestry,
and fishing, which account for about 60% of GNP and nearly all exports.
Subsistence agriculture predominates, with cocoa, coffee, and wood
products providing income, foreign exchange, and government
revenues. There is little industry. Commerce accounts
for about 10% of GNP, and the construction, public works, and service
sectors for about 34%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium,
iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold.  Oil exploration,
taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms,
has been moderately successful, and some revenues from oil exports
will begin rolling in by mid-1991.

GDP: $144 million, per capita $411; real growth rate 2.9% (1988
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.9% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $23 million; expenditures $31 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1988)

Exports: $41 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--coffee, timber, cocoa beans;

partners--Spain 44%, FRG 19%, Italy 12%, Netherlands 11% (1987)

Imports: $57.1 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery;

partners--Spain 34%, Italy 16%, France 14%, Netherlands 8% (1987)

External debt: $195 million (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 6.8% (1990 est.); acounts
for about 4% of GDP

Electricity: 23,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced,
170 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fishing, sawmilling

Agriculture: cash crops--timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa
from Bioko; food crops--rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts,
manioc, livestock

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $112 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: Rio Muni--1,024 km; Bioko--216 km

Ports: Malabo, Bata

Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,413
GRT/6,699 DWT; includes 1 cargo and 1 passenger-cargo

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 4 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor system with adequate government services;
international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European
countries; 2,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 79,641; 40,369 fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 11% of GNP (FY81 est.)



  * ETHIOPIA

ETHIOPIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,221,900 km2; land area: 1,101,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 5,141 km total; Djibouti 459 km, Kenya 861 km,
Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 2,221 km

Coastline: 1,094 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a
Provisional Administrative Line; possible claim by Somalia based on
unification of ethnic Somalis; territorial dispute with Somalia over
the Ogaden; separatist movement in Eritrea; antigovernment insurgencies
in Tigray and other areas

Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation;
some areas prone to extended droughts

Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great
Rift Valley

Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
41%; forest and woodland 24%; other 22%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification; frequent droughts; famine

Note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest
shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; major resettlement
project--that was ongoing in rural areas and would have significantly
altered population distribution and settlement patterns over the next
several decades--has been derailed because of ongoing civil wars

PEOPLE
Population: 53,191,127 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 114 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 53 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ethiopian(s); adjective--Ethiopian

Ethnic divisions: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%

Religion: Muslim 40-45%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35-40%, animist
15-20%, other 5%

Language: Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga,
Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Literacy: 62% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 10 and over can read and write (1983 est.)

Labor force: 18,000,000; agriculture and animal
husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8%
(1985)

Organized labor: All Ethiopian Trade Union formed by the government
in January 1977 to represent 273,000 registered trade union members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Type: on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front (EPRDF) took control in Addis Ababa; on 29 May 1991
Issayas AFEWORKE, secretary general of the Eritrean People's Liberation
Front (EPLF), announced the formation of a provisional government in
Eritrea, in preparation for an eventual referendum on independence
for the province

Capital: Addis Ababa

Administrative divisions: 25 administrative regions (astedader
akababiwach, singular--astedader akababi) and 5
autonomous regions* (rasgez akababiwach, singular--rasgez
akababi); Addis Abeba (Addis Ababa), Arsi, Aseb*,
Asosa, Bale, Borena, Debub Gonder, Debub Shewa, Debub Welo, Dire
Dawa*, Ertra (Eritrea)*, Gambela, Gamo Gofa, Ilubabor, Kefa,
Metekel, Mirab Gojam, Mirab Harerge, Mirab Shewa, Misrak Gojam,
Misrak Harerge, Nazaret, Ogaden*, Omo, Semen Gonder,
Semen Shewa, Semen Welo, Sidamo, Tigray*, Welega

Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
oldest in the world--at least 2,000 years

Constitution: 12 September 1987

Legal system: complex structure with civil, Islamic, common, and
customary law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Revolution Day, 12 September (1974)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of State
prime minister, five deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Shengo)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Interim President Meles ZENAWI (since 1 June
1991);

Head of Government--Acting Prime Minister Tamrat LAYNE (since 6
June 1991)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Workers' Party of
Ethiopia (WPE)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 10 September 1987
(next to be held September 1992);
results--MENGISTU Haile-Mariam elected by the National Assembly, but
resigned and left Ethiopia on 21 May 1991;

National Assembly--last held 14 June 1987 (next to be
held NA);
results--WPE was the only party;
seats--(835 total) WPE 835

Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front;
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP)

Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad
interim GIRMA Amare; Chancery at 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC
20008; telephone [phone] or 2282;

US--Charge d'Affaires Robert G. HOUDEK; Embassy at Entoto Street,
Addis Ababa (mailing address is P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa);
telephone  251  (01) 550666

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red;
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and the colors of
her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon
independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

ECONOMY
Overview: Ethiopia is one of the poorest and least developed
countries in Africa. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture,
which accounts for about 45% of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total
employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The
manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural
sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less then 10% of
agriculture, is state run. Favorable agricultural weather largely
explains the 4.5% growth in output in FY89.

GDP: $6.6 billion, per capita $130, real growth rate - 0.4%
(FY89 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget: revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion, including
capital expenditures of $842 million (FY88)

Exports: $429 million (f.o.b., FY88);

commodities--coffee 60%, hides;

partners--US, FRG, Djibouti, Japan, PDRY, France, Italy,
Saudi Arabia

Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., FY88);

commodities--food, fuels, capital goods;

partners--USSR, Italy, FRG, Japan, UK, US, France

External debt: $2.6 billion (1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (FY89 est.); accounts
for 13% of GDP

Electricity: 330,000 kW capacity; 700 million kWh produced,
14 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals,
metals processing, cement

Agriculture: accounts for 45% of GDP and is the most important
sector of the economy even though frequent droughts and poor cultivation
practices keep farm output low; famines not uncommon; export crops of
coffee and oilseeds grown partly on state farms; estimated 50% of
agricultural production at subsistence level; principal crops and
livestock--cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and
other vegetables, hides and skins, cattle, sheep, goats

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $504
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $3.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $8 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.0 billion

Currency: birr (plural--birr); 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1--2.0700 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 8 July-7 July

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 988 km total; 681 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km
0.950-meter gauge (nonoperational)

Highways: 44,300 km total; 3,650 km bituminous, 9,650 km gravel,
3,000 km improved earth, 28,000 km unimproved earth

Ports: Aseb, Mitsiwa

Merchant marine: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 69,398
GRT/89,457 DWT; includes 9 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll off cargo, 1 livestock
carrier, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker

Civil air: 21 major transport aircraft

Airports: 153 total, 111 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 49 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: open-wire and radio relay system adequate for
government use; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; radio relay to Kenya and
Djibouti; stations--4 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 45,000 TV sets; 3,300,000 radios;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 11,717,614; 6,072,112 fit for
military service; 609,346 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, 8.5% of GDP (1988)



  * EUROPA ISLAND

EUROPA ISLAND
(French possession)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 28 km2; land area: 28 km2

Comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 22.2 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: NA

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; heavily wooded

Environment: wildlife sanctuary

Note: located in the Mozambique Channel 340 km west of Madagascar

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of
the Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 1 with runway 1,220 to 2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Telecommunications: 1 meteorological station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * FALKLAND ISLA

FALKLAND ISLANDS

(Islas Malvinas)
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 12,170 km2; land area: 12,170 km2; includes the two
main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,288 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 100 meter depth;

Exclusive fishing zone: 150 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain
occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year,
except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
plains

Natural resources: fish and wildlife

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 99%; forest and woodland 0%; other 1%

Environment: poor soil fertility and a short growing season

Note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors

PEOPLE
Population: 1,968 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Falkland Islander(s); adjective--Falkland Island

Ethnic divisions: almost totally British

Religion: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, and United Free
Church; Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day
Adventist

Language: English

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
but compulsory education age 5 to 15 (1988)

Labor force: 1,100 (est.); agriculture, mostly
sheepherding about 95%

Organized labor: Falkland Islands General Employees Union, 400
members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Colony of the Falkland Islands

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Stanley

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 3 October 1985

Legal system: English common law

National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Governor William Hugh FULLERTON (since NA
1988)

Political parties: NA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Council--last held 11 October 1989 (next to be
held October 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(10 total, 8 elected) number of seats by party NA

Member of: ICFTU

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the
outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep
raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire
(whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing
the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or
indirectly employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to
meet domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are
primarily those for providing winter fodder. Exports feature shipments
of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins.
Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited
by the islanders. So far efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry
have been unsuccessful. In 1987 the government began selling
fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands
exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more than $40
million per year and are a primary source of income for the
government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development
Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the
abundant wildlife and trout fishing.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1980-87 average)

Unemployment rate: NA%; labor shortage

Budget: revenues $62.7 million; expenditures $41.8 million,
excluding capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

Exports: at least $14.7 million;

commodities--wool, hides and skins, and other;

partners--UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)

Imports: at least $13.9 million;

commodities--food, clothing, fuels, and machinery;

partners--UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 9,200 kW capacity; 17 million kWh produced, 8,680 kWh
per capita (1990)

Industries: wool and fish processing

Agriculture: predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds;
some fodder and vegetable crops

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $109 million

Currency: Falkland pound (plural--pounds); 1 Falkland pound
(LF) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Falkland pound is at par with the
British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 510 km total; 30 km paved, 80 km gravel, and 400 km
unimproved earth

Ports: Port Stanley

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220 to 2,439 m

Telecommunications: government-operated radiotelephone and private
VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on
both islands; 590 telephones; stations--2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth station with links through London to other countries

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (including Army, Royal
Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines); Police Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * FAROE ISLANDS

FAROE ISLANDS
(part of the Danish realm)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,400 km2; land area: 1,400 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 764 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 98%

Environment: precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal
lowlands; archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited
islets

Note: strategically located along important sea lanes in
northeastern Atlantic about midway between Iceland and Shetland Islands

PEOPLE
Population: 48,151 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Faroese (sing., pl.); adjective--Faroese

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous Scandinavian population

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran

Language: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 17,585; largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing,
transportation, and commerce

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark

Capital: Torshavn

Administrative divisions: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

Independence: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark

Constitution: Danish

Legal system: Danish

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Executive branch: Danish monarch, high commissioner, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyri)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Logting)

Judicial branch: none

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972),
represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Atli P. DAM (since 15
January 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
two-party ruling coalition--Social Democratic Party, Atli P. DAM;
People's Party, Jogvan SUNDSTEIN;

opposition--Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli ELLEFSEN;
Republican Party, Signer HANSEN;
Progressive and Fishing Industry Party-Christian People's Party
(PFIP-CPP), leader NA; Progress Party, leader NA; Home Rule Party, Hilmar
KASS

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

Faroese Parliament--last held 17 November 1990
(next to be held November 1994); results--Social Democratic 27.4%,
People's Party 21.9%, Cooperation Coalition Party 18.9%,
Republican Party 14.7%, Home Rule 8.8%, PFIP-CPP 5.9%, other 2.4%;
seats--(32 total) two-party coalition 17 (Social Democratic 10, People's
Party 7), Cooperation Coalition Party 6, Republican Party 4,
Home Rule 3, PFIP-CPP 2;

Danish Parliament--last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be
held by December 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) Social Democratic 1, People's Party 1; note--the
Faroe Islands elects two representatives to the Danish Parliament

Communists: insignificant number

Member of:

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

Flag: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

ECONOMY
Overview: The Faroese, who have long been enjoying the affluent
living standards of the Danes and other Scandinavians,
now must cope with the decline of the all-important fishing
industry and with an external debt twice the size of annual
income. When the nations of the world extended their fishing
zones to 200 nautical miles in the early 1970s, the Faroese
no longer could continue their traditional long-distance fishing
and subsequently depleted their own nearby fishing areas; one
estimate foresaw a 25% drop in fish catch in 1990 alone. Half the
fishing fleet is for sale, and the 22 fish-processing plants work
at only half capacity. The government no longer can maintain its
high level of spending on roads and tunnels, hospitals, sports
facilities, and other social welfare programs.

GDP: $662 million, per capita $14,000; real growth rate 3%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.0% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%, but increasing

Budget: revenues $442 million; expenditures $442 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $343 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs,
transport equipment;

partners--Denmark 16%, UK 14%, FRG 13.4%, US 10%, France 9%,
Japan 5%

Imports: $344 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment 30%,
manufactures 16%, food and livestock 15%, chemicals 6%, fuels 4%;

partners: Denmark 44%, Norway 16%, FRG 6%, Sweden 6%, US 3%

External debt: $1.3 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 80,000 kW capacity; 280 million kWh produced,
5,910 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts

Agriculture: accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor
force; principal crops--potatoes and vegetables; livestock--sheep; annual
fish catch about 360,000 metric tons

Economic aid: none

Currency: Danish krone (plural--kroner); 1 Danish krone
(DKr) = 100 ore

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--5.817 (January
1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091
(1986), 10.596 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 200 km

Ports: Torshavn, Tvoroyri

Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,249
GRT/11,887 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 2 cargo, 2
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo; note--a subset of the
Danish register

Airports: 1 with permanent surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good international communications; fair
domestic facilities; 27,900 telephones; stations--1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters)
FM, 3 (29 repeaters) TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: no organized native military forces; only a small
Police Force is maintained

Note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark



  * FIJI

FIJI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 18,270 km2; land area: 18,270 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,129 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature
variation

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper; offshore oil
potential

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures
3%; forest and woodland 65%; other 19%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: subject to hurricanes from November to January;
includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Note: located 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific
Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 744,006 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 12 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Fijian(s); adjective--Fijian

Ethnic divisions: Indian 49%, Fijian 46%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%

Religion: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%),
Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%; note--Fijians are mainly Christian,
Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)

Language: English (official); Fijian; Hindustani

Literacy: 86% (male 90%, female 81%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.)

Labor force: 235,000; subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners
18%, salary earners 15% (1987)

Organized labor: about 45,000 employees belong to some 46 trade
unions, which are organized along lines of work and ethnic origin (1983)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Fiji

Type: military coup leader Major General Sitiveni Rabuka formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Capital: Suva

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987);
a new Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated
on 25 July 1990

Legal system: based on British system

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an
upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives,
was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the Constitution of 23
September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU
(since 5 December 1987);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 5
December 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Josefata KAMIKAMICA (since NA
October 1991);
note--Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA served as prime minister from 10 October
1970 until the 5-11 April 1987 election; after a second coup led by
Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA on 25 September 1987, Ratu Sir Kamisese
MARA was reappointed as prime minister

Political parties and leaders:
Fijian Political Party (primarily Fijian), leader NA;
National Federation (primarily Indian), Siddiq KOYA;
Western United Front (Fijian), Ratu Osea GAVIDI;
Fiji Labor Party, Adi Kuini BAVADRA

Suffrage: none

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 14 May 1987 (next to be
held July 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnic
Indians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) number of seats
by party NA

Communists: some

Member of: ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, PCA,
SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires Ratu Finau MARA;
Chancery at Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007;
telephone [phone]; there is a Fijian Consulate in New York;

US--Ambassador Evelyn I. H. TEEGEN; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street,
Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva); telephone  [phone] or
314-069

Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,
bananas, and a white dove

ECONOMY
Overview: Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large
subsistence sector. Sugar exports are a major source of foreign exchange
and sugar processing accounts for one-third of industrial output.
Industry, including sugar milling, contributes 13% to GDP. Fiji
traditionally had earned considerable sums of hard currency from the
250,000 tourists who visited each year. In 1987, however, after two
military coups, the economy went into decline. GDP dropped by 7.8% in
1987 and by another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainty created a drop in
tourism, and the worst drought of the century caused sugar production
to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar and tourism turned in strong
performances in 1989, and the economy rebounded vigorously. In 1990
the economy received a setback from cyclone Sina which cut sugar
output by an estimated 21%.

GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $1,693; real growth rate 3.5%
(1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.9 (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $314 million; expenditures $355 million,
including capital expenditures of $81 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $646 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.);

commodities--sugar 40%, gold, clothing, copra, processed fish,
lumber;

partners--EC 31%, Australia 21%, Japan 8%, US 6%

Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.);

commodities--machinery and transport 32%, food 15%, petroleum
products, consumer goods, chemicals;

partners--Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%

External debt: $428 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1991 est.); accounts
for 13% of GDP

Electricity: 215,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 430
kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, fishing, clothing,
lumber, small cottage industries

Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is
sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas; small
livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1980-87), $732 million

Currency: Fijian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Fijian dollar
(F$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1--1.4476 (January
1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988), 1.2439 (1987), 1.1329
(1986), 1.1536 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 644 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, belonging to the
government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation

Highways: 3,300 km total (1984)--390 km paved; 1,200 km
bituminous-surface treatment; 1,290 km gravel, crushed stone, or
stabilized soil surface; 420 unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and
200-metric-ton barges

Ports: Lambasa, Lautoka, Savusavu, Suva

Merchant marine: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,214
GRT/37,161 DWT; includes 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 container,
1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker

Civil air: 1 DC-3 and 1 light aircraft

Airports: 26 total, 24 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph,
and teleprinter facilities; regional radio center; important COMPAC cable
link between US-Canada and New Zealand-Australia; 53,228 telephones;
stations--7 AM, 1 FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Fiji Military Force (FMF; Army, Navy, Police)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 190,120; 104,861 fit for
military service; 7,879 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $25.8 million, 2.5% of GDP (1988)



  * FINLAND

FINLAND

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 337,030 km2; land area: 305,470 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries: 2,628 km total; Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km,
USSR 1,313 km

Coastline: 1,126 km excluding islands and coastal indentations

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 6 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively
mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes
and low hills

Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
NEGL%; forest and woodland 76%; other 16%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: permanently wet ground covers about 30% of land;
population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

Note: long boundary with USSR; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent

PEOPLE
Population: 4,991,131 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Finn(s); adjective--Finnish

Ethnic divisions: Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%,
none 9%, other 1%

Language: Finnish 93.5%, Swedish (both official) 6.3%; small Lapp-
and Russian-speaking minorities

Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Labor force: 2,470,000; services 38.2%, mining and manufacturing
22.7%, commerce 14.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%,
construction 8.0%, transportation and communications 7.2% (1989)

Organized labor: 80% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Finland

Type: republic

Capital: Helsinki

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit,
singular--laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi,
Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)

Constitution: 17 July 1919

Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court
may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Exekutive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Council of State (Valtioneuvosto)

Legislative branch: unicameral Eduskunta

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Mauno KOIVISTO (since 27 January 1982);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991);
Deputy Prime Minister Ilkka KANERVA (since 26 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders:

government coalition--Center Party, Esko AHO;
National Coalition (Conservative) Party, Ilkka SUOMINEN; and
Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole NORRBACK;

other parties--Social Democratic Party, Pertti PAASIO;
Leftist Alliance (Communist) consisting of People's Democratic League and
Democratic Alternative, Claes ANDERSSON;
Green League, Heidi HAUTALA;
Rural Party, Heikki RIIHIJAERVI;
Finnish Christian League, Esko ALMGREN;
Liberal People's Party, Kyosti LALLUKKA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 31 January-1 February and 15 February 1988
(next to be held January 1994);
results--Mauno KOIVISTO 48%, Paavo VAYRYNEN 20%, Harri HOLKERI 18%;

Eduskunta--last held 17 March 1991
(next to be held March 1995);
results--Center Party 24.8%, Social Democratic Party 22.1%, National
Coalition (Conservative) Party 19.3%, Leftist Alliance (Communist)
10.1%, Green League 6.8%, Swedish People's Party 5.5%, Rural 4.8%,
Finnish Christian League 3.1%, Liberal People's Party 0.8%;
seats--(200 total) Center Party 55, Social Democratic Party 48,
National Coalition (Conservative) Party 40, Leftist Alliance (Communist)
19, Swedish People's Party 12, Green League 10, Finnish Christian League
8, Rural 7, Liberal People's Party 1

Communists: 28,000 registered members; an additional 45,000 persons
belong to People's Democratic League

Other political or pressure groups:
Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Esko-Juhani TENNILA;
Constitutional Rightist Party;
Finnish Pensioners Party;
Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD,
ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, OAS
(observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI; Chancery at
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington DC 20016; telephone [phone];
there are Finnish Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York,
and Consulates in Chicago and Houston;

US--Ambassador John G. WEINMANN; Embassy at Itainen Puistotie
14A, SF-00140, Helsinki (mailing address is APO New York 09664);
telephone  358  (0) 171931

Flag: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in
the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

ECONOMY
Overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market
economy, with per capita output nearly three-fourths the US figure.
Its main economic force is the manufacturing sector--principally
the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with
the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and
several minerals, Finland depends on imported raw materials, energy, and
some components of manufactured goods. Because of the climate,
agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in
basic commodities. The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9%
annual growth between 1987 and 1989, leveled off in 1990 and is now
in a recession facing negative growth in 1991. The clearing account
system between Finland and the Soviet Union in the postwar period--mainly
Soviet oil and gas for Finnish manufactured goods--had kept Finland
isolated from world recessions; the system, however, was dismantled on
1 January 1991 in favor of hard currency trade. As a result, Finland must
increase its competitiveness in certain sectors, for example, textiles,
foodstuffs, paper, and metals, and has already begun to shift trade
westward. Finland, as a member of EFTA, is negotiating a European
Economic Area arrangement with the EC which would allow for free
movement of capital, goods, services, and labor within the organization.

GDP: $77.3 billion, per capita $15,500; real growth rate - 0.1%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.0% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $35.1 billion; expenditures $33.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $1.4 billion (1990)

Exports: $23.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--timber, paper and pulp, ships, machinery, clothing and
footwear;

partners--EC 44.0% (UK 12.0%, FRG 10.8%), USSR 14.5%, Sweden 14.3%,
US 6.4%

Imports: $24.4 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn
and fabrics, fodder grains;

partners--EC 44.5% (FRG 17.3%, UK 6.6%), Sweden 13.6%, USSR 11.5%,
US 6.3%

External debt: $5.3 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 3.0% (1991 est.); accounts
for 28% of GDP

Electricity: 13,324,000 kW capacity; 49,330 million kWh produced,
9,940 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: metal manufacturing and shipbuilding, forestry and wood
processing (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, clothing

Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GNP (including forestry); livestock
production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; forestry is an
important export earner and a secondary occupation for the rural
population; main crops--cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85%
self-sufficient, but short of food and fodder grains; annual fish catch
about 160,000 metric tons

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7
billion

Currency: markka (plural--markkaa); 1 markka (FMk) or
Finmark = 100 pennia

Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1--3.6421 (January 1991),
3.8235 (1990), 4.2912 (1989), 4.1828 (1988), 4.3956 (1987), 5.0695
(1986), 6.1979 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 5,924 km total; Finnish State Railways (VR) operate a
total of 5,863 km 1.524-meter gauge, of which 480 km are multiple track
and 1,445 km are electrified

Highways: about 103,000 km total, including 35,000 km paved
(bituminous, concrete, bituminous-treated surface) and 38,000 km unpaved
(stabilized gravel, gravel, earth); additional 30,000 km of private
(state-subsidized) roads

Inland waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km
suitable for steamers

Pipelines: natural gas, 580 km

Ports: Helsinki, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku; 6 secondary, numerous
minor ports

Merchant marine: 83 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 807,020
GRT/831,774 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 10 short-sea passenger, 16 cargo,
1 refrigerated cargo, 23 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 14 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 8 bulk

Civil air: 42 major transport

Airports: 160 total, 157 usable; 57 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 23 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good service from cable and radio relay
network; 3,140,000 telephones; stations--4 AM, 42 (101 relays) FM, 79
(197 relays) TV; 2 submarine cables; satellite service via Swedish earth
stations; earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including
Sea Guard)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,313,346; 1,089,217 fit for
military service; 32,866 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 1.5% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * FRANCE

FRANCE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 547,030 km2; land area: 545,630 km2; includes Corsica
and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas
administrative divisions

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Colorado

Land boundaries: 2,892.4 km total; Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km,
Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km,
Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km

Coastline: 3,427 km (includes Corsica, 644 km)

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12-24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Canada (Saint Pierre and
Miquelon); Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso
Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims
Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin
Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton
Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land)

Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters
and hot summers along the Mediterranean

Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and
west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in
east

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc,
potash

Land use: arable land 32%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
23%; forest and woodland 27%; other 16%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: most of large urban areas and industrial centers in
Rhone, Garonne, Seine, or Loire River basins; occasional warm tropical
wind known as mistral

Note: largest West European nation

PEOPLE
Population: 56,595,587 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 82 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women);
adjective--French

Ethnic divisions: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North
African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities

Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%,
Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%

Language: French (100% of population); rapidly declining regional
dialects (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)

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

Labor force: 24,170,000; services 61.5%, industry 31.3%,
agriculture 7.3% (1987)

Organized labor: 20% of labor force (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: French Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Paris

Administrative divisions: metropolitan France--22 regions
(regions, singular--region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne,
Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse,
Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon,
Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais,
Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes,
Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes;

note--the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate
entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte,
Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands,
Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna;
note--the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: unified by Clovis in 486, First Republic proclaimed
in 1792

Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of
president in 1962

Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an
upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or National Assembly
(Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Edith CRESSON (since 15 May
1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR, formerly UDR), Jacques CHIRAC;
Union for French Democracy (UDF, federation of PR, CDS, and RAD),
Valery Giscard d'ESTAING;
Republican Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET;
Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre MEHAIGNERIE;
Radical (RAD), Yves GALLARD;
Socialist Party (PS), Pierre MAUROY;
Left Radical Movement (MRG), Yves COLLIN;
Communist Party (PCF), Georges MARCHAIS;
National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held May 1995);
results--Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%;

Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(321 total; 296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments
and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 93,
UDF 143 (PR 53, CDS 65, RAD 25), PS 64, PCF 16, independents 2,
unknown 3;

National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--Second Ballot PS-MRG 48.7%, RPR 23.1%, UDF 21%, PCF 3.4%,
other 3.8%;
seats--(577 total) PS 275, RPR 132, UDF 90, UDC 40, PCF 25,
independents 15

Communists: 700,000 claimed but probably closer to 150,000;
Communist voters, 2.8 million in 1988 election

Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor
union (Confederation Generale du Travail) nearly 2.4 million
members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation
Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members
est.; independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members
(est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale
des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French
Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais--CNPF or Patronat)

Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BDEAC,
BIS, CCC, CDB, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate),
ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, GATT, G-5, G-7, G-10, IABD, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI; Chancery at
4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington DC 20007; telephone [phone];
there are French Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan
(Puerto Rico);

US--Ambassador Walter J. P. CURLEY; Embassy at 2 Avenue
Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 (mailing address is APO New York 09777);
telephone  33  (1) 42-96-12-02 or 42-61-80-75; there are US Consulates
General in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and
red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and
colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including those
of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Ivory Coast, and Luxembourg; the official flag
for all French dependent areas

ECONOMY
Overview: One of the world's most developed economies, France
has substantial agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern
industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of
modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading
agricultural producer in Western Europe. France is largely
self-sufficient in agricultural products and is a major exporter of
wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about
one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial
to the economy. After sluggish growth during the period 1982-87, the
economy expanded at a rapid 3.8% pace in 1988-89. The economy
slowed down in 1990, with growth of 2.0% expected in 1991.
The economy has had difficulty generating enough jobs for new
entrants into the labor force, resulting in a high unemployment rate,
which probably will rise to around 10% during the slowdown.
The steadily advancing economic integration within the European
Community is a major force affecting the fortunes of the various economic
sectors.

GDP: $873.5 billion, per capita $15,500; real growth rate 2.8%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9% (1990)

Budget: revenues $207.6 billion; expenditures $224.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $34 billion (1990 est.)

Exports: $181.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and
clothing;

partners--FRG 16%, Italy 12.1%, UK 9.5%, Spain 9.5%,
Netherlands 9.2%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.9%, US 6.6%, Japan 1.9%,
USSR 1.0% (1989 est.)

Imports: $201.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural
products, chemicals, iron and steel products;

partners--FRG 19.4%, Italy 11.6%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.2%,
Netherlands 8.6%, US 7.6%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7.1%, Japan 4.1%,
USSR 1.4% (1989 est.)

External debt: $59.3 billion (December 1987)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.7% (1989); accounts
for 26% of GDP

Electricity: 109,972,000 kW capacity; 403,570 million kWh produced,
7,210 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, and tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GNP (including fishing and
forestry); one of the world's top five wheat producers; other principal
products--beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine
grapes; self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods; shortages include
fats and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm
products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top
20 countries and is all used domestically

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1
billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.8 (May 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,568 km
1.435-meter standard gauge; 11,674 km electrified, 15,132 km double or
multiple track; 2,138 km of various gauges (1.000-meter to 1.440-meter),
privately owned and operated

Highways: 1,551,400 km total; 33,400 km national highway;
347,000 km departmental highway; 421,000 km community roads; 750,000 km
rural roads; 5,401 km of controlled-access divided autoroutes; about
803,000 km paved

Inland waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled

Pipelines: crude oil, 3,059 km; refined products, 4,487 km; natural
gas, 24,746 km

Ports: maritime--Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque,
Fos-Sur-Mer, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, Sete, Toulon;
inland--42

Merchant marine: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,141,276
GRT/5,006,695 DWT; includes 8 short-sea passenger, 15 cargo, 18
container, 2 multifunction large-load carrier, 29 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
34 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 8 chemical tanker,
6 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 11 bulk; note--France also
maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen
Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and French Polynesia

Civil air: 195 (1989 est.)

Airports: 470 total, 460 usable; 246 with permanent-surface
runways; 3 with runways over 3,659 m; 34 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
136 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: highly developed system provides satisfactory
telephone, telegraph, radio and TV broadcast services; 39,200,000
telephones; stations--40 AM, 138 (777 relays) FM, 216 (8,902 relays) TV;
25 submarine coaxial cables; communication satellite earth stations
operating in INTELSAT, 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, EUTELSAT,
MARISAT, and domestic systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National
Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,366,492; 12,077,706 fit for
military service; 395,128 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $29.7 billion, 3.6% of GDP (1990)



  * FRENCH GUIANA

FRENCH GUIANA
(overseas department of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 91,000 km2; land area: 89,150 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries: 1,183 km total; Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline: 378 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and
Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation

Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains

Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered),
cinnabar, kaolin, fish

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 82%; other 18%

Environment: mostly an unsettled wilderness

PEOPLE
Population: 101,603 (July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--French Guianese (sing., pl.); adjective--French
Guiana

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%; Caucasian 12%; East Indian,
Chinese, Amerindian 12%; other 10%

Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic

Language: French

Literacy: 82% (male 81%, female 83%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force: 23,265; services, government, and commerce 60.6%,
industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)

Organized labor: 7% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Department of Guiana

Type: overseas department of France

Capital: Cayenne

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: French president, commissioner of the republic

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
Regional Council

Judicial branch: highest local court is the Court of Appeals
based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and
French Guiana

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981);

Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Francois
DI CHIARA (since NA 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Gerard HOLDER;
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Paulin BRUNE;
Guyanese Democratic Action (ADG), Andre Lecante;
Union for French Democracy (UDF), Claude Ho A CHUCK;
National Front (FN), Guy MALON;
Popular and National Party of Guiana (PNPG), Claude ROBO;
National Anti-Colonist Guianese Party (PANGA), Michel KAPEL

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Regional Council--last held 16 March 1986 (next to be
held NA 1991);
results--PSG 43%, RPR 27.7%, ADG 12.2%, UDF 8.9%, FN 3.7%,
PNPG 1.4%, other 3.1%;
seats--(31 total) PSG 15, RPR 9, ADG 4, UDF 3;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) PSG 1;

French National Assembly--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1

Communists: Communist party membership negligible

Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France
the interests of French Guiana are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through
subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing
and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports
of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60%
of total revenue in 1987. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not
fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn
logs for export. Cultivation of crops--rice, cassava, bananas, and
sugarcane--are limited to the coastal area, where the population is
largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports
of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly
among younger workers.

GDP: $186 million, per capita $2,240; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1987)

Budget: revenues $735 million; expenditures $735 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1987)

Exports: $54.0 million (f.o.b., 1987);

commodities--shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence;

partners--France 31%, US 22%, Japan 10% (1987)

Imports: $394.0 million (c.i.f., 1987);

commodities--food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods,
producer goods, petroleum;

partners--France 62%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, US 4%, FRG 3%
(1987)

External debt: $1.2 billion (1988)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 92,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced,
1,890 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products,
rum, gold mining

Agriculture: some vegetables for local consumption; rice, corn,
manioc, cocoa, bananas, sugar; livestock--cattle, pigs, poultry

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-87), $1.25 billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 680 km total; 510 km paved, 170 km improved and
unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and
river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km possibly navigable by native craft

Ports: Cayenne

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 10 total, 10 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair open wire and radio relay system;
18,100 telephones; stations--5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49 28,650; 18,903 fit for military
service

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * FRENCH POLYNESIA

FRENCH POLYNESIA
(overseas territory of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 3,941 km2; land area: 3,660 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of
Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 2,525 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but moderate

Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 19%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 31%; other 44%

Environment: occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five
archipelagoes

Note: Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great
phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba
(Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

PEOPLE
Population: 195,046 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 31 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--French Polynesian(s); adjective--French
Polynesian

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%,
metropolitan French 4%

Religion: mainly Christian; Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%,
other 16%

Language: French (official), Tahitian

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%)
age 14 and over but definition of literacy not available (1977)

Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of French Polynesia

Type: overseas territory of France since 1946

Capital: Papeete

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named
Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles
du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent; note--Clipperton Island is administered
from French Polynesia and may have become a dependency of French
Polynesia

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: based on French system

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: French president, high commissioner of the
republic, president of the Council of Ministers, vice president of the
Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since
21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT
(since NA November 1987);

Head of Government--President of the Council of Ministers
Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991);
Vice President of the Council of Ministers NA

Political parties and leaders:
People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE;
Polynesian Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF;
New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON;
Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU;
other small parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Territorial Assembly--last held 17 March 1991
(next to be held March 1996); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian Union Party
14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) party NA;

French National Assembly last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be
held June 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 1, New Fatherland Party 1

Member of: FZ, SPC, WMO

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France,
French Polynesian interests are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in
the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to
one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by
the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about
20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.

GDP: $1.2 billion, per capita $6,300; real growth rate NA% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8% (1986 est.)

Budget: revenues $614 million; expenditures $957 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla,
shark meat;

partners--France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%

Imports: $806 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--fuels, foodstuffs, equipment;

partners--France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced,
1,390 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit;
poultry, beef, dairy products

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $3.95 billion

Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs);
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--93.28 (January 1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988),
109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 600 km (1982)

Ports: Papeete, Bora-bora

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,128
GRT/6,710 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 1 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo;
note--a captive subset of the French register

Civil air: about 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 43 total, 41 usable; 23 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 33,200 telephones; 84,000 radio receivers;
26,400 TV sets; stations--5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,844; NA fit for military
service

Note: defense is responsibility of France



  * FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS

FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS
(overseas territory of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 7,781 km2; land area: 7,781 km2; includes Ile
Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet;
excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica
that is not recognized by the US

Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,232 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (Iles Kerguelen only);

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by
the US

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: volcanic

Natural resources: fish, crayfish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
volcanoes

Note: located in the southern Indian Ocean about equidistant
between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia

PEOPLE
Population: summer (January 1991)--180, winter (July 1991)--150,
growth rate 0.0% (1991);
note--mostly researchers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic
Lands

Type: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High
Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since NA May 1990), who is
assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific
Council

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by
the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles
Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes Terre Adelie
claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological
and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets.
The fishing catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are
exported to France and Reunion.

Budget: $33.6 million (1990)

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
220,392 GRT/350,131 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo,
2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
2 liquefied gas, 2 bulk; note--a captive subset of the French register

Telecommunications: NA

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force)

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * GABON

GABON

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 267,670 km2; land area: 257,670 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries: 2,551 km total; Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km,
Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline: 885 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea
because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Climate: tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and
south

Natural resources: crude oil, manganese, uranium, gold, timber,
iron ore

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
18%; forest and woodland 78%; other 2%

Environment: deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 1,079,980 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 14 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 104 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Gabonese (sing., pl.); adjective--Gabonese

Ethnic divisions: about 40 Bantu tribes, including four major
tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke); about 100,000
expatriate Africans and Europeans, including 27,000 French

Religion: Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%, remainder animist

Language: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,
Bandjabi

Literacy: 61% (male 74%, female 48%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 120,000 salaried; agriculture 65.0%, industry and
commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government 2.5%; 58% of population of
working age (1983)

Organized labor: there are 38,000 members of the national trade
union, the Gabonese Trade Union Confederation (COSYGA)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Gabonese Republic

Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties
legalized 1990)

Capital: Libreville

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution: 21 February 1961, revised 15 April 1975

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the
Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

National holiday: Renovation Day (Gabonese Democratic Party
established), 12 March (1968)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December
1967);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Casimir OYE-MBA (since 3
May 1990)

Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG,
former sole party), El Hadj Omar BONGO, president;
National Recovery Movement-Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons);
Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP);
National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original);
Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG);
Gabonese Socialist Union (USG);
Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP);
Union for Democracy and Development (UDD)

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held on 9 November 1986
(next to be held November 1993);
results--President Omar BONGO was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held on 28 October 1990 (next to be
held by February 1992);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(120 total, 111 elected) PDG 62, National Recovery
Movement-Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons) 19, PGP 18, National Recovery
Movement (Morena-Original) 7, ASPG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independent 3

Communists: no organized party; probably some Communist
sympathizers

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24,
G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Alexandre
SAMBAT; Chancery at 2034 20th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone
[phone];

US--Ambassador Keith L. WAUCHOPE; Embassy at Boulevard de la Mer,
Libreville (mailing address is B. P. 4000, Libreville); telephone 762003
or 762004, 743492

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy, dependent on timber and manganese until
the early 1970s, is now dominated by the oil sector. During the period
1981-85 oil accounted for about 46% of GDP, 83% of export earnings, and
65% of government revenues on average. The high oil prices of the early
1980s contributed to a substantial increase in per capita income,
stimulated domestic demand, reinforced migration from rural to urban
areas, and raised the level of real wages to among the highest in
Sub-Saharan Africa. The three-year slide of Gabon's economy, which
began with falling oil prices in 1985, was reversed in 1989 because of a
near doubling of oil prices over their 1988 lows. In 1990 the economy
continued to grow, but debt servicing problems are hindering economic
advancement. The agricultural and industrial sectors are relatively
underdeveloped, except for oil.

GDP: $3.3 billion, per capita $3,090; real growth rate 13% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $277 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $1.16 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--crude oil 70%, manganese 11%, wood 12%, uranium 6%;

partners--France 53%, US 22%, FRG, Japan

Imports: $0.78 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products,
construction materials, manufactures, machinery;

partners--France 48%, US 2.6%, FRG, Japan, UK

External debt: $3.4 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 10% (1988 est.)

Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 980 million kWh produced,
920 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, food and beverages, timber, cement
plywood, textiles, mining--manganese, uranium, gold)

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing and
forestry); cash crops--cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock not developed;
importer of food; small fishing operations provide a catch of about
20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is the most important
timber product

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $66
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--253.32 (December 1990), 171.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 649 km 1.437-meter standard-gauge single track
(Transgabonese Railroad)

Highways: 7,500 km total; 560 km paved, 960 km laterite, 5,980 km
earth

Inland waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: crude oil, 270 km; refined products, 14 km

Ports: Owendo, Port-Gentil, Libreville

Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,563
GRT/25,330 DWT

Civil air: 11 major transport aircraft

Airports: 73 total, 61 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate system of open-wire, radio relay,
tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations; 13,800
telephones; stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 8 TV; satellite earth stations--2
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, paramilitary
Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 266,472; 133,648 fit for
military service; 9,634 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * THE GAMBIA

THE GAMBIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 11,300 km2; land area: 10,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundary: 740 km with Senegal

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 18 nm;

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler,
dry season (November to May)

Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 16%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
9%; forest and woodland 20%; other 55%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: deforestation

Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the
continent of Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 874,553 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 138 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 51 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Gambian(s); adjective--Gambian

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%,
Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%); non-Gambian 1%

Religion: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Language: English (official); Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars

Literacy: 27% (male 39%, female 16%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 75.0%, industry,
commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%; 55% population of
working age (1983)

Organized labor: 25-30% of wage labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of The Gambia

Type: republic

Capital: Banjul

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower
River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK); The Gambia and Senegal
signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982)
that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as
Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989

Constitution: 24 April 1970

Legal system: based on a composite of English common law,
Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Alhaji Sir Dawda
Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Bakary Bunja DARBO
(since 12 May 1982)

Political parties and leaders:
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general;
National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA;
Gambian People's Party (GPP), Assan Musa CAMARA;
United Party (UP);
People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS)

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992);
results--Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%,
Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 13.7%;

House of Representatives--last held on 11 March 1987 (next to
be held by March 1992);
results--PPP 56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%;
seats--(43 total, 36 elected) PPP 31, NCP 5

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH; Chancery at
Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005;
telephone [phone] or 842-1359;

US--Ambassador Arlene RENDER; Embassy at Pipeline Road
(Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19,
Banjul); telephone Serrekunda  220  92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white
edges, and green

ECONOMY
Overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural
resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's
poorest countries with a per capita income of about $230. About 75%
of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising,
which contributes 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing
activity--processing peanuts, fish, and hides--accounts for less than
10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports
one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports
are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).

GDP: $195 million, per capita $230; real growth rate 6.0% (FY90
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.0% (FY91)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million,
including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90)

Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm
kernels;

partners--Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1% other 5% (1989)

Imports: $147 million (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel,
machinery and transport equipment;

partners--Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3%
(1989)

External debt: $336 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8%
of GDP (FY90)

Electricity: 29,000 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 80 kWh
per capita (1989)

Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural
machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the
population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is
peanuts; the principal crops--millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava,
palm kernels; livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing
resources not fully exploited

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $492 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $39 million

Currency: dalasi (plural--dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--7.610 (January 1991),
7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987),
6.9380 (1986), 3.8939 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite,
and 2,151 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 400 km

Ports: Banjul

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications: adequate network of radio relay and wire;
3,500 telephones; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, paramilitary Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 188,393; 95,133 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 0.7% of GDP (1988)



  * GAZA STRIP

GAZA STRIP
Note: The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967
ended with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the
Sinai, and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords
and reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace initiative,
the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship
with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to
be negotiated among the concerned parties. Camp David further specifies
that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending
the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the view of
the US, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the Jordan
under Jordanian administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With
respect to negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, however, it
is US policy that a distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the
rest of the West Bank because of the city's special status and
circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the final status of
Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the rest of the
West Bank.


GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 380km2; land area: 380 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 62 km total; Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with status to be determined

Disputes: Israeli occupied with status to be determined

Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain: flat to rolling, sand and dune covered coastal plain

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 13%, permanent crops 32%, meadows and
pastures 0%, forest and woodland 0%, other 55%

Environment: desertification

Note: there are 18 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip

PEOPLE
Population: 642,253 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991);
in addition, there are 2,500 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip (1990
est.)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 41 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: NA

Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 99.8%, Jewish 0.2%

Religion: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99%, Christian 0.7%,
Jewish 0.3%

Language: Arabic, Israeli settlers speak Hebrew, English widely
understood

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: (excluding Israeli Jewish settlers) small
industry, commerce and business 32.0%, construction 24.4%, service
and other 25.5%, and agriculture 18.1% (1984)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Note: The Gaza Strip is currently governed by Israeli military
authorities and Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the
final status of the Gaza Strip will be determined by negotiations among
the concerned parties. These negotiations will determine how this area is
to be governed.

ECONOMY
Overview: Nearly half the labor force of the Gaza Strip is
employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and
agricultural enterprises, with worker transfer funds accounting for 46%
of GNP in 1990. The once dominant agricultural sector now contributes
only 13% to GNP, about the same as that of the construction sector, and
industry accounts for 7%. Gaza depends upon Israel for 90% of its
imports and as a market for 80% of its exports. Unrest in the territory
in 1988-91 (intifadah) has raised unemployment and substantially
lowered the incomes of the population. Furthermore, the Persian Gulf
crisis dealt a severe blow to the Gaza Strip in 1990 and on into 1991.
Worker remittances from the Gulf states have plunged, unemployment has
increased, and export revenues have fallen dramatically. The risk of
malnutrition is a real possibility in 1991.

GNP: $270 million, per capita $430; real growth rate - 25%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $36.6 million; expenditures $32.0 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1986)

Exports: $88 million;

commodities--citrus;

partners--Israel, Egypt (1989 est.)

Imports: $260 million;

commodities--food, consumer goods, construction materials;

partners--Israel, Egypt (1989 est.)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: power supplied by Israel

Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement,
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the
Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an
industrial center

Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, beef,
dairy products

Economic aid: none

Currency: new Israeli shekel (plural--shekels);
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--2.0120 (January
1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987), 1.4878
(1986), 1.1788
(1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-March 31

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: one line, abandoned and in disrepair, but trackage
remains

Highways: small, poorly developed indigenous road network

Ports: facilities for small boats to service Gaza

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway less than 1,220 m

Telecommunications: stations--no AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: NA

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 136,311; NA fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * GERMANY

GERMANY

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 356,910 km2; land area: 349,520 km2; comprises the
formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic
Republic, and Berlin following formal unification on 3 October 1990

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries: 3,790 km total; Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km,
Czechoslovakia 815 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km,
Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Coastline: 2,389 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: North Sea and Schleswig-Holstein coast of
Baltic Sea--3 nm (extends, at one point, to 16 nm in the
Helgolander Bucht); remainder of Baltic Sea--12 nm

Disputes: the boundaries of Germany were set by the Treaty on the
Final Settlement With Respect to Germany signed 12 September 1990 in
Moscow by the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic
Republic, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet
Union; this treaty entered into force on 15 March 1991; a subsequent
treaty between Germany and Poland, reaffirming the German-Polish
boundary, was signed on 14 November 1990 and is set to be ratified in
1991; the US Government is seeking to settle the property claims of US
nationals against the former GDR

Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and
summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity

Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in
south

Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite,
uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel

Land use: arable land 34%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and
pastures 16%; forest and woodland 30%; other 19%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: air and water pollution; ground water, lakes, and
air quality in eastern Germany are especially bad; significant
deforestation in the eastern mountains caused by air pollution and acid
rain

Note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the
entrance to the Baltic Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 79,548,498 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--German(s); adjective--German

Ethnic divisions: primarily German; small Danish and Slavic
minorities

Religion: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or
other 18%

Language: German

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

Labor force: 36,750,000; industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53%
(1987)

Organized labor: 47% of labor force (1986 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Federal Republic of Germany

Type: federal republic

Capital: Berlin; note--the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take
place over a period of years with Bonn retaining many administrative
functions

Administrative divisions: 16 states (lander, singular--land);
Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein,
Thuringen

Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided
into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945
following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany)
proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones;
German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October
1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and
East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four power rights formally
relinquished 15 March 1991

Constitution: 23 May 1949, provisional constitution known as
Basic Law

Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: 3 October 1990, German Unity Day

Executive branch: president, chancellor, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral parliament (no official name
for the two chambers as a whole) consists of an upper chamber or
Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower chamber or Federal Diet
(Bundestag)

Judicial branch:
Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)

Leaders:
Chief of State--President Dr. Richard von WEIZSACKER
(since 1 July 1984);

Head of Government--Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL
(since 4 October 1982)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Helmut KOHL, chairman;
Christian Social Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL;
Free Democratic Party (FDP), Otto Count LAMBSDORFF, chairman;
Social Democratic Party (SPD), Bjoern ENGHOLM, chairman;
Green Party--Volmer LUDGER, Christine WEISKE, co-chairmen
(after the 2 December 1990 election the East and West German
Green Parties united);
Alliance 90 includes three parties--New Forum, Jens REICH, Sebastian
PFLUGBEIL, spokespersons; Democracy Now, Konrad WEISS, spokesperson;
and Initiative, Peace, and Human Rights Party, Gerd POPPE;
Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS, formerly the East German
Communist Party), Gregor GYSI, chairman;
Republikaner, Franz SCHONHUBER;
National Democratic Party (NPD), Martin MUSSGNUG;
Communist Party (DKP), Herbert MIES

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:
Federal Diet--last held 2 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994);
results--CDU 36.7%, SPD 33.5%, FDP 11.0%, CSU 7.1%,
Green Party (West Germany) 3.9%, PDS 2.4%, Republikaner 2.1%,
Alliance 90/Green Party (East Germany) 1.2%, other 2.1%;
seats--(662 total, 656 statutory with special rules to allow for
slight expansion) CDU 268, SPD 239, FDP 79, CSU 51, PDS 17, Alliance
90/Green Party (East Germany) 8; note--special rules for this
election allowed former East German parties to win seats if they
received at least 5% of vote in eastern Germany

Communists:
West--about 40,000 members and supporters;
East--284,000 party members (December 1990)

Other political or pressure groups: expellee, refugee, and veterans
groups

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,
COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA,
OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNHCR, UPU,
WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation:

Ambassador Jeurgen RUHFUS; Chancery at 4645 Reservoir Road NW,
Washington DC 20007; telephone [phone]; there are German
Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, and Consulates
in Miami and New Orleans;

US--Ambassador-designate Robert M. KIMMITT; Embassy at Deichmanns
Avenue, 5300 Bonn 2 (mailing address is APO New York 09080); telephone
 49  (228) 3391; there is a US Branch Office in Berlin and US Consulates
General in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart

Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow

ECONOMY
Overview: The newly unified German economy presents a starkly
contrasting picture. Western Germany has an advanced market economy
and is a leading exporter. It experienced faster-than-projected real
growth largely because of demand in eastern Germany for western German
goods. Western Germany has a highly urbanized and skilled population
which enjoys excellent living standards, abundant leisure time, and
comprehensive social welfare benefits. Western Germany is relatively
poor in natural resources, coal being the most important mineral.
Western Germany's world-class companies manufacture technologically
advanced goods. The region's economy is mature: manufacturing and service
industries account for the dominant share of economic activity, and raw
materials and semimanufactured products constitute a large proportion of
imports. In 1989 manufacturing accounted for 31% of GDP, with other
sectors contributing lesser amounts. In recent years, gross fixed
investment has accounted for about 21% of GDP. In 1990 GDP in the western
region was an estimated $16,300 per capita.

In contrast, eastern Germany's obsolete command economy, once
dominated by smokestack heavy industries, has been undergoing a
wrenching change to a market economy. Industrial production in early
1991 is down 50% from the same period last year, due largely to the
slump in domestic demand for eastern German-made goods and the ongoing
economic restructuring. The FRG's legal, social welfare, and economic
systems have been extended to the east, but economic
restructuring--privatizing industry, establishing clear property rights,
clarifying responsibility for environmental clean-up, and removing
Communist-era holdovers from management--is proceeding slowly
so far, deterring outside investors. The region is one of the world's
largest producers of low-grade lignite coal, but has few other resources.
The quality of statistics from eastern Germany remains poor; Bonn is
still trying to bring statistics for the region in line with West German
practices.

The most challenging economic problem of a united Germany is the
reconstruction of eastern Germany's economy--specifically, finding the
right mix of fiscal, regulatory, monetary, and tax policies that
will spur investment in the east without derailing western Germany's
healthy economy or damaging relations with Western partners. The
biggest danger is that soaring unemployment in eastern Germany, which
could climb to the 30 to 40% range, could touch off labor disputes
or renewed mass relocation to western Germany and erode investor
confidence in eastern Germany. Overall economic activity grew an
estimated 4.6% in western Germany in 1990, while dropping roughly 15% in
eastern Germany. Per capita GDP in the eastern region was approximately
$8,700 in 1990.

GDP: $1,157.2 billion, per capita $14,600; real growth rate 1.7%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
West--3.0% (1989);
East--0.8% (1989)

Unemployment rate:
West--7.1% (1990);
East--1% (1989); 3% (first half, 1990)

Budget:
West--revenues $539 billion; expenditures $563 billion, including
capital expenditures of $11.5 billion (1988);
East--revenues $147.0 billion; expenditures $153.4 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Exports:

West--$324.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--manufactures 86.6% (including machines and machine
tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products),
agricultural products 4.9%, raw materials 2.3%, fuels 1.3%;

partners--EC 52.7% (France 12%, Netherlands 9%, Italy 9%, UK 9%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 7%), other West Europe 18%, US 10%, Eastern
Europe 4%, OPEC 3% (1987);

East--$32.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment 47%, fuels and
metals 16%, consumer goods 16%, chemical products and building
materials 13%, semimanufactured goods and processed foodstuffs 8%;

partners--USSR, Czechoslovakia, Poland, FRG, Hungary, Bulgaria,
Switzerland, Romania, EC, US (1989)

Imports:

West--$247.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--manufactures 68.5%, agricultural products 12.0%,
fuels 9.7%, raw materials 7.1%;

partners--EC 52.7% (France 12%, Netherlands 11%, Italy 10%, UK 7%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 7%), other West Europe 15%, US 6%, Japan 6%, Eastern
Europe 5%, OPEC 3% (1987);

East--$30.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--fuels and metals 40%, machinery and transport
equipment 29%, chemical products and building materials 9%;

partners--USSR and Eastern Europe 65%, FRG 12.7%, EC 6.0%,
US 0.3% (1989)

External debt:
West--$500 million (June 1988);
East--$20.6 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rates, West--3.3% (1988);
East--2.7% (1989 est.)

Electricity: 133,000,000 kW capacity; 580,000 million kWh produced,
7,390 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries:
West--among world's largest producers of iron, steel, coal, cement,
chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics;
food and beverages;
East--metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine
building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum

Agriculture:
West--accounts for about 2% of GDP (including fishing and forestry);
diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops and livestock
include potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage, cattle,
pigs, poultry; net importer of food; fish catch of 202,000 metric tons
in 1987;
East--accounts for about 10% of GNP (including fishing and forestry);
principal crops--wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit;
livestock products include pork, beef, chicken, milk, hides and skins;
net importer of food; fish catch of 193,600 metric tons in 1987

Economic aid:
West--donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.5 billion;
East--donor--$4.0 billion extended bilaterally to non-Communist less
developed countries (1956-88)

Currency: deutsche mark (plural--marks);
1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige

Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1--1.5100 (January
1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988), 1.7974 (1987), 2.1715
(1986), 2.9440 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads:
West--31,443 km total; 27,421 km government owned, 1.435-meter
standard gauge (12,491 km double track, 11,501 km electrified);
4,022 km nongovernment owned, including 3,598 km 1.435-meter standard
gauge (214 km electrified) and 424 km 1.000-meter gauge (186 km
electrified);
East--14,025 km total; 13,750 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
275 km 1.000-meter or other narrow gauge; 3,830 (est.) km 1.435-meter
double-track standard gauge; 3,475 km overhead electrified (1988)

Highways:
West--466,305 km total; 169,568 km primary, includes 6,435 km
autobahn, 32,460 km national highways (Bundesstrassen), 65,425 km state
highways (Landesstrassen), 65,248 km county roads (Kreisstrassen);
296,737 km of secondary communal roads (Gemeindestrassen);
East--124,604 km total; 47,203 km concrete, asphalt, stone block,
of which 1,855 km are autobahn and limited access roads, 11,326 are trunk
roads, and 34,022 are regional roads; 77,401 municipal roads (1988)

Inland waterways:
West--5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric
ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel
Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea;
East--2,319 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,644 km, refined products 3,946 km,
natural gas 97,564 km (1988)

Ports: maritime--Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Cuxhaven, Emden,
Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Wismar,
Stralsund, Sassnitz; inland--31 major

Merchant marine: 598 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,029,615
GRT/6,391,875 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 5 short-sea passenger,
315 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 126 container, 1 multifunction
large-load carrier, 33 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 railcar carrier,
6 barge carrier, 11 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
27 chemical tanker, 21 liquefied gas tanker, 5 combination ore/oil,
14 combination bulk, 15 bulk; note--the German register includes
ships of the former East Germany and West Germany; during 1991 the
fleet is expected to undergo major restructuring as now-surplus
ships are sold off

Civil air: 239 major transport aircraft

Airports: 655 total, 647 usable; 312 with permanent-surface
runways; 4 with runways over 3,659 m; 86 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
95 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications:
West--highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of
the country; fully adequate in all respects; 41,740,000 telephones;
stations--70 AM, 205 (370 relays) FM, 300 (6,422 relays) TV; 6 submarine
coaxial cables; earth stations operating in INTELSAT (12 Atlantic Ocean,
2 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and domestic systems;

East--3,970,000 telephones; stations--23 AM, 17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV
relays); 6,181,860 TVs; 6,700,000 radios; at least 1 earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Border Police

Manpower availability:--males 15-49, 20,219,289; 17,557,807 fit for
military service; 415,108 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $47.1 billion, 4.7% of GDP (1990)



  * GHANA

GHANA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 238,540 km2; land area: 230,020 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: 2,093 km total; Burkina 548 km, Ivory Coast
668 km, Togo 877 km

Coastline: 539 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast
coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central
area

Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
manganese, fish, rubber

Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
15%; forest and woodland 37%; other 36%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: recent drought in north severely affecting marginal
agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; dry,
northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

Note: Lake Volta is world's largest artificial lake

PEOPLE
Population: 15,616,934 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 86 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 53 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ghanaian(s); adjective--Ghanaian

Ethnic divisions: black African 99.8% (major tribes--Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%

Religion: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%,
other 8%

Language: English (official); African languages include Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga

Literacy: 60% (male 70%, female 51%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,700,000; agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry
18.7%, sales and clerical 15.2%, services, transportation, and
communications 7.7%, professional 3.7%; 48% of population of working age
(1983)

Organized labor: 467,000 (about 13% of labor force)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Ghana

Type: military

Capital: Accra

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo,
Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta,
Western

Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK, formerly Gold Coast)

Constitution: 24 September 1979; suspended 31 December 1981

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Executive branch: chairman of the Provisional National Defense
Council (PNDC), PNDC, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly dissolved after 31
December 1981 coup, and legislative powers were assumed by the
Provisional National Defense Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the Provisional
National Defense Council Flt. Lt. (Ret.) Jerry John RAWLINGS (since
31 December 1981)

Political parties and leaders: none; political parties outlawed
after 31 December 1981 coup

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: a small number of Communists and sympathizers

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Joseph ABBEY; Chancery at
2460 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone];
there is a Ghanaian Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Raymond C. EWING; Embassy at Ring Road East, East of
Danquah Circle, Accra (mailing address is P. O. Box 194, Accra);
telephone  233  (21) 775347 through 775349

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with a large black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia
which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

ECONOMY
Overview: Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana
has been implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983,
including moves toward privatization and relaxation of government
controls. Heavily dependent on cocoa, gold, and timber exports,
economic growth is threatened by a poor cocoa harvest and higher oil
prices in 1991. Rising inflation--unofficially estimated at 50%--could
undermine Ghana's relationships with multilateral lenders. Civil service
wage increases and the cost of peacekeeping forces sent to Liberia are
boosting government expenditures and undercutting structural adjustment
reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange in 1990.

GNP: $5.8 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 2.7% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.9% (1989)

Budget: revenues $821 million; expenditures $782 million, including
capital expenditures of $151 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $826 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--cocoa 45%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum;

partners--US 23%, UK, other EC

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate
goods, capital equipment;

partners--US 10%, UK, FRG, France, Japan, South Korea, GDR

External debt: $3.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7.4% in manufacturing (1989);
accounts for almost 1.5% of GDP

Electricity: 1,172,000 kW capacity; 4,110 million kWh produced,
280 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, fishing,
aluminum, food processing

Agriculture: accounts for more than 50% of GDP (including fishing
and forestry); the major cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops--rice,
coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, timber; normally
self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $106 million

Currency: cedi (plural--cedis); 1 cedi (C) = 100 pesewas

Exchange rates: cedis (C) per US$1--342.91 (November 1990), 270.00
(1989), 202.35 (1988), 153.73 (1987), 89.20 (1986), 54.37 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 953 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 32 km double track;
railroads undergoing major renovation

Highways: 28,300 km total; 6,000 km concrete or bituminous surface,
22,300 km gravel, laterite, and improved earth surfaces

Inland waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 155 km of
perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides
1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways

Pipelines: none

Ports: Tema, Takoradi

Merchant marine: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
52,016 GRT/66,627 DWT

Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 10 total, 9 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor to fair system of open-wire and cable,
radio relay links; 38,000 telephones; stations--6 AM, no FM, 9 TV;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, paramilitary Palace
Guard, National Civil Defense Organization

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 3,538,503; 1,983,493 fit for
military service; 169,698 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $23 million, 0.5% of GNP (1988)



  * GIBRALTAR

GIBRALTAR
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 6.5 km2; land area: 6.5 km2

Comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 1.2 km with Spain

Coastline: 12 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK

Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: natural freshwater sources are meager so large
water catchments (concrete or natural rock) collect rain water

Note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links
the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 29,613 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Gibraltarian; adjective--Gibraltar

Ethnic divisions: mostly Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, and
Spanish descent

Religion: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%,
other 3%), Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)

Language: English and Spanish are primary languages; Italian,
Portuguese, and Russian also spoken; English used in the schools and for
official purposes

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: about 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers); UK
military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the
labor force

Organized labor: over 6,000

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Gibraltar

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 30 May 1969

Legal system: English law

National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March),
12 March 1990

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
Gibraltar Council, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Adm. Sir Derek
REFFELL (since NA 1989);

Head of Government--Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March
1988)

Political parties and leaders:
Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO;
Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil
Rights (GCL/AACR), Adolfo CANEPA;
Independent Democratic Party, Joe PITALUGA

Suffrage: universal at age 18, plus other UK subjects resident six
months or more

Elections:

House of Assembly: last held on 24 March 1988
(next to be held March 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(18 total, 15 elected) SL 8, GCL/AACR 7

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Housewives Association, Chamber
of Commerce, Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, double-width) and red
with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging
from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy depends heavily on British defense
expenditures, revenue from tourists, fees for services to shipping, and
revenues from banking and finance activities. Because more than 70% of
the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have
a major impact on the level of employment. Construction workers are
particularly affected when government expenditures are cut.

GNP: $182 million, per capita $4,600; real growth rate 5% (FY87)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $136 million; expenditures $139 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

Exports: $82 million (1988);

commodities--(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured
goods 41%, other 8%;

partners--UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

Imports: $258 million (1988);

commodities--fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs;

partners--UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

External debt: $318 million (1987)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 47,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced,
6,670 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce;
support to large UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot
in the port; light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral
waters, candy, beer, and canned fish

Agriculture: NA

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $0.8
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $187 million

Currency: Gibraltar pound (plural--pounds);
1 Gibraltar pound (LG) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Gibraltar pound is at par with the
British pound

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only

Highways: 50 km, mostly good bitumen and concrete

Ports: Gibraltar

Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,399,594
GRT/2,667,656 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container,
10 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
1 combination oil/ore, 9 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate international radiocommunication
facilities; automatic telephone system with 14,000 telephones;
stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * GLORIOSO ISLANDS

GLORIOSO ISLANDS
(French possession)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5 km2; land area: 5 km2; includes Ile Glorieuse,
Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock

Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 35.2 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: undetermined

Natural resources: guano, coconuts

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other--lush vegetation and coconut palms 100%

Environment: subject to periodic cyclones

Note: located in the Indian Ocean just north of the Mozambique
Channel between Africa and Madagascar

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the
Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * GREECE

GREECE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 131,940 km2; land area: 130,800 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries: 1,228 km total; Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km,
Turkey 206 km, Yugoslavia 246 km

Coastline: 13,676 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 6 nm

Disputes: complex maritime and air (but not territorial) disputes
with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Macedonia question with
Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; Northern Epirus question with Albania

Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands

Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, crude oil, marble

Land use: arable land 23%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures
40%; forest and woodland 20%; other 9%; includes irrigated 7%

Environment: subject to severe earthquakes; air pollution;
archipelago of 2,000 islands

Note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern
approach to Turkish Straits

PEOPLE
Population: 10,042,956 (July 1991), growth rate 0.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Greek(s); adjective--Greek

Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2%; note--the Greek Government
states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece

Religion: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Language: Greek (official); English and French widely understood

Literacy: 93% (male 98%, female 89%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,860,000; services 43%, agriculture 27%,
manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 7% (1985)

Organized labor: 10-15% of total labor force, 20-25% of urban
labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Hellenic Republic

Type: presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by
referendum 8 December 1974

Capital: Athens

Administrative divisions: 51 departments (nomoi,
singular--nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis,
Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania,
Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia,
Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala,
Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes,
Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi,
Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza,
Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki,
Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

Independence: 1827 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Constitution: 11 June 1975

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Independence Day (proclamation of the war of
independence), 25 March (1821)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Greek Chamber of Deputies
(Vouli ton Ellinon)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Constantinos KARAMANLIS (since 5 May
1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Constantinos MITSOTAKIS
(since 11 April 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
New Democracy (ND; conservative), Constantinos MITSOTAKIS;
Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU;
Democratic Renewal (DIANA), Constantine STEFANOPOULOS;
Communist Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA;
Greek Left Party (EAR), Leonidas KYRKOS;
Ecologist-Alternative List, leader NA;
note--KKE and EAR have joined in the Left Alliance, Maria DAMANAKI,
president

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 4 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995);
results--Constantinos KARAMANLIS was elected by Parliament;

Parliament--last held on 8 April 1990
(next to be held April 1994);
results--ND 46.89%, PASOK 38.62%, Left Alliance 10.27%, PASOK/Left
Alliance 1.02%, Ecologist-Alternative List 0.77%, DIANA 0.67%,
Muslim independents 0.5%;
seats--(300 total) ND 150, PASOK 123, Left Alliance 19,
PASOK-Left Alliance 4, Muslim independents 2, DIANA 1,
Ecologist-Alternative List 1;
note--one DIANA deputy joined ND in July, giving ND 151 seats; in
November a special electoral court ruled in favor of ND on a
contested seat, giving ND 152 seats and taking one from PASOK (now 122)

Communists: an estimated 60,000 members and sympathizers

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
FAO, G-6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Christos ZACHARAKIS; Chancery
at 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
667-3168; there are Greek Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, and a Consulate in New Orleans;

US--Ambassador Michael G. SOTIRHOS; Embassy at 91 Vasilissis
Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens (mailing address is APO New York
09255-0006); telephone  30  (1) 721-2951 or 721-8401; there is a US
Consulate General in Thessaloniki

Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Christianity, the
established religion of the country

ECONOMY
Overview: Greece has a mixed capitalistic economy with the basic
entrepreneurial system overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist government
that enlarged the public sector from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70%
when Prime Minister Mitsotakis took office. Mitsotakis inherited several
severe economic problems from the preceding socialist and caretaker
governments, which neglected the runaway budget deficit, a ballooning
current account deficit, and accelerating inflation. With only a
two-seat majority in the Chamber of Deputies, Mitsotakis has concentrated
on cutting the public-sector payroll, cautiously expanding the tax base,
and adopting guidelines for privatizing Greece's loss-ridden state-owned
enterprises. Once the political situation is sorted out, Greece will have
to face the challenges posed by the steadily increasing integration of
the European Community, including the progressive lowering of trade and
investment barriers. Tourism continues as a major industry, providing a
vital offset to the sizable commodity trade deficit.

GDP: $76.7 billion, per capita $7,650; real growth rate 0.9%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.0% (1989)

Budget: revenues $20.9 billion; expenditures $34.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Exports: $9.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuels and
lubricants, raw materials;

partners--FRG 20%, Italy 17%, France 8%, UK 7%, US 6%

Imports: $20.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, light manufactures,
fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs, chemicals;

partners--FRG 21%, Italy 16%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, UK 6%

External debt: $18.7 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.0% (1990 est.); accounts
for 22% of GDP

Electricity: 10,500,000 kW capacity; 36,420 million kWh produced,
3,630 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal
products, tourism, mining, petroleum

Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for 13% of
GNP and 27% of the labor force; principal products--wheat, corn, barley,
sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes, beef, mutton,
pork, dairy products; self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 135,000
metric tons in 1987

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.35 billion

Currency: drachma (plural--drachmas); 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Exchange rates: drachma (Dr) per US$1--159.87 (January 1991),
158.51 (1990), 162.42 (1989), 141.86 (1988), 135.43 (1987), 139.98
(1986), 138.12 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,479 km total; 1,565 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, of
which 36 km electrified and 100 km double track, 892 km 1.000-meter
gauge; 22 km 0.750-meter narrow gauge; all government owned

Highways: 38,938 km total; 16,090 km paved, 13,676 km crushed stone
and gravel, 5,632 km improved earth, 3,540 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals
and three unconnected rivers

Pipelines: crude oil, 26 km; refined products, 547 km

Ports: Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Merchant marine: 958 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,585,048
GRT/39,011,361 DWT; includes 13 passenger, 63 short-sea passenger,
2 passenger-cargo, 152 cargo, 21 container, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
23 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 185 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 15 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 25
combination ore/oil, 5 specialized tanker, 407 bulk, 19 combination bulk;
note--ethnic Greeks also own large numbers of ships under the registry of
Liberia, Panama, Cyprus, and Lebanon

Civil air: 35 major transport aircraft

Airports: 81 total, 79 usable; 60 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
4,122,317 telephones; stations--30 AM, 17 (20 repeaters) FM, 39 (560
repeaters) TV; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations operating in
INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and MARISAT
systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,434,762; 1,870,699 fit for
military service; 72,707 reach military age (21) annually

Defense expenditures: $3.7 billion, 5.5% of GDP (1990)



  * GREENLAND

GREENLAND
(part of the Danish realm)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,175,600 km2; land area: 341,700 km2 (ice free)

Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 44,087 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between
Greenland and Jan Mayen

Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,
mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum,
cryolite, uranium, fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 99%

Environment: sparse population confined to small settlements along
coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and
Europe

PEOPLE
Population: 56,752 (July 1991), growth rate 1.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 28 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 69 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Greenlander(s); adjective--Greenlandic

Ethnic divisions: Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born
Caucasians) 86%, Danish 14%

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran

Language: Eskimo dialects, Danish

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 22,800; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division

Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner,
singular--kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Independence: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division

Constitution: Danish

Legal system: Danish

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Executive branch: Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule
chairman, prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyre)

Legislative branch: unicameral Landsting

Judicial branch: High Court (Landsret)

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972),
represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA);

Head of Government--Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN
(since 15 March 1991)

Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling
coalition--Siumut (a moderate socialist party that advocates more
distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars
Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; and Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a Marxist-Leninist
party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home
rule);
Atassut Party (a more conservative party that favors continuing close
relations with Denmark), leader NA;
Polar Party (conservative-Greenland nationalist), leader NA;
Center Party (a new nonsocialist protest party), leader NA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Landsting--last held on 5 March 1991
(next to be held 5 March 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit
5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1;

Danish Folketing--last held on 12 December 1990
(next to be held by December 1994);
Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1

Member of: NC

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a
large disk slightly to the hoist side of center--the top half of the
disk is red, the bottom half is white

ECONOMY
Overview: Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from
one based on subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent
on foreign trade. Fishing is still the most important industry,
accounting for over 75% of exports and about 25% of the
population's income. Maintenance of a social welfare system similar to
Denmark's has given the public sector a dominant role in the economy.
In 1990, the economy became critically dependent on shrimp exports and an
annual subsidy (now about $355 million) from the Danish Government
because cod exports had fallen, the zinc and lead mine closed, and
a large promising platinum and gold mine was not yet operational.
Greenland has signed a contract for its largest construction project,
a power plant to supply the capital. To avoid a decline in the economy,
Denmark has agreed to pay 75% of the costs of running Sondrestrom
Airbase and Kulusuk Airfield as civilian bases after the US withdraws
in 1992.

GNP: $500 million, per capita $9,000; real growth rate 5% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 9% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $381 million; expenditures $381 million, including
capital expenditures of $36 million (1989)

Exports: $417 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--fish and fish products 78%, metallic ores and
concentrates 19%;

partners--Denmark 74%, FRG 11%, Sweden 6%

Imports: $394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--manufactured goods 36%, machinery and transport
equipment 26%, food products 13%, petroleum and petroleum products
10%;

partners--Denmark 69%, Norway, FRG, Japan, US, Sweden

External debt: $480 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced,
3,180 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), potential for
platinum and gold mining, handicrafts, shipyards

Agriculture: sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops
limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500
metric tons

Economic aid: none

Currency: Danish krone (plural--kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr)
= 100 ore

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--5.817 (January 1991),
6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986),
10.596 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 80 km

Ports: Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab),
Nuuk (Godthaab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik,
North Star Bay

Merchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
1,021 GRT/1,778 DWT; note--operates under the registry of Denmark

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 11 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate domestic and international service
provided by cables and radio relay; 17,900 telephones; stations--5 AM,
7 (35 relays) FM, 4 (9 relays) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is responsibility of Denmark



  * GRENADA

GRENADA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 340 km2; land area: 340 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains

Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Land use: arable land 15%; permanent crops 26%; meadows and
pastures 3%; forest and woodland 9%; other 47%

Environment: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season
lasts from June to November

Note: islands of the Grenadines group are divided politically
with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

PEOPLE
Population: 83,812 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 32 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 29 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Grenadian(s); adjective--Grenadian

Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent

Religion: largely Roman Catholic; Anglican; other Protestant sects

Language: English (official); some French patois

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 36,000; services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction
8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

Organized labor: 20% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Saint George's

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou
and Little Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint
John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)

Constitution: 19 December 1973

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, Ministers of Government (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Paul SCOON (since 30 September 1978);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Nicholas BRATHWAITE
(since 13 March 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nicholas BRATHWAITE;
Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY;
The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith
MITCHELL;
Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MERRYSHOW;
New Jewel Movement (NJM), Bernard COARD

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held on 13 March 1990
(next to be held by March 1996);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) NDC 8, GULP 3, TNP 2, NNP 2

Communists: about 450 members of the New Jewel Movement
(pro-Soviet) and the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (pro-Cuban)

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS,
NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE; Chancery at
1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202)
265-2561; there is a Grenadian Consulate General in New York;

US--Charge d'Affaires Annette VELER; Embassy at Ross Point Inn,
Saint George's (mailing address is P. O. Box 54, Saint George's);
telephone [phone] through 1178

Flag: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and
bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border
around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three
centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border,
and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is
also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the
world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven
stars represent the seven administrative divisions

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on
the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture
accounts for about 16% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the
labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by
agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but
is expected to grow, given a more favorable private investment climate
since 1983. Despite an impressive average annual growth rate for the
economy of 5.6% during the period 1986-90, unemployment remains high
at about 25%.

GDP: $200.7 million, per capita $2,390 (1989); real growth rate
5.4% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $54.9 million; expenditures $77.6 million,
including capital expenditures of $16.6 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $27.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--nutmeg 36%, cocoa beans 9%, bananas 14%, mace 8%,
textiles 5;

partners--US 12%, UK, FRG, Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago (1989)

Imports: $115.6 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%,
chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989);

partners--US 29%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1989)

External debt: $90 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1989 est.); accounts
for 6% of GDP

Electricity: 12,500 kW capacity; 26 million kWh produced,
310 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations,
tourism, construction

Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP and 80% of exports; bananas,
cocoa, nutmeg, and mace account for two-thirds of total crop production;
world's second-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of nutmeg
and mace; small-size farms predominate, growing a variety of citrus
fruits, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, and vegetables

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY84-89), $60
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $67 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $32 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed
rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,000 km total; 600 km paved, 300 km otherwise improved;
100 km unimproved

Ports: Saint George's

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: automatic, islandwide telephone system with
5,650 telephones; new SHF links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent;
VHF and UHF links to Trinidad and Carriacou; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * GUADELOUPE

GUADELOUPE
(overseas department of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,780 km2; land area: 1,760 km2

Comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 306 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high
humidity

Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation

Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches, and climate that
foster tourism

Land use: arable land 18%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and
pastures 13%; forest and woodland 40%; other 24%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to hurricanes (June to October); La
Soufriere is an active volcano

Note: located 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 344,897 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guadeloupian(s); adjective--Guadeloupe

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%; white 5%; East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Language: French, creole patois

Literacy: 90% (male 90%, female 91%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force: 120,000; 53.0% services, government, and commerce,
25.8% industry, 21.2% agriculture

Organized labor: 11% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Department of Guadeloupe

Type: overseas department of France

Capital: Basse-Terre

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: government commissioner

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral
Regional Council

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction
over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since
21 May 1981);

Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Paul PROUST
(since November 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Marlene CAPTANT;
Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE;
Socialist Party (PSG), Dominique LARIFLA;
Independent Republicans;
Union for French Democracy (UDF);
Union for a New Majority (UNM)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

General Council --last held NA 1986 (next to be held by NA 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(42 total) number of seats by party NA;

Regional Council--last held on 16 March 1986
(next to be held by 16 March 1992);
results--RPR 33.1%, PS 28.7%, PCG 23.8%, UDF 10.7%, other 3.7%;
seats--(41 total) RPR 15, PS 12, PCG 10, UDF 4;

French Senate--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be
held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects two representatives;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) PCG 1, PS 1;

French National Assembly--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects four representatives;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(4 total) PS 2 seats, RPR 1 seat, PCG 1 seat

Communists: 3,000 est.

Other political or pressure groups: Popular Union for the
Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Popular Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General
Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for
the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)

Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France,
the interests of Guadeloupe are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light
industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large
subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from
the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit
the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being
replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of
export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops
are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still
dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light
industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured
goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the
young.

GDP: $1.1 billion, per capita $3,300; real growth rate NA% (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 38% (1987)

Budget: revenues $254 million; expenditures $254 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $153 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--bananas, sugar, rum;

partners--France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer
goods, construction materials, petroleum products;

partners--France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced,
1,290 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Agriculture: cash crops--bananas and sugarcane; other products
include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock--cattle, pigs, and
goats; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $7.9 billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines

Highways: 1,940 km total; 1,600 km paved, 340 km gravel and earth

Ports: Pointe-a-Pitre, Basse-Terre

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 9 total, 9 usable, 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic facilities inadequate; 57,300
telephones; interisland radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica,
and Martinique; stations--2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to
broadcast FM), 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 98,069; NA fit for military
service

Note: defense is responsibility of France



  * GUAM

GUAM
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 541 km2; land area: 541 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 125.5 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively
flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep
coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in
center, mountains in south

Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism
(especially from Japan)

Land use: arable land 11%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and
pastures 15%; forest and woodland 18%; other 45%

Environment: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to
relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons
(especially in August)

Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 5,955 km
west-southwest of Honolulu about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii
and the Philippines

PEOPLE
Population: 144,928 (July 1991), growth rate 2.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guamanian(s); adjective--Guamanian

Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%,
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%

Religion: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%

Language: English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese
also widely spoken

Literacy: 96% (male 96%, female 96%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 54,000; government 42%, private 58% (1988)

Organized labor: 13% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Guam

Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US

Capital: Agana

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March),
6 March 1989

Executive branch: President of the US, governor,
lieutenant governor, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);

Head of Government--Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November
1986); Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party (controls the legislature);
Republican Party (party of the Governor)

Suffrage: universal at age 18; US citizens, but do not vote in US
presidential elections

Elections:

Governor--last held on 6 November 1990
(next to be held November 1994);

Legislature--last held on 6 November 1990
(next to be held November 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(21 total) Democratic 11, Republican 10;

US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990
(next to be held November 1992);
Guam elects one nonvoting delegate;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) Republican 1

Communists: none

Note: relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction
of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of
the Interior

Member of: ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides;
centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a
beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word
GUAM superimposed in bold red letters

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on US military spending and on
revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has
grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the
expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1990. The
small manufacturing sector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food,
and watch production. About 60% of the labor force works for the private
sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are
imported, with about 75% from the US. In 1990 the unemployment rate was
about 2%, down from 10% in 1983.

GNP: $1.0 billion, per capita $7,000; real growth rate 18%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $300 million; expenditures $290 million,
including capital expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1983);

commodities--mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products,
construction materials, fish, food and beverage products;

partners--US 25%, other 75%

Imports: $611 million (c.i.f., 1983);

commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured
goods;

partners--US 77%, other 23%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced,
16,300 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment,
concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported;
fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra

Economic aid: NA

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 674 km all-weather roads

Ports: Apra Harbor

Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 26,317 telephones (1989); stations--3 AM,
3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * GUATEMALA

GUATEMALA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 108,890 km2; land area: 108,430 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries: 1,687 km total; Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km,
Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline: 400 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims Belize, but boundary negotiations to resolve the
dispute are underway

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau (Peten)

Natural resources: crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and
pastures 12%; forest and woodland 40%; other 32%; includes
irrigated 1%

Environment: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent
violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
tropical storms; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Note: no natural harbors on west coast

PEOPLE
Population: 9,266,018 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 58 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 66 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guatemalan(s); adjective--Guatemalan

Ethnic divisions: Ladino (mestizo--mixed Indian and European
ancestry) 56%, Indian 44%

Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant,
traditional Mayan

Language: Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian
language as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche,
Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Literacy: 55% (male 63%, female 47%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,500,000; agriculture 60%, services 13%,
manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%,
utilities 0.8%, mining 0.4% (1985)

Organized labor: 8% of labor force (1988 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Guatemala

Type: republic

Capital: Guatemala

Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal,
Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu,
Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
Totonicapan, Zacapa

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic
(Congreso de la Republica)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Jorge SERRANO
Elias (since 14 January 1991); Vice President Gustavo ESPINA Salguero
(since 14 January 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
National Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge CARPIO Nicolle;
Solidarity Action Movement (MAS), Jorge SERRANO Elias;
Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo;
National Advancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen;
National Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario SOLARZANO Martinez;
Popular Alliance 5 (AP-5), Max ORLANDO Molina;
Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos CHAVARRIA;
National Authentic Center (CAN), Hector MAYORA Dawe;
Alliance for '90 led by Rios MONTT, consisting of three
parties--Democratic Institutional Party (PID), Oscar RIVAS;
Nationalist United Front (FUN), Gabriel GIRON;
Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Berna ROLANDO Mendez

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--runoff held on 11 January 1991 (next to be held 11 November 1995);
results--Jorge SERRANO Elias (MAS) 68.1%, Jorge CARPIO Nicolle (UCN) 31.9%;

Congress--last held on 11 November 1990
(next to be held 11 November 1995);
results--UCN 25.6%, MAS 24.3%, DCG 17.5%, PAN 17.3%, MLN 4.8%,
PSD/AP-5 3.6%, PR 2.1%;
seats--(116 total) UCN 41, DCG 28, MAS 18, PAN 12, Alliance for '90
11, MLN 4, PR 1, PSD/AP-5 1

Communists: Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT); main radical left
guerrilla groups--Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), Revolutionary
Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA), Rebel Armed Forces (FAR),
and PGT dissidents

Other political or pressure groups: Federated Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (CACIF), Mutual Support Group (GAM), Unity for Popular and
Labor Action (UASP), Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO), Committee for
Campesino Unity (CUC)

Member of: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Juan Jose CASO Fanjul;
Chancery at 2220 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
745-4952 through 4954;
there are Guatemalan Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Thomas F. STROOCK; Embassy at 7-01 Avenida de la
Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City (mailing address is APO Miami 34024);
telephone  502  (2) 31-15-41

Flag: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side),
white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national
bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE
SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain)
all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed
swords and framed by a wreath

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for
26% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds
of exports. Manufacturing accounts for about 15% of GDP and 12% of the
labor force. In 1990 the economy grew by 3.5%, the fourth consecutive
year of mild growth. Government economic policies, however, were erratic
in 1990--an election year--and inflation shot up to 60%, the highest
level in modern times.

GDP: $11.1 billion, per capita $1,180; real growth rate 3.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 13%, with 30-40% underemployment (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.05 billion; expenditures $1.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $270 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $1.24 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--coffee 24%, sugar 9%, bananas 8%, beef 4%;

partners--US 28%, El Salvador, FRG, Costa Rica, Italy

Imports: $1.77 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain,
fertilizers, motor vehicles;

partners--US 40%, Mexico, FRG, Japan, El Salvador

External debt: $2.8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.0% (1988); accounts
for 18% of GDP

Electricity: 819,000 kW capacity; 2,594 million kWh produced,
280 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP; most important sector of
economy and contributes two-thirds to export earnings; principal
crops--sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom;
livestock--cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the
international drug trade; the government has engaged in aerial
eradication of opium poppy; transit country for cocaine shipments

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $1.1
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $7.8 billion

Currency: quetzal (plural--quetzales); 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1--5.4
(April 1991), 4.4858 (1990), 2.8161 (1989), 2.6196 (1988), 2.500
(1987), 1.875 (1986), 1.000 (1985); note--black-market rate 2.800
(May 1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 870 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 780 km
government owned, 90 km privately owned

Highways: 26,429 km total; 2,868 km paved, 11,421 km gravel,
and 12,140 unimproved

Inland waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km
navigable during high-water season

Pipelines: crude oil, 275 km

Ports: Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
4,129 GRT/6,450 DWT

Civil air: 10 major transport aircraft

Airports: 430 total, 381 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fairly modern network centered in Guatemala
 city ; 97,670 telephones; stations--91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave;
connection into Central American Microwave System; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,097,234; 1,372,623 fit for
military service; 110,949 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $113 million, 1% of GDP (1990)



  * GUERNSEY

GUERNSEY
(British crown dependency)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 194 km2; land area: 194 km2; includes Alderney,
Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands

Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 50 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of
days are overcast

Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest

Natural resources: cropland

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; cultivated about 50%

Environment: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

Note: 52 km west of France

PEOPLE
Population: 57,596 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Channel Islander(s); adjective--Channel Islander

Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent

Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist

Language: English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country
districts

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
but compulsory education age 5 to 16

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Bailiwick of Guernsey

Type: British crown dependency

Capital: Saint Peter Port

Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice

Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is
administered by the Royal Court

National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff,
deputy bailiff

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States

Judicial branch: Royal Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Lieutenant Governor Lt. Gen. Sir Michael
WILKINS (since 1990); Bailiff Sir Charles FROSSARD (since 1982)

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Assembly of the States--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(60 total, 33 elected), all independents

Communists: none

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)

Flag: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) extending to the edges of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Tourism is a major source of revenue. Other economic
activity includes financial services, breeding the world-famous
Guernsey cattle, and growing tomatoes and flowers for export.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 9% (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $208.9 million; expenditures $173.9 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1988)

Exports: $NA;

commodities--tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant,
other vegetables;

partners--UK (regarded as internal trade)

Imports: $NA;

commodities--coal, gasoline and oil;

partners--UK (regarded as internal trade)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced,
9,340 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: tourism, banking

Agriculture: tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses),
sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables and fruit; Guernsey cattle

Economic aid: none

Currency: Guernsey pound (plural--pounds);
1 Guernsey (LG) pound = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Guernsey pound is at par with the
British pound

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Airport: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (La
Villiaze)

Telecommunications: stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900
telephones; 1 submarine cable

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * GUINEA

GUINEA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 245,860 km2; land area: 245,860 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: 3,399 km total; Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Ivory Coast
610 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

Coastline: 320 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season
(June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to
May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous
interior

Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium,
hydropower, fish

Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 12%; forest and woodland 42%; other 40%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season; deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 7,455,850 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 21 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 144 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 41 years male, 45 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guinean(s); adjective--Guinean

Ethnic divisions: Fulani 35%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, small
indigenous tribes 15%

Religion: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Language: French (official); each tribe has its own language

Literacy: 24% (male 35%, female 13%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,400,000 (1983); agriculture 82.0%, industry and
commerce 11.0%, services 5.4%; 88,112 civil servants (1987); 52% of
population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: virtually 100% of wage earners loosely affiliated
with the National Confederation of Guinean Workers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Guinea

Type: republic

Capital: Conakry

Administrative divisions: 29 administrative regions (regions
administratives, singular--region administrative); Beyla, Boffa,
Boke, Conakry, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah,
Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia,
Kissidougou, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Macenta, Mali, Mamou,
Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou

Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France; formerly French Guinea)

Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law,
and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April
(1984)

Executive branch: president, Transitional Committee for National
Recovery (Comite Transitionale de Redressement National or CTRN)
replaced the Military Committee for National Recovery (Comite
Militaire de Redressement National or CMRN); Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: People's National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale Populaire) was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Gen. Lansana CONTE (since
5 April 1984)

Political parties and leaders: none; following the 3 April 1984
coup all political activity was banned

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: no Communist party, although there are some
sympathizers

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant); Chancery at
2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Dane F. SMITH, Jr.; Embassy at 2nd Boulevard and 9th
Avenue, Conakry (mailing address is B. P. 603, Conakry); telephone (224)
44-15-20 through 24

Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and
green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the
flag of Rwanda which has a large black letter R centered in the
yellow band

ECONOMY
Overview: Although possessing many natural resources and
considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea is one of the
poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about
40% to GDP and employs more than 80% of the work force, while industry
accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of theworld's
bauxite reserves; exports of bauxite and alumina accounted for
about 70% of total exports in 1989.

GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 4.4%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28.2% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $394 million; expenditures $548 million, including
capital expenditures of $254 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $645 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--alumina, bauxite, diamonds, coffee, pineapples,
bananas, palm kernels;

partners--US 33%, EC 33%, USSR and Eastern Europe 20%, Canada

Imports: $551 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport
equipment, foodstuffs, textiles and other grain;

partners--US 16%, France, Brazil

External debt: $2.6 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP

Electricity: 113,000 kW capacity; 300 million kWh produced,
40 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: bauxite mining, alumina, gold, diamond mining,
light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and
forestry); mostly subsistence farming; principal products--rice, coffee,
pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber;
livestock--cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $1,075 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $446 million

Currency: Guinean franc (plural--francs);
1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1--24.39 (1989),
19.23 (1988), 17.54 (1987), 14.29 (1986), NA (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,045 km; 806 km 1.000-meter gauge, 239 km 1.435-meter
standard gauge

Highways: 30,100 km total; 1,145 km paved, 12,955 km gravel or
laterite (of which barely 4,500 km are currently all-weather roads),
16,000 km unimproved earth (1987)

Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Ports: Conakry, Kamsar

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 16 total, 16 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of open-wire lines, small
radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system; 10,000
telephones; stations--3 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 12,000 TV sets; 125,000 radio
receivers; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force,
Republican Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, Surete Nationale

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,695,832; 853,593 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $27 million, 1.2% of GDP (1988)



  * GUINEA-BISSAU

GUINEA-BISSAU

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 36,120 km2; land area: 28,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
Connecticut

Land boundaries: 724 km total; Guinea 386, Senegal 338 km

Coastline: 350 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rendered its
decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary (in favor
of Senegal)--that decision has been rejected by Guinea-Bissau

Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoon-type rainy
season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December
to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Natural resources: unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite,
phosphates; fish, timber

Land use: arable land 11%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
43%; forest and woodland 38%; other 7%

Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season

PEOPLE
Population: 1,023,544 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 125 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 48 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guinea-Bissauan(s); adjective--Guinea-Bissauan

Ethnic divisions: African about 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca
14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%); European and mulatto less than 1%

Religion: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%

Language: Portuguese (official); Criolo and numerous African
languages

Literacy: 36% (male 50%, female 24%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 403,000 (est.); agriculture 90%, industry, services,
and commerce 5%, government 5%; population of working age 53% (1983)

Organized labor: only one trade union--the National Union of
Workers of Guinea-Bissau (UNTG)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Type: republic; highly centralized one-party regime since September
1974; the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape
Verde (PAIGC) held an extraordinary party congress in December 1990 and
established a two-year transition program during which the constitution
will be revised, allowing for multiple political parties and a
presidential election in 1993

Capital: Bissau

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes,
singular--regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu,
Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Independence: 24 September 1973 (from Portugal; formerly Portuguese
Guinea)

Constitution: 16 May 1984

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Executive branch: president of the Council of State, vice
presidents of the Council of State, Council of State, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly
(Assembleia Nacional Popular)

Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the
Council of Ministers

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President of the
Council of State Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14
November 1980 and elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984);
First Vice President Col. Iafai CAMARA (since 7 November 1985); Second
Vice President Vasco CABRAL (since 21 June 1989)

Political parties and leaders: only party--African Party for the
Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President
Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; the party decided to retain the
binational title despite its formal break with Cape Verde

Suffrage: universal at age 15

Elections:

President of Council of State--last held 19 June 1989
(next to be held NA 1993);
results--Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without
opposition by the National People's Assembly;

National People's Assembly--last held 15 June 1989
(next to be held 15 June 1994);
results--PAIGC is the only party;
seats--(150 total) PAIGC 150, appointed by Regional Councils

Communists: a few Communists, some sympathizers

Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOM (observer), ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL;
Chancery (temporary) at the Guinea-Bissauan Permanent Mission to the UN,
Suite 604, 211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212)
661-3977;

US--Ambassador William L. JACOBSEN, Jr.; Embassy at 17 Avenida
Domingos Ramos, Bissau (mailing address is 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau,
Guinea-Bissau); telephone  [phone], 20-1145, 20-1113

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a
vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star
centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde which has the black star
raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks
and a yellow clam shell

ECONOMY
Overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the
world, with a per capita GDP below $200. Agriculture and fishing are the
main economic activities, with cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels the
primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at
present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of
development. The government's four-year plan (1988-91) has targeted
agricultural development as the top priority.

GDP: $154 million, per capita $160; real growth rate 5.0% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $22.7 million; expenditures $30.8 million,
including capital expenditures of $18.0 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $14.2 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels;

partners--Portugal, Senegal, France, The Gambia, Netherlands,
Spain

Imports: $68.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--capital equipment, consumer goods, semiprocessed
goods, foods, petroleum;

partners--Portugal, Netherlands, Senegal, USSR, Germany

External debt: $462 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.0% (1989 est.); accounts
for 10% of GDP (1989 est.)

Electricity: 22,000 kW capacity; 28 million kWh produced,
30 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks

Agriculture: accounts for over 50% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports,
and 90% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include
corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not
self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully
exploited

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $561 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $68 million

Currency: Guinea-Bissauan peso (plural--pesos);
1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1--1987.2 (1989),
1363.6 (1988), 851.65 (1987), 238.98 (1986), 173.61 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 3,218 km; 2,698 km bituminous, remainder earth

Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal
commerce

Ports: Bissau

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 37 total, 18 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines,
and radiocommunications; 3,000 telephones; stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including
Army, Navy, Air Force), paramilitary force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 222,371; 126,797 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $5 million, 3.2% of GDP (1987)



  * GUYANA

GUYANA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 214,970 km2; land area: 196,850 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho

Land boundaries: 2,462 km total; Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km,
Venezuela 743 km

Coastline: 459 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo river claimed by
Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in
south

Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber,
shrimp, fish

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 6%; forest and woodland 83%; other 8%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons;
water pollution

PEOPLE
Population: 749,508 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 20 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 51 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guyanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Guyanese

Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian
4%, European and Chinese 2%

Religion: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%

Language: English, Amerindian dialects

Literacy: 95% (male 98%, female 96%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.)

Labor force: 268,000; industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture
33.8%, services 21.7%; public-sector employment amounts to 60-80%
of the total labor force (1985)

Organized labor: 34% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Type: republic

Capital: Georgetown

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini,
Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo
Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam,
Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK; formerly British Guiana)

Constitution: 6 October 1980

Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures
of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Executive branch: executive president, first vice president,
prime minister, first deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature

Leaders:

Chief of State--Executive President Hugh Desmond HOYTE (since 6
August 1985); First Vice President Hamilton GREEN (since 6 August 1985);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Hamilton GREEN (since
NA August 1985)

Political parties and leaders:
People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN;
Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE, Moses
BHAGWAN;
Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE;
People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN;
National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS;
United Force (UF), Marcellus Feilden SINGH;
United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY;
National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Executive President--last held on 9 December 1985 (next to be
held mid-1991); Hugh Desmond HOYTE was elected president (the
leader of the party with the most votes in the National Assembly
elections);

National Assembly--last held on 9 December 1985
(next to be held mid-1991);
results--PNC 78%, PPP 16%, UF 4%, WPA 2%;
seats--(65 total, 53 elected) PNC 42, PPP 8, UF 2, WPA 1

Communists: 100 (est.) hardcore within PPP; top echelons of PPP
and PYO (Progressive Youth Organization, militant wing of the PPP)
include many Communists; small but unknown number of orthodox
Marxist-Leninists within PNC, some of whom formerly belonged to the PPP

Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC);
Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy (GUARD) includes various labor
groups as well as several of the smaller parties; Guyana Council of
Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC);
the latter two organizations are small and active but not well
organized; Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy (GUARD) includes
various labor groups, as well as several of the smaller political
parties

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Cedric Hilburn GRANT;
Chancery at 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
265-6900; there is a Guyanese Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador George JONES; Embassy at 31 Main Street,
Georgetown; telephone  592  (02) 54900 through 54909

Flag: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border
between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow
and the green

ECONOMY
Overview: After growing on average at less than 1% a year in
1986-87, GDP dropped by 3% a year in 1988-89. The decline resulted from
bad weather, labor trouble in the canefields, and flooding and equipment
problems in the bauxite industry. Consumer prices rose about 35% in 1988
and by over 100% in 1989, and the current account deficit widened
substantially as sugar and bauxite exports fell. Moreover, electric
power is in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains
in national output. The government, in association with international
financial agencies, seeks to reduce its payment arrears and to raise new
funds. The government's stabilization program--aimed at establishing
realistic exchange rates, reasonable price stability, and a resumption of
growth--requires considerable public administrative abilities and
continued patience by consumers during a long incubation period.

GDP: $287.2 million, per capita $380; real growth rate - 3.3%
(1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 105% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 12-15% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $65 million; expenditures $129 million, including
capital expenditures of $6 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $234 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.);

commodities--bauxite, sugar, gold, rice, shrimp, molasses, timber,
rum;

partners--UK 31%, US 23%, CARICOM 7%, Canada 6% (1988)

Imports: $319 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.);

commodities--manufactures machinery, food, petroleum;

partners--US 33%, CARICOM 10%, UK 9%, Canada 2% (1989)

External debt: $1.7 billion, including arrears (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 10.0% (1989 est.); accounts
for more than 20% of GDP

Electricity: 250,000 kW capacity; 635 million kWh produced,
830 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing
(shrimp), textiles, gold mining

Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 27% of GDP and
about 50% of exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential
exists for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially
wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $244 million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million

Currency: Guyanese dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1--45.00 (since June
1990), 39.533 (1990), 27.159 (1989), 10.000 (1988), 9.756 (1987), 4.272
(1986), 4.252 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 187 km total, all single track 0.914-meter gauge

Highways: 7,665 km total; 550 km paved, 5,000 km gravel, 1,525 km
earth, 590 km unimproved

Inland waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice,
Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for
150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively

Ports: Georgetown

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft

Airports: 58 total, 55 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; none with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system with radio relay network; over
27,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; stations--4 AM,
3 FM, no TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Coast Guard
and Air Corps), Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana People's Militia (GPM),
Guyana National Service (GNS)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 195,142; 148,477 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $5.5 million, 6% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * HAITI

HAITI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 27,750 km2; land area: 27,560 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundary: 275 km with the Dominican Republic

Coastline: 1,771 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island

Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade
winds

Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous

Natural resources: bauxite

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 13%; meadows and
pastures 18%; forest and woodland 4%; other 45%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject
to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and
earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion

Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic

PEOPLE
Population: 6,286,511 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 106 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 55 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Haitian(s); adjective--Haitian

Ethnic divisions: black 95%, mulatto and European 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic is the official religion; Roman
Catholic  80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo),
Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%),
none 1%, other 3% (1982)

Language: French (official) spoken by only 10% of population; all
speak Creole

Literacy: 53% (male 59%, female 47%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,300,000; agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%;
shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Haiti

Type: republic

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements,
singular--departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)

Constitution: 27 August 1983, suspended February 1986; draft
constitution approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles
reinstated March 1989; March 1987 Constitution fully observed by
government installed on 7 February 1991

Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale) consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or
House of Deputies

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February
1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Rene PREVAL (since
13 February 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD) led by Jean-Bertrand
ARISTIDE, including Congress of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor
BENOIT; National Konbite Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH;
National Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP), a coalition
consisting of Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH),
Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge
GILLES; and National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean
BELIZAIRE;
National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE;
Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE;
Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Sylvio CLAUDE;
Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT;
National Party of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME;
Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY;
Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH), Francois
LATORTUE;
Haitian Social Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE;
Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 16 December 1990
(next election to be held by December 1995);
results--Rev. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%,
Louis DEJOIE 4.9%;

Senate--last held 16 December 1990, with runoff held 20 January 1991
(next to be held by December 1992);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(27) FNCD 13, ANDP 6, PAIN 2, MRN 2, PDCH 1, RDNP 1, PNT 1,
independent 1;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 16 December 1990, with runoff
held 20 January 1991 (next to be held by December 1994);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(83) FNCD 27, ANDP 17, PDCH 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5, PNT 3,
MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independent 5, other 2

Communists: United Party of Haitian Communists (PUCH), Rene
THEODORE (roughly 2,000 members)

Other political or pressure groups: Democratic Unity Confederation
(KID), Roman Catholic Church, Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH),
Federation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS), Autonomous Haitian Workers
(CATH), National Popular Assembly (APN)

Member of: ACCT, CARICOM (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant), Charge
d'Affaires Raymond Alcide JOSEPH; Chancery at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone] through 4092; there
are Haitian Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York,
and San Juan (Puerto Rico);

US--Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr.; Embassy at Harry Truman
Boulevard, Port-au-Prince (mailing address is P. O. Box 1761,
Port-au-Prince), telephone  509  (1) 20-354 or 20-368, 20-200, 20-612

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a
centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms which contains a palm
tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto
L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

ECONOMY
Overview: About 85% of the population live in abject poverty.
Agriculture is mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs
two-thirds of the work force. The majority of the population does not
have ready access to safe drinking water, adequate medical care, or
sufficient food. Few social assistance programs exist, and the lack of
employment opportunities remains one of the most critical problems
facing the economy, along with soil erosion and political instability.

GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $440; real growth rate - 3.0% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 25-50% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $300 million; expenditures $416 million, including
capital expenditures of $145 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $169 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--light manufactures 69%, coffee 19%, other agriculture
8%, other 8%;

partners--US 84%, Italy 4%, France 3%, other industrial 6%,
less developed countries 3% (1987)

Imports: $348 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%,
petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9%;

partners--US 64%, Netherlands Antilles 5%, Japan 5%, France 4%,
Canada 3%, Germany 3% (1987)

External debt: $838 million (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.3% (FY88); accounts for
15% of GDP

Electricity: 230,000 kW capacity; 264 million kWh produced,
43 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement
manufacturing, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts

Agriculture: accounts for 33% of GDP and employs 66% of work force;
mostly small-scale subsistence farms; commercial crops--coffee, mangoes,
sugarcane and wood; staple crops--rice, corn, sorghum; shortage of
wheat flour

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $700
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $682 million

Currency: gourde (plural--gourdes); 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1-- 5.0 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 40 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately
owned industrial line

Highways: 4,000 km total; 950 km paved, 900 km otherwise improved,
2,150 km unimproved

Inland waterways: negligible; less than 100 km navigable

Ports: Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 15 total, 10 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic facilities barely adequate,
international facilities slightly better; 36,000 telephones;
stations--33 AM, no FM, 4 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (including Police), Navy, Air Corps

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,287,179; 691,926 fit for
military service; 61,265 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $34 million, 1.5% of GDP (1988 est.)



  * HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS

HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 412 km2; land area: 412 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 101.9 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: Heard Island--bleak and mountainous, with an extinct
volcano; McDonald Islands--small and rocky

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: primarily used as research stations

Note: located 4,100 km southwest of Australia in the
southern Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Type: territory of Australia administered by the Antarctic Division
of the Department of Science in Canberra (Australia)

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia



  * HONDURAS

HONDURAS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 112,090 km2; land area: 111,890 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries: 1,520 km total; Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342
km, Nicaragua 922 km

Coastline: 820 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: dispute with El Salvador over several sections of
the land boundary; dispute over Golfo de Fonseca maritime boundary
because of disputed sovereignty of islands; unresolved maritime boundary
with Nicaragua

Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc,
iron ore, antimony, coal, fish

Land use: arable land 14%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
30%; forest and woodland 34%; other 20%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes;
damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast; deforestation; soil
erosion

PEOPLE
Population: 4,949,275 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 56 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Honduran(s); adjective--Honduran

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian
7%, black 2%, white 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic about 97%; small Protestant minority

Language: Spanish, Indian dialects

Literacy: 73% (male 76%, female 71%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,300,000; agriculture 62%, services 20%,
manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)

Organized labor: 40% of urban labor force, 20% of rural work force
(1985)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Honduras

Type: republic

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua,
Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios,
Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho,
Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence
of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress (Congreso
Nacional)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS
Romero (since 26 January 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party (PLH)--faction leaders, Carlos FLORES Facusse (leader of
Florista Liberal Movement), Carlos MONTOYA (Azconista subfaction), Ramon
VILLEDA Bermudez and Jorge Arturo REINA (M-Lider faction);
National Party (PNH), Jose Celin DISCUA, party president;
PNH faction leaders--Oswaldo RAMOS Soto and Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS
(Monarca faction);
National Innovation and Unity Party-Social Democrats (PINU-SD), Enrique
AGUILAR Cerrato Paz;
Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Jorge ILLESCAS;
Democratic Action (AD), Walter LOPEZ Reyes

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 26 November 1989
(next to be held November 1993);
results--Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS (PNH) 51%,
Carlos FLORES Facusse (PLH) 43.3%, other 5.7%;

National Congress--last held on 26 November 1989
(next to be held November 1993);
results--PNH 51%, PLH 43%, PDCH 1.9%, PINU 1.5%, other 2.6%;
seats--(128 total) PNH 71, PLH 55, PINU 2

Communists: up to 1,500; Honduran leftist groups--Communist Party
of Honduras (PCH), Party for the Transformation of Honduras (PTH),
Morazanist Front for the Liberation of Honduras (FMLH), People's
Revolutionary Union/Popular Liberation Movement (URP/MPL), Popular
Revolutionary Forces-Lorenzo Zelaya (FPR/LZ), Socialist Party of Honduras
Central American Workers Revolutionary Party (PASO/PRTC)

Other political or pressure groups: National Association of
Honduran Campesinos (ANACH), Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
(COHEP), Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH), National Union of
Campesinos (UNC), General Workers Confederation (CGT), United Federation
of Honduran Workers (FUTH), Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in
Honduras (CODEH), Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP)

Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jorge Ramon HERNANDEZ
Alcerro; Chancery at Suite 100, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington
DC 20008; telephone [phone] through 7702; there are Honduran
Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
and San Francisco, and Consulates in Baton Rouge, Boston, Detroit,
Houston, and Jacksonville;

US--Ambassador S. Crescencio ARCOS; Embassy at Avenida La Paz,
Tegucigalpa (mailing address is APO Miami 34022); telephone  [phone]

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue
with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered
in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal
Republic of Central America--Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador which
features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL
SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also
similar to the flag of Nicaragua which features a triangle
encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA
CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western
Hemisphere. Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy,
accounts for nearly 30% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and
produces two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Industry,
still in its early stages, employs nearly 9% of the labor force,
accounts for 15% of GDP, and generates 20% of exports. The service
sectors, including public administration, account for 50% of GDP and
employ nearly 20% of the labor force.  Basic problems facing the
economy include rapid population growth, high unemployment, sharply
increased inflation, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient
public sector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee
and bananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations. Despite
government efforts at reform and large-scale foreign assistance, the
economy still is unable to take advantage of its sizable natural
resources.

GDP: $4.9 billion, per capita $960; real growth rate -1.0% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35.2% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15% unemployed, 30-40% underemployed (1989)

Budget: revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion,
including capital expenditures of $511 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $939 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, lumber;

partners--US 52%, FRG 11%, Japan, Italy, Belgium

Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f. 1990);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, chemical products,
manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs;

partners--US 39%, Japan 9%, CACM, Venezuela, Mexico

External debt: $2.8 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.9% (1989); accounts for
15% of GDP

Electricity: 668,000 kW capacity; 2,023 million kWh produced,
380 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles,
clothing, wood products

Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for nearly 30% of
GDP, over 60% of the labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal
products include bananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp;
importer of wheat

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on
small plots and used principally for local consumption; transshipment
point for cocaine

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1,027 million

Currency: lempira (plural--lempiras); 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1--5.30 (fixed rate); 5.70
parallel black-market rate (November 1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 785 km total; 508 km 1.067-meter gauge, 277 km
0.914-meter gauge

Highways: 8,950 km total; 1,700 km paved, 5,000 km otherwise
improved, 2,250 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft

Ports: Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo

Merchant marine: 173 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,481
GRT/812,095 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 107 cargo, 12 refrigerated
cargo, 9 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 20 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 1
vehicle carrier, 18 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry; the
USSR owns one ship under the Honduran flag

Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft

Airports: 175 total, 134 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 13 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: improved, but still inadequate; connection into
Central American Microwave System; 35,100 telephones; stations--176 AM,
no FM, 28 TV, 7 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Public
Security Forces (FUSEP)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,106,630; 659,520 fit for
military service; 58,953 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $82.5 million, 1.9% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * HONG KONG

HONG KONG
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,040 km2; land area: 990 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than six times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundary: 30 km with China

Coastline: 733 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy
from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 12%; other 79%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: more than 200 islands; occasional typhoons

PEOPLE
Population: 5,855,800 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 77 years male, 84 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: adjective--Hong Kong

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 98%, other 2%

Religion: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Language: Chinese (Cantonese), English

Literacy: 77% (male 90%, female 64%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1971)

Labor force: 2,800,000 (1990); manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and
retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%,
financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications
4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)

Organized labor: 16% of labor force (1990)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none; abbreviated HK

Type: dependent territory of the UK; scheduled to revert to
China in 1997

Capital: Victoria

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK); the UK
signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to
China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect
Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50
years after transition

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief secretary of the
Executive Council

Legislative branch: Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Governor Sir David Clive WILSON (since 9
April 1987);
Chief Secretary Sir David Robert FORD (since NA February 1987)

Political parties:
United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK), Martin LEE Chu-ming;
Liberal Democratic Federation (LDF), HU Fa-kuang;
Hong Kong Democratic Foundation (HKDF), Patrick SHIU Kin-ying;
Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL),
Frederick FUNG Kin-kee;
Meeting Point, Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung;
Progressive Hong Kong Society (PHKS), Maria TAM Wai-chu

Suffrage: direct election--universal at age 21
as a permanent resident living in the territory of Hong Kong for
the past seven years; indirect election--limited to about 100,000
professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies

Elections:

Legislative Council--indirect elections last held 12 September 1991
and direct elections held 15 September 1991
(next to be held by September 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(60 total;
21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18 directly elected,
18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members) indirect
elections--number of seats by functional constituency NA; direct
elections--UDHK 12, Meeting Point 2, ADPL 1, other 3; note--direct
elections were held for the first time in September 1991

Communists: 5,000 (est.) cadres affiliated with Communist Party
of China

Other political or pressure groups:
Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade
Union Council (pro-Taiwan), Confederation of Trade Unions (prodemocracy),
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Chinese General Chamber of
Commerce (pro-China), Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Professional Teachers'
Union, Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement
in China

Member of: AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU,
IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO

Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
the interests of Hong Kong in the US are represented by the UK;

US--Consul General Richard L. WILLIAMS; Consulate General at
26 Garden Road, Hong Kong (mailing address is Box 30, Hong Kong, or
FPO San Francisco 96659-0002); telephone  852  (5) 845-1598

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer
half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks
below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon
(representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner
bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

ECONOMY
Overview: Hong Kong has a free market economy with few tariffs
or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw
materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of
GDP, employs 28% of the labor force, and exports about 90% of its
output. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, then
slowed to 2.5-3.0% in 1989-90. Unemployment, which has been declining
since the mid-1980s, is now less than 2%. A shortage of labor continues
to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term
prospects remain solid so long as major trading partners continue to be
prosperous. The crackdown in China in 1989-90 casts a long shadow over
the longer term economic outlook.

GDP: $64.0 billion, per capita $11,000; real growth rate 2.5%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (1990)

Budget: $8.8 billion (FY90)

Exports: $80.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990), including reexports of
$51.2 billion;

commodities--clothing, textile yarn and fabric, footwear,
electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys;

partners--US 32%, China 19%, FRG 7%, UK 6%, Japan 6% (1989)

Imports: $79.5 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
semimanufactures, petroleum;

partners--China 35%, Japan 17%, Taiwan 9%, US 8% (1989)

External debt: $9.5 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.7% (1989)

Electricity: 8,485,000 kW capacity; 25,000 million kWh produced,
4,340 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks

Agriculture: minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy
products; less than 20% self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, water

Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade;
transshipment and major financial and money-laundering center

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $910 million

Currency: Hong Kong dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$--7.800 (March
1989), 7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987), 7.795 (1986), 7.811 (1985);
note--linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
since 1985

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned

Highways: 1,484 km total; 794 km paved, 306 km gravel, crushed
stone, or earth

Ports: Hong Kong

Merchant marine: 134 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 4,690,770
GRT/8,091,177 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 16 cargo,
5 refrigerated cargo, 16 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 9
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 6
combination ore/oil, 6 liquefied gas, 71 bulk; note--a flag of
convenience registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag and
an estimated 500 Hong Kong-owned ships are registered elsewhere

Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total; 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services; 3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission
links and extensive optical fiber transmission network; stations--6 AM,
6 FM, 4 TV; 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) relay station and
1 British Forces Broadcasting Service relay station; 2,500,000 radio
receivers; 1,312,000 TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets); satellite earth
stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; coaxial
cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5 international submarine cables
providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia,
Middle East, and Western Europe

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal
Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Gurkha Brigade,
Royal Hong Kong Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,718,112; 1,328,230 fit for
military service; 45,437 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.);
this represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself,
the remainder being paid by the UK

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * HOWLAND ISLAND

HOWLAND ISLAND
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1.6 km2; land area: 1.6 km2

Comparative area: about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 6.4 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by
a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 5%; other 95%

Environment: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines,
and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh
water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

Note: remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii
and Australia

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

Note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World
War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use
permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge System

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred
Noonan--they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never
seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along
the middle of the west coast

Note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west
coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since
been rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually
by the US Coast Guard



  * HUNGARY

HUNGARY

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 93,030 km2; land area: 92,340 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries: 2,251 km total; Austria 366 km, Czechoslovakia 676
km, Romania 443 km, USSR 135 km, Yugoslavia 631 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: Nagymaros Dam dispute with Czechoslovakia

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils

Land use: arable land 54%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
14%; forest and woodland 18%; other 11%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: levees are common along many streams, but flooding
occurs almost every year

Note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes
between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between USSR and
Mediterranean basin

PEOPLE
Population: 10,558,001 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Hungarian(s); adjective--Hungarian

Ethnic divisions: Hungarian 96.6%, German 1.6%, Slovak 1.1%,
Southern Slav 0.3%, Romanian 0.2%

Religion: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20.0%, Lutheran 5.0%,
atheist and other 7.5%

Language: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%

Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 98%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 4,860,000; services, trade, government, and other
43.2%, industry 30.9%, agriculture 18.8%, construction 7.1% (1988)

Organized labor: 96.5% of labor force; Central Council of Hungarian
Trade Unions (SZOT) includes 19 affiliated unions, all controlled by the
government; independent unions legal; may be as many as 12 small
independent unions in operation

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Hungary

Type: republic

Capital: Budapest

Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular--megye)
and 1 capital city* (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes,
Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*, Csongrad, Fejer,
Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok,
Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg,
Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala

Independence: 1001, unification by King Stephen I

Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised
19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensures legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
minister and established the principle of parliamentary oversight

Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law
based on Western model

National holiday: October 23 (1956); commemorates the Hungarian
uprising

Executive branch: president, prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly
(Orszaggyules)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, may be restructured as part of
ongoing government overhaul

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
previously interim President from 2 May 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL
(since 23 May 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Forum, Jozsef ANTALL, chairman;
Free Democrats, Janos KIS, chairman;
Independent Smallholders, Ferenc Jozsef NAGY, president;
Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP), Gyula HORN, chairman;
Young Democrats, Gabor FODOR, head;
Christian Democrats, Dr. Lazlo SURJAN, president;
note--the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSZMP)
renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) in
October 1989

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President last held 3 August 1990 (next to be held August 1995);
elected by the National Assembly with a total of 294 votes out of 304;
President GONCZ was elected by the National Assembly as interim President
from 2 May 1990 until elected President;

National Assembly--last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with
the second round held 8 April 1990);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(394 total) Democratic Forum 165, Free Democrats 92,
Independent Smallholders 43, Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) 33,
Young Democrats 21, Christian Democrats 21, independent candidates
or jointly sponsored candidates 19

Communists: fewer than 100,000 (December 1989)

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT,
IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IIB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant);
Chancery at 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there is a Hungarian Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Charles THOMAS; Embassy at V. Szabadsag
Ter 12, Budapest (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone  36
(1) 112-6450

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture is an important sector, providing sizable
export earnings and meeting domestic food needs. Industry accounts for
about 40% of GNP and 30% of employment. About 40% of Hungary's foreign
trade is with the USSR and Eastern Europe and a third is with the EC.
Low rates of growth reflect the inability of the Soviet-style economy to
modernize capital plant and motivate workers. GNP declined by 1% in 1989
and by an estimated 6% in 1990. Since 1985 external debt has more than
doubled, to over $20 billion. In recent years Hungary has experimented
widely with decentralized and market-oriented enterprises. The newly
democratic government has renounced the Soviet economic growth model and
plans to open the economy to wider market forces and to much closer
economic relations with Western Europe. Prime Minister Antall has
declared his intention to move foward on privatization of state
enterprises, provision for bankruptcy, land reform, and marketization of
international trade, but concerns over acceptable levels of unemployment
and inflation may slow the reform process.

GNP: $60.9 billion, per capita $5,800; real growth rate - 5.7%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1990)

Budget: revenues $18.2 billion; expenditures $18.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $805 million (1989)

Exports: $10.2 billion (f.o.b. 1989);

commodities--capital goods 33%, foods 25%, consumer goods 16%,
fuels 1.5%, other 24.5%;

partners USSR and Eastern Europe 42%, developed countries 37.4%,
less developed countries 20.6% (1989)

Imports: $10.1 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--capital goods 15%, fuels 20%, manufactured
consumer goods 12.4%, agriculture 5%, other 47.6%;

partners--USSR and Eastern Europe 34.9%, developed countries 45.5%,
less developed countries 16.6%, US 3%

External debt: $20.7 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 7.9% (1990 est.)

Electricity: 7,800,000 kW capacity; 30,400 million kWh produced,
2,870 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining, metallurgy, engineering industries, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals)

Agriculture: including forestry, accounts for about 15% of GNP
and 19% of employment; highly diversified crop-livestock farming;
principal crops--wheat, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets;
livestock--hogs, cattle, poultry, dairy products; self-sufficient in
food output

Economic aid: donor--$2.0 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist
less developed countries (1962-89)

Currency: forint (plural--forints); 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler

Exchange rates: forints (Ft) per US$1--60.95 (December 1990), 63.21
(1990), 59.07 (1989), 50.41 (1988), 46.97 (1987), 45.83 (1986), 50.12
(1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
222 km narrow gauge (mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge;
1,147 km double track, 2,161 km electrified; all government owned (1988)

Highways: 130,014 km total; 29,715 km national highway
system--26,834 km asphalt and bitumen, 142 km concrete, 51 km stone and
road brick, 2,276 km macadam, 412 km unpaved; 58,495 km country roads
(66% unpaved), and 41,804 km (est.) other roads (70% unpaved) (1988)

Inland waterways: 1,622 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil, 1,204 km; refined products, 630 km;
natural gas, 3,895 km (1986)

Ports: Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube;
maritime outlets are Rostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland),
Szczecin (Poland), Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)

Merchant marine: 16 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk
totaling 94,393 GRT/131,946 DWT

Civil air: 28 major transport aircraft

Airports: 90 total, 90 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: telephone density is at 17 per 100 inhabitants;
49% of all phones are in Budapest; 12-15 year wait for a phone; 16,000
telex lines (June 1990); stations--13 AM, 12 FM, 21 TV (8 Soviet
TV relays); 4.2 TVs (1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier
Guard, Civil Defense

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,667,234; 2,130,749 fit for
military service; 88,851 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: 43.7 billion forints, NA% of GDP (1989);
note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
official administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading
results



  * ICELAND

ICELAND

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 103,000 km2; land area: 100,250 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 4,988 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark,
Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement
in the Rockall area)

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Natural resources: fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power,
diatomite

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 23%; forest and woodland 1%; other 76%

Environment: subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity

Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
westernmost European country

PEOPLE
Population: 259,742 (July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Icelander(s); adjective--Icelandic

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians
and Celts

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Language: Icelandic

Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)

Labor force: 134,429; commerce, finance, and services 55.4%, other
manufacturing 14.3%., agriculture 5.8%, fish processing 7.9%, fishing
5.0% (1986)

Organized labor: 60% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Iceland

Type: republic

Capital: Reykjavik

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular--sysla)
and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular--kaupstadhur); Akranes*,
Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla,
Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla,
Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*,
Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasysla,
Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla,
Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,
Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla,
Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vestmannaeyjar*,
Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic,
17 June (1944)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Althingi with an Upper
House (Efri Deild) and a Lower House (Nedri Deild)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1
August 1980);

Head of Government--Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since
30 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Independence (conservative), David ODDSSON;
Progressive, Steingrimur HERMANNSSON;
Social Democratic, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON;
Citizens Party (conservative nationalist), Julius SOLNES;
Women's List

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

President--last held on 29 June 1980 (next scheduled for June
1992); results--there were no elections in 1984 and 1988 as President
Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed;

Althing--last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995);
results--Independence 38.6%, Progressive 18.9%, Social Democratic 15.5%,
People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.13%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.27%
seats--(63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10,
People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5

Communists: less than 100 (est.), some of whom participate in the
People's Alliance

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Tomas A. TOMASSON; Chancery
at 2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
265-6653 through 6655; there is an Icelandic Consulate General in New
York;

US--Ambassador Charles E. COBB, Jr.; Embassy at Laufasvegur 21,
Box 40, Reykjavik (mailing address is FPO New York 09571-0001); telephone
 354  (1) 29100

Flag: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

ECONOMY
Overview: Iceland's prosperous Scandinavian-type economy is
basically capitalistic, but with extensive welfare measures, low
unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy
is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75%
of export earnings. In the absence of other natural resources, Iceland's
economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. As a result of
climbing fish prices in 1990 and a noninflationary labor agreement,
Iceland is pulling out of a recession, which began in mid-1988 with a
sharp decline in fish prices and an imposition of quotas on fish catches
to conserve stocks. Inflation was down sharply from 20% in 1989
to 8% in 1990.

GDP: $4.2 billion, per capita $16,300; real growth rate 0%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.58 billion; expenditures $1.66 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA million (1990)

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum,
diatomite;

partners--EC 67.7% (UK 25.3%, FRG 12.7%), US 9.9%,
Japan 6%

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum,
foodstuffs, textiles;

partners--EC 49.8% (FRG 12.4%, Denmark 8.6%, UK 8.1%), US 14.4%,
Japan 5.6%

External debt: $3 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 0.8% (1988 est.); accounts
for 22% of GDP

Electricity: 1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced,
20,780 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon
production, hydropower

Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GDP (including fishing);
fishing is most important economic activity, contributing nearly 75%
to export earnings; principal crops--potatoes and turnips;
livestock--cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in crops; fish catch of
about 1.4 million metric tons in 1989

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1
million

Currency: krona (plural--kronur);
1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1--55.216
(January 1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988), 38.677
(1987), 41.104 (1986), 41.508 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 12,343 km total; 166 km bitumen and concrete; 1,284 km
bituminous treated and gravel; 10,893 km earth

Ports: Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik,
Seydhisfjordhur, Siglufjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar; numerous minor ports

Merchant marine: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,409
GRT/73,279 DWT; includes 8 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container,
2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
1 chemical tanker, 1 bulk

Civil air: 20 major transport aircraft

Airports: 99 total, 92 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate domestic service, wire and radio
communication system; 135,000 telephones; stations--10 AM, 17 (43 relays)
FM, 14 (132 relays) TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: no armed forces; State Criminal Police, Coast Guard;
Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force
(IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 69,644; 62,248 fit for military
service; no conscription or compulsory military service

Defense expenditures: none



  * INDIA

INDIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 3,287,590 km2; land area: 2,973,190 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Land boundaries: 14,103 km total; Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605
km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

Coastline: 7,000 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan; water
sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges
and Pakistan over the Indus

Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in
north

Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling
plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world),
iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas,
diamonds, crude oil, limestone

Land use: arable land 55%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
4%; forest and woodland 23%; other 17%; includes irrigated 13%

Environment: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common;
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; air and water pollution;
desertification

Note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important
Indian Ocean trade routes

PEOPLE
Population: 866,351,738 (July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 87 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 57 years male, 59 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Indian(s); adjective--Indian

Ethnic divisions: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and
other 3%

Religion: Hindu 82.6%, Muslim 11.4%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2.0%,
Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%

Language: Hindi, English, and 14 other official languages--Bengali,
Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya,
Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; 24 languages spoken by
a million or more persons each; numerous other languages and dialects,
for the most part mutually unintelligible; Hindi is the national language
and primary tongue of 30% of the people; English enjoys associate status
but is the most important language for national, political, and
commercial communication; Hindustani, a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu, is
spoken widely throughout northern India

Literacy: 48% (male 62%, female 34%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 284,400,000; 67% agriculture (FY85)

Organized labor: less than 5% of the labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of India

Type: federal republic

Capital: New Delhi

Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*;
Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*,
Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala,
Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)

Constitution: 26 January 1950

Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review
of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic,
26 January (1950)

Executive branch: president, vice president, prime minister,
Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad) consists of an
upper house or Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and a lower house or
House of the People (Lok Sabha)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Ramaswamy Iyer VENKATARAMAN (since 25
July 1987); Vice President Dr. Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 3 September
1987);

Head of Government--Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since
21 June 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha RAO, president;
Bharatiya Janata Party, L. K. ADVANI;
Janata Dal Party, V. P. SINGH;
Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M), E. M. S. NAMBOODIRIPAD;
Communist Party of India (CPI), C. Rajeswara RAO;
Telugu Desam (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), N. T. Rama RAO;
All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK; a regional party
in Tamil Nadu), JAYALALITHA;
Samajwadi Janata Party, CHANDRA SHEKHAR;
Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY;
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY;
Bahujana Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM;
Congress (S) Party, leader NA;
Communist Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Satyanarayan SINGH;
Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu),
M. KARUNANIDHI;
Akali Dal factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;
National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir), Farooq
ABDULLAH;
Asom Gana Parishad (a regional party in Assam), Prafulla MAHANTA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

People's Assembly--last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June
1991 (next to be held by November 1996);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(545 total), 509 elected--Congress (I) Party 225,
Bharatiya Janata Party 117,
Janata Dal Party 55,
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 35,
Communist Party of India 13,
Telugu Desam 12,
AIADMK 11,
Samajwadi Janata Party 5,
Shiv Sena 4,
RSP 4,
BSP 1,
Congress (S) Party 1, other 26; note--second and third rounds of
voting were delayed because of the assassination of Congress
President Rajiv GANDHI on 21 May 1991

Communists: 466,000 members claimed by CPI, 361,000 members claimed
by CPI/M; Communist extremist groups, about 15,000 members

Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groups
seeking greater communal autonomy; numerous religious or
militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam Sena, Anand Marg,
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-6,
G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abid HUSSEIN;
Chancery at 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone]; there are Indian Consulates General in
Chicago, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador William CLARK, Jr.; Embassy at Shanti Path,
Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi; telephone  91  (11) 600651; there are US
Consulates General in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and
green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white
band; similar to the flag of Niger which has a small orange disk centered
in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional
village farming and handicrafts, modern agriculture, old and new branches
of industry, and a multitude of support services. It presents both the
entrepreneurial skills and drives of the capitalist system and
widespread government intervention of the socialist mold. Growth of 4%
to 5% annually in the 1980s has softened the impact of population growth
on unemployment, social tranquility, and the environment. Agricultural
output has continued to expand, reflecting the greater use of modern
farming techniques and improved seed that have helped to make India
self-sufficient in food grains and a net agricultural exporter. However,
tens of millions of villagers, particularly in the south, have not
benefited from the green revolution and live in abject poverty. Industry
has benefited from a partial liberalization of controls. The growth rate
of the service sector has also been strong. India, however, has been
challenged more recently by much lower foreign exchange reserves, higher
inflation, and a large debt service burden.

GNP: $254 billion, per capita $300; real growth rate 4.5% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $34 billion; expenditures $54 billion, including
capital expenditures of $13.3 billion (FY91)

Exports: $17.0 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--gems and jewelry, engineering goods, clothing,
textiles, chemicals, tea, coffee, fish products;

partners--EC 25%, US 19%, USSR and Eastern Europe 17%, Japan 10%

Imports: $24.8 billion (c.i.f., FY90);

commodities--petroleum, capital goods, uncut gems and jewelry,
chemicals, iron and steel, edible oils;

partners--EC 33%, Middle East 19%, Japan 10%, US 9%, USSR and
Eastern Europe 8%

External debt: $69.8 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1990); accounts
for about 25% of GDP

Electricity: 70,000,000 kW capacity; 245,000 million kWh produced,
290 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, food processing, steel, machinery,
transportation equipment, cement, jute manufactures, mining, petroleum,
power, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics

Agriculture: accounts for about 30% of GNP and employs 67% of
labor force; self-sufficient in food grains; principal crops--rice,
wheat, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;
livestock--cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and poultry; fish catch of
about 3 million metric tons ranks among the world's top 10 fishing
nations

Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium poppy for the
pharmaceutical trade, but some opium is diverted to illicit
international drug markets; major transit country for illicit narcotics
produced in neighboring countries

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1980-88), $20.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million;
USSR (1970-89), $11.6 billion; Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 million

Currency: Indian rupee (plural--rupees);
1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise

Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1--18.329 (January
1990), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611
(1986), 12.369 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad
gauge, 24,051 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter
and 0.610 meter); 12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrified

Highways: 1,633,300 km total (1986); 515,300 km secondary and
1,118,000 km gravel, crushed stone, or earth

Inland waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels

Pipelines: crude oil, 3,497 km; refined products, 1,703 km; natural
gas, 902 km (1989)

Ports: Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore,
Port Blair (Andaman Islands)

Merchant marine: 308 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,087,451
GRT/10,150,460 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 8 passenger-cargo,
100 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 container, 54 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 9 combination ore/oil,
115 bulk, 2 combination bulk

Civil air: 93 major transport aircraft

Airports: 345 total, 288 usable; 198 with permanent-surface
runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 57 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
88 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor domestic telephone service, international
radio communications adequate; 4,700,000 telephones; stations--96 AM,
4 FM, 274 TV (government controlled); domestic satellite system for
communications and TV; 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; submarine
cables to Malaysia and United Arab Emirates

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Border Security
Forces, Coast Guard, Assam Rifles

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 232,793,714; 137,259,444 fit
for military service; about 9,431,908 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $9.2 billion, 3.5% of GNP (FY91)



  * INDIAN OCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 73,600,000 km2; Arabian Sea, Bass Strait, Bay of
Bengal, Java Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea,
and other tributary water bodies

Comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of the
US; third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but
larger than the Arctic Ocean)

Coastline: 66,526 km

Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon
(June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and
October/November in the north Indian Ocean and January/February in the
south Indian Ocean

Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad,
circular system of currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal
of surface currents in the north Indian Ocean--low pressure over
southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest
monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high
pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the
northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean
floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the
Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety
East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258 meters in the Java Trench

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and
gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Environment: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and
Red Sea

Note: major choke points include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz,
Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok
Strait; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near
Antarctica from May to October

ECONOMY
Overview: The Indian Ocean provides a major transportation highway
for the movement of petroleum products from the Middle East to Europe
and North and South American countries. Fish from the ocean are of
growing economic importance to many of the bordering countries as a
source of both food and exports. Fishing fleets from the USSR, Japan,
Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean for mostly shrimp and
tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore
areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western Australia. An estimated
40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean.
Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are
actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South
Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Industries: based on exploitation of natural resources,
particularly marine life, minerals, oil and gas production, fishing, sand
and gravel aggregates, placer deposits

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India),
Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia),
Jakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne (Australia), Richard's Bay (South Africa)

Telecommunications: no submarine cables



  * INDONESIA

INDONESIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,919,440 km2; land area: 1,826,440 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 2,602 km total; Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New
Guinea 820 km

Coastline: 54,716 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province)
disputed with Portugal

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains

Natural resources: crude oil, tin, natural gas liquids, nickel,
timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
7%; forest and woodland 67%; other 15%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited);
occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis; deforestation

Note: straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major
sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 193,560,494 (July 1991), growth rate 1.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 73 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 63 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Indonesian(s); adjective--Indonesian

Ethnic divisions: majority of Malay stock comprising Javanese
45.0%, Sundanese 14.0%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other
26.0%

Religion: Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%,
Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)

Language: Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official);
English and Dutch leading foreign languages; local dialects, the most
widely spoken of which is Javanese

Literacy: 77% (male 84%, female 68%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 67,000,000; agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%,
construction 4%, transport and communications 3% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: 3,000,000 members (claimed); about 5% of labor
force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Indonesia

Type: republic

Capital: Jakarta

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi,
singular--propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa,
singular--daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district**
(daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta
Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat,
Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku,
Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan,
Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat,
Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*

Independence: 17 August 1945 (from Netherlands; formerly
Netherlands or Dutch East Indies)

Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of
1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
(Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR); note--the People's Consultative
Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus
500 indirectly elected members who meet every five years to elect the
president and vice president and, theoretically, to determine national
policy

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. (Ret.)
SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968); Vice President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) SUDHARMONO
(since 11 March 1983)

Political parties and leaders:
GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen. (Ret.)
WAHONO, general chairman;
Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI--federation of former Nationalist and
Christian Parties), SOERYADI, chairman;
Development Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties),
Ismail Hasan METAREUM, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 17 and married persons regardless of age

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held on 23 April 1987
(next to be held 23 April 1992);
results--Golkar 73%, UDP 16%, PDI 11%;
seats--(500 total--400 elected, 100 appointed) Golkar 299, UDP 61, PDI 40

Communists: Communist Party (PKI) was officially banned in March
1966; current strength about 1,000-3,000, with less than 10% engaged in
organized activity; pre-October 1965 hardcore membership about 1.5
million

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdul Rachman RAMLY;
Chancery at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036;
telephone [phone]; there are Indonesian Consulates General in
Houston, New York, and Los Angeles, and Consulates in Chicago and San
Francisco;

US--Ambassador John C. MONJO; Embassy at Medan Merdeka Selatan 5,
Jakarta (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96356);
telephone  62  (21) 360-360; there are US Consulates in Medan and
Surabaya

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to
the flag of Monaco which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland
which is white (top) and red

ECONOMY
Overview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with many socialist
institutions and central planning but with a recent emphasis on
deregulation and private enterprise. Indonesia has extensive natural
wealth yet, with a large and rapidly increasing population, it remains a
poor country. GDP growth in 1985-89 averaged about 4%, somewhat short of
the more than 5% rate needed to absorb the 2.3 million workers annually
entering the labor force. Agriculture, including forestry and fishing, is
an important sector, accounting for 21% of GDP and over 50% of the labor
force. The staple crop is rice. Once the world's largest rice importer,
Indonesia is now nearly self-sufficient. Plantation crops--rubber and
palm oil--and textiles and plywood are being encouraged for both export
and job generation. Industrial output now accounts for 30% of GDP
based on a supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil,
natural gas, timber, metals, and coal. Of these, the oil sector dominates
the external economy, generating more than 20% of the government's
revenues and 40% of export earnings in 1989. However, the economy's
growth is very dependent on the continuing expansion of nonoil exports.
Japan is Indonesia's most important customer and supplier of aid.

GDP: $94 billion, per capita $490; real growth rate 6.0%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 3%; underemployment 44% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $17.2 billion; expenditures $23.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $8.9 billion (FY91)

Exports: $25.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--petroleum and liquefied natural gas 40%, timber 15%,
textiles 7%, rubber 5%, coffee 3%;

partners--Japan 40%, US 14%, Singapore 7%, Europe 16% (1990)

Imports: $21.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--machinery 39%, chemical products 19%, manufactured
goods 16%;

partners--Japan 23%, US 13%, EC, Singapore

External debt: $58.5 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 11.6% (1989 est.); accounts
for 30% of GDP

Electricity: 11,600,000 kW capacity; 38,000 million kWh produced,
200 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, textiles, mining, cement, chemical
fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber

Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP, subsistence food production;
small-holder and plantation production for export; rice, cassava,
peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, copra, other tropical products;
products--poultry meat, beef, pork, eggs

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade, but not a major player; government actively eradicating
plantings and prosecuting traffickers

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $22.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million

Currency: Indonesian rupiah (plural--rupiahs);
1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)

Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1--1,907.5 (January
1991), 1,842.8 (1990), 1,770.1 (1989), 1,685.7 (1988), 1,643.8 (1987),
1,282.6 (1986), 1,110.6 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km
0.750-meter gauge, 78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km
electrified; all government owned

Highways: 119,500 km total; 11,812 km state, 34,180 km provincial,
and 73,508 km district roads

Inland waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and
Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km

Pipelines: crude oil, 2,505 km; refined products, 456 km; natural
gas, 1,703 km (1989)

Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Ujungpandang,
Semarang, Surabaya

Merchant marine: 365 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,647,632
GRT/2,481,432 DWT; includes 5 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo,
215 cargo, 7 container, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 vehicle carrier,
80 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 chemical tanker,
5 liquefied gas, 6 specialized tanker, 1 livestock carrier, 25 bulk

Civil air: about 216 commercial transport aircraft

Airports: 470 total, 436 usable; 111 with permanent-surface
runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
63 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: interisland microwave system and HF police net;
domestic service fair, international service good; radiobroadcast
coverage good; 763,000 telephones (1986); stations--618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV;
satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station; and 1 domestic satellite
communications system

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,572,652; 29,893,127 fit for
military service; 2,149,673 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.4 billion, 1.8% of GNP (1988)



  * IRAN

IRAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,648,000 km2; land area: 1,636,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries: 5,492 km total; Afghanistan 936 km, Iraq 1,458 km,
Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, USSR 1,690 km

Coastline: 3,180 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive fishing zone: 50 nm in the Sea of Oman; continental
shelf limit, continental shelf boundaries, or median lines in the Persian
Gulf;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations on 14
October 1990 following the end of the war that began on 22 September
1980; progress had been made on the major issues of contention--troop
withdrawal, prisoner-of-war exchanges, demarcation of the border,
freedom of navigation, and sovereignty over the the Shatt al Arab
waterway--but written agreements had yet to be drawn up when frictions
reemerged in March 1991 in the wake of Shia and Kurdish revolts in
Iraq that Baghdad accused Tehran of supporting;
Kurdish question among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR;
occupies three islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by UAE (Jazireh-ye
Abu Musa or Abu Musa, Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or
Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb); periodic
disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights; Boluch question with
Afghanistan and Pakistan

Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 27%; forest and woodland 11%; other 54%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; desertification

PEOPLE
Population: 59,051,082 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 65 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Iranian(s); adjective--Iranian

Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 25%, Kurd 9%, Gilaki
and Mazandarani 8%, Lur 2%, Baloch 1%, Arab 1%, other 3%

Religion: Shia Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish,
Christian, and Bahai 1%

Language: 58% Persian and Persian dialects, 26% Turkic and Turkic
dialects, 9% Kurdish, 2% Luri, 1% Baloch, 1% Arabic, 1% Turkish, 2% other

Literacy: 54% (male 64%, female 43%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 15,400,000; agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%;
shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Islamic Republic of Iran

Type: theocratic republic

Capital: Tehran

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (ostanha,
singular--ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr,
Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars,
Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,
Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer
Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,
Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Independence: 1 April 1979, Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Legal system: the new Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
government

National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Executive branch: cleric (faqih), president, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly
(Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Cleric and functional Chief of State--Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989);

Head of Government--President Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI
(since 3 August 1989);

Political parties and leaders: there are at least 14 licensed
parties; the three most important are--Tehran Militant Clergy
Association, Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI;
Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar
MUSAVI-KHOINIHA;
Fedaiyin Islam Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI

Suffrage: universal at age 15

Elections:

President--last held NA July 1989 (next to be held April 1993);
results--Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with only token opposition;

Islamic Consultative Assembly--last held 8 April 1988
(next to be held June 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(270 seats total) number of seats by party NA

Communists: 1,000 to 2,000 est. hardcore; 15,000 to 20,000 est.
sympathizers; crackdown in 1983 crippled the party; trials of captured
leaders began in late 1983 and remain incomplete

Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally
support the Islamic Republic include Hizballah, Hojjatiyeh Society,
Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line
of the Imam; armed political groups that have been almost completely
repressed by the government include Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO),
People's Fedayeen, and Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society for the
Defense of Freedom is a group of liberal nationalists that has been
repressed by the government for accusing it of corruption

Member of: CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none; protecting power in the US is
Algeria--Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20007; telephone [phone];

US--protecting power in Iran is Switzerland

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;
the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red
is
centered
in the white band; Allah Akbar (God is Great) in white Arabic
script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and
11 times along the top edge of the red band

ECONOMY
Overview: Since the 1979 revolution, the banks, petroleum industry,
transportation, utilities, and mining have been nationalized, but the
new five-year plan--the first since the revolution--passed in January
1990, calls for the transfer of many government-controlled enterprises
to the private sector. Disruptions from the bitter war with Iraq,
massive corruption, mismanagement, demographic pressures, and ideological
rigidities have kept economic growth at depressed levels. Oil accounts
for over 90% of export revenues. A combination of war damage and low oil
prices brought a 2% drop in GNP in 1988. GNP probably rose slightly in
1989, considerably short of the 3.2% population growth rate in 1989.
Heating oil and gasoline are rationed. Agriculture has suffered from the
war, land reform, and shortages of equipment and materials. The five-year
plan seeks to reinvigorate the economy by increasing the role of the
private sector, boosting nonoil income, and securing foreign loans. The
plan is overly ambitious but probably will generate some short-term
relief.

GNP: $80.0 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 0.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-50% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1989)

Budget: revenues $63 billion; expenditures $80 billion, including
capital expenditures of $23 billion (FY90 est.)

Exports: $12.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides;

partners--Japan, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, France, FRG

Imports: $11.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,
pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products;

partners--FRG, Japan, Turkey, UK, Italy

External debt: $4-5 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 14,579,000 kW capacity; 40,000 million kWh produced,
740 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other
building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and
vegetable oil production), metal fabricating (steel and copper)

Agriculture: principal products--wheat, rice, other grains, sugar
beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not
self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and
international drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1.0
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.6 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million;
note--aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution

Currency: Iranian rial (plural--rials); 1 Iranian rial (IR) =
100 dinars; note--domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of
the toman (plural--tomans), which equals 10 rials

Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1--64.941 (January 1991),
68.096 (1990), 72.015 (1989), 68.683 (1988), 71.460 (1987), 78.760
(1986), 91.052 (1985) at the official rate; black market rate 1,400
(January 1991)

Fiscal year: 21 March-20 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,601 km total; 4,509 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km
1.676-meter gauge; 730 km under construction from Bafq to Bandar Abbas

Highways: 140,072 km total; 46,866 km gravel and crushed stone;
49,440 km improved earth; 42,566 km bituminous and bituminous-treated
surfaces; 1,200 km (est.) rural road network

Inland waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980
because of Iran-Iraq war

Pipelines: crude oil, 5,900 km; refined products, 3,900 km; natural
gas, 3,300 km

Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),
Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e
Khomeyni, Bandar-e Shahid Rajai, Khorramshahr (largely
destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war)

Merchant marine: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,634,204
GRT/8,671,769 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 33
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3
refrigerated cargo, 49 bulk, 2 combination bulk

Civil air: 42 major transport aircraft

Airports: 214 total, 186 usable; 80 with permanent-surface runways;
17 with runways over 3,659 m; 16 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 70 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: radio relay extends throughout country; system
centered in Tehran; 2,143,000 telephones; stations--62 AM, 30 FM, 250
TV; satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian
Ocean INTELSAT; HF and microwave to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and
USSR

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air
Force, Air Defense, and Revolutionary Guard Corps (includes Basij
militia and own ground, air, and naval forces);
a merger of the Komiteh, Police, and Gendarmerie has produced a new
Security Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 12,750,593; 7,588,711 fit for
military service; 576,321 reach military age (21) annually

Defense expenditures: $13 billion, 13.3% of GNP (1991 est.)



  * IRAQ

IRAQ

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 434,920 km2; land area: 433,970 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries: 3,454 km total; Iran 1,458 km, Iraq - Saudi Arabia
Neutral Zone 191 km, Jordan 134 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 495 km,
Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km

Coastline: 58 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations on 14
October 1990 following the end of the war that began on 22 September
1980; progress had been made on the major issues of
contention--troop withdrawal, prisoner-of-war exchanges, demarcation of
the border, freedom of navigation, and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab
waterway--but written agreements had yet to be drawn up when frictions
reemerged in March 1991 in the wake of Shia and Kurdish revolts in
Iraq that Baghdad accused Tehran of supporting; Kurdish question
among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR; shares Neutral Zone with
Saudi Arabia--in December 1981, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed a boundary
agreement that divides the zone between them, but the agreement must
be ratified before it becomes effective; Iraqi forces invaded and
occupied Kuwait from 2 August 1990 until 27 February 1991; in April 1991
official Iraqi acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which
demands that Iraq accept its internationally recognized border with
Kuwait, ended earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah Islands or to
all of Kuwait; periodic disputes with upstream riparian Syria over
Euphrates water rights; potential dispute over water development plans by
Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Climate: desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless
summers

Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains
along borders with Iran and Turkey

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
9%; forest and woodland 3%; other 75%; includes irrigated 4%

Environment: development of Tigris-Euphrates river systems
contingent upon agreements with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air
and water pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion;
desertification

PEOPLE
Population: 19,524,718 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Iraqi(s); adjective--Iraqi

Ethnic divisions: Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian
or other 5%

Religion: Muslim 97%, (Shia 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian
or other 3%

Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
Assyrian, Armenian

Literacy: 60% (male 70%, female 49%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,400,000 (1989); services 48%, agriculture 30%,
industry 22%, severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force about
1,600,000 (July 1990)

Organized labor: less than 10% of the labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Iraq

Type: republic

Capital: Baghdad

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna,
Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At
Tamim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala,
Karbala, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)

Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim
Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted

Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,
civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)

Executive branch: president, vice president, chairman of the
Revolutionary Command Council, vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command
Council, prime minister, first deputy prime minister, Council of
Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis Watani)

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Saddam HUSAYN (since 16 July 1979);
Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974);
Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Sadun HAMMADI (since 27 March
1991); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq AZIZ (since NA 1979);
Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 27 March 1991)

Political parties: National Progressive Front is a coalition of the
Arab Bath Socialist Party, Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Kurdistan
Revolutionary Party

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections:

National Assembly--last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA);
results--Sunni Arabs 53%, Shia Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.;
seats--(250 total) number of seats by party NA

Communists: about 1,500 hardcore members

Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity
severely restricted; possibly some opposition to regime from disaffected
members of the regime, Army officers, and religious and ethnic dissidents

Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-19,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: no Iraqi representative in Washington;
Chancery at 1801 P Street NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
483-7500;

US--no US representative in Baghdad since mid-January 1991;
Embassy in Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad
(mailing address is P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad); telephone  964  (1)
719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the
white band; the phrase Allahu Akbar (God is Great) in green Arabic
script--Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of
the middle star--was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf
crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script
and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the
flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: The Bathist regime engages in extensive central
planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while
leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to
private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector,
which has provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s
financial problems, caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year
war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the
government to implement austerity measures and to borrow heavily and
later reschedule foreign debt payments. After the end of hostilities in
1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new
pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development
remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations
caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The
industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government,
also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August
1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military actions
by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically
changed the economic picture. Oil exports were cut to near zero,
and industrial and transportation facilities severely damaged.

GNP: $35 billion, per capita $1,940; real growth rate 5%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-40% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: less than 5% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $NA billion; expenditures $35 billion,
including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $12.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur;

partners--US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, France, Italy, USSR (1989)

Imports: $10.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--manufactures, food;

partners--US, FRG, Turkey, UK, Romania, Japan, France (1989)

External debt: $40 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt to Arab
Gulf states

Industrial production: NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GDP
(1987)

Electricity: 9,902,000 kW capacity; 20,000 million kWh produced,
1,110 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials,
food processing

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP but 30% of labor
force; principal products--wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other
fruit, cotton, wool; livestock--cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in
food output

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $627 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1980-90), more than $30
billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion

Currency: Iraqi dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000
fils

Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1--0.3109 (fixed rate
since 1982)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,962 km total; 2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
505 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 25,479 km total; 8,290 km paved, 5,534 km improved earth,
11,655 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980
because of Iran-Iraq war; Tigris and Euphrates navigable by shallow-draft
steamers (of little importance); Shatt al Basrah canal navigable in
sections by shallow-draft vessels

Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, Al Basrah

Merchant marine: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 944,253
GRT/1,691,368 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 17 cargo,
1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 19 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker; note--since the 2 August 1990
invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces, Iraq has sought to register at least
part of its merchant fleet under convenience flags; none of the Iraqi
flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as of 1 January 1991

Pipelines: crude oil, 4,350 km; 725 km refined products; 1,360 km
natural gas

Civil air: 64 major transport aircraft (including 30 IL-76s
used by the Iraq Air Force)

Airports: 111 total, 102 usable; 73 with permanent-surface runways;
9 with runways over 3,659 m; 52 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good network consists of coaxial cables, radio
relay links, and radiocommunication stations; 632,000 telephones;
stations--9 AM, 1 FM, 81 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 GORIZONT Atlantic Ocean in the
Intersputnik system; coaxial cable and radio relay to Kuwait, Jordan,
Syria, and Turkey

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force,
Border Guard Force, Internal Security Forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,270,592; 2,380,439 fit for
military service; 228,277 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * IRAQ - SAUDI ARABIA NEUTRAL ZONE

IRAQ - SAUDI ARABIA NEUTRAL ZONE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 3,520 km2; land area: 3,520 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 389 km total; 191 km Iraq, 198 km Saudi Arabia

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: harsh, dry desert

Terrain: sandy desert

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other (sandy desert) 100%

Environment: harsh, inhospitable

Note: landlocked; located west of quadripoint with Iraq, Kuwait,
and Saudi Arabia

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: joint administration by Iraq and Saudi Arabia; in December
1981, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed a boundary agreement that divides
the zone between them, but the agreement must be ratified before it
becomes effective

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: none; some secondary roads

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the joint responsibility of Iraq and Saudi Arabia



  * IRELAND

IRELAND

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 70,280 km2; land area: 68,890 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundary: 360 km with UK

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: no precise definition;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall
continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland
and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current;
mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the
time

Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by
rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, crude oil, barite,
copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

Land use: arable land 14%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 71%; forest and woodland 5%; other 10%

Environment: deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 3,489,165 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Irishman(men), Irish (collective pl.);
adjective--Irish

Ethnic divisions: Celtic, with English minority

Religion: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%,
other 1% (1981)

Language: Irish (Gaelic) and English; English is the language
generally used, with Gaelic spoken in a few areas, mostly along the
western seaboard

Literacy: 98% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

Labor force: 1,293,000; services 57.0%, manufacturing and
construction 26.1%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 15.0%,
energy and mining 1.9% (1988)

Organized labor: 36% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: republic

Capital: Dublin

Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)

Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1937

Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified
by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of
an upper house or Senate (Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of
Representatives (Dail Eireann)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November
1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Charles J. HAUGHEY (since
12 July 1989, the fourth time elected as Prime Minister)

Political parties and leaders:
Fianna Fail, Charles HAUGHEY;
Labor Party, Richard SPRING;
Fine Gael, John BRUTON;
Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN;
Workers' Party, Proinsias DEROSSA;
Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS;
Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY;
note--Prime Minister HAUGHEY heads a coalition consisting of the
Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997);
results--Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%;

Senate--last held on 17 February 1987 (next to be held February 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 16, Labor 3,
Independents 11;

House of Representatives--last held on 12 July 1989 (next to be
held NA June 1994);
results--Fianna Fail 44.0%, Fine Gael 29.4%, Labor Party 9.3%,
Progressive Democrats 5.4%, Workers' Party 4.9%, Sinn Fein 1.1%,
independents 5.9%;
seats--(166 total) Fianna Fail 77, Fine Gael 55, Labor Party 15,
Workers' Party 7, Progressive Democrats 6, independents 6

Communists: under 500

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NEA, OECD, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Padraic N. MACKERNAN;
Chancery at 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there are Irish Consulates General in Boston, Chicago,
New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Richard A. MOORE; Embassy at 42 Elgin Road,
Ballsbridge, Dublin; telephone  353  (1) 688777

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; similar to the flag of the Ivory Coast which is shorter and
has the colors reversed--orange (hoist side), white, and green; also
similar to the flag of Italy which is shorter and has colors of green
(hoist side), white, and red

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is small, open, and trade dependent.
Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry,
which accounts for 37% of GDP and about 80% of exports and employs 26%
of the labor force. The government has successfully reduced the rate of
inflation from double-digit figures in the late 1970s to 3.3% in
1990. In 1987, after years of deficits, the balance of payments was
brought into the black. Unemployment, however, is a serious problem. A
1990 unemployment rate of 16.6% placed Ireland along with Spain as the
countries with the worst jobless records in Western Europe.

GDP: $33.9 billion, per capita $9,690; real growth rate 4.1%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 16.6% (1990)

Budget: revenues $11.3 billion; expenditures $11.7 billion,
including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (1990)

Exports: $24.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial
machinery, live animals, animal products;

partners--EC 74% (UK 34%, FRG 11%, France 10%), US 8%

Imports: $20.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--food, animal feed, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum
products, machinery, textiles, clothing;

partners--EC 66% (UK 41%, FRG 9%, France 4%), US 16%

External debt: $16.0 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1990); accounts for
37% of GDP

Electricity: 4,957,000 kW capacity; 14,480 million kWh produced,
4,080 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GNP and 15% of the labor force;
principal crops--turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat;
livestock--meat and dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food
shortages include bread grain, fruits, vegetables

Economic aid: donor--ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million

Currency: Irish pound (plural--pounds); 1 Irish pound (LIr) =
100 pence

Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1--0.5656 (January
1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989), 0.6553 (1988), 0.6720 (1987), 0.7454
(1986), 0.9384 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km
1.602-meter gauge, government owned; 485 km double track; 38 km
electrified

Highways: 92,294 km total; 87,422 km surfaced, 4,872 km gravel or
crushed stone

Inland waterways: limited for commercial traffic

Pipelines: natural gas, 225 km

Ports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon Estuary, Waterford

Merchant marine: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 138,967
GRT/164,628 DWT; includes 4 short-sea passenger, 31 cargo, 2
refrigerated cargo, 3 container, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 6 bulk

Civil air: 23 major transport aircraft

Airports: 40 total, 37 usable; 18 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 6 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: small, modern system using cable and radio
relay circuits; 900,000 telephones; stations--45 AM, 16 (29 relays) FM,
18 (68 relays) TV; 5 coaxial submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National
Police (GARDA)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 871,578; 705,642 fit for
military service; 33,175 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $458 million, 1.6% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * ISRAEL

ISRAEL
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note: The Arab territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war
are not included in the data below. As stated in the 1978 Camp David
Accords and reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace
initiative, the final status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their
relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel
and Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. The Camp
David Accords further specify that these negotiations will resolve the
location of the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this
process, it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and
Gaza Strip has yet to be determined (see West Bank and Gaza Strip
entries). On 25 April 1982 Israel relinquished control of the Sinai to
Egypt. Statistics for the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are included in
the Syria entry.


GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 20,770 km2; land area: 20,330 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 1,006 km total; Egypt 255 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307, Gaza Strip 51 km

Coastline: 273 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 6 nm

Disputes: separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the
1949 Armistice Line; differences with Jordan over the location
of the 1949 Armistice Line which separates the two countries;
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with status
to be determined; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in
southern Lebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan

Climate: temperate; hot and dry in desert areas

Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand,
sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil

Land use: arable land 17%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures
40%; forest and woodland 6%; other 32%; includes irrigated 11%

Environment: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; limited
arable land and natural water resources pose serious constraints;
deforestation

Note: there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, 38 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 18 in the Gaza Strip, and 14
Israeli-built Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem

PEOPLE
Population: 4,477,105 (July 1991), growth rate 1.5% (1991);
includes 90,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 13,000 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 2,500 in the Gaza Strip, and 120,000 in
East Jerusalem (1990 est.)

Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Israeli(s); adjective--Israeli

Ethnic divisions: Jewish 83%, non-Jewish (mostly Arab) 17%

Religion: Judaism 82%, Islam (mostly Sunni Muslim) 14%,
Christian 2%, Druze and other 2%

Language: Hebrew (official); Arabic used officially for Arab
minority; English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy: 92% (male 95%, female 89%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1983)

Labor force: 1,400,000 (1984 est.); public services 29.3%;
industry, mining, and manufacturing 22.8%; commerce 12.8%; finance and
business 9.5%; transport, storage, and communications 6.8%; construction
and public works 6.5%; personal and other services 5.8%; agriculture,
forestry, and fishing 5.5%; electricity and water 1.0% (1983)

Organized labor: 90% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: State of Israel

Type: republic

Capital: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the
US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular--mehoz);
Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)

Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the
basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law

Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate
regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
legal systems; in December 1985 Israel informed the UN Secretariat that
it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 May 1989; Israel declared
independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the
holiday may occur in April or May

Executive branch: president, prime minister, vice prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral parliament (Knesset)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Chaim HERZOG (since 5 May 1983);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Yitzhak SHAMIR (since 20 October
1986)

Political parties and leaders: Israel currently has a coalition
government comprising eleven parties that hold 66 of the Knesset's
120 seats;

Members of the government--Likud bloc, Prime Minister Yitzhak
SHAMIR;
Sephardic Torah Guardians (SHAS), Minister of Interior Arieh DER'I;
National Religious Party, Minister of Education Zevulun HAMMER;
Agudat Yisrael, Moshe Zeev FELDMAN;
Degel HaTorah, Avraham RAVITZ;
Moriya, Minister of Immigrant Absorption, Yitzhak PERETZ;
Ge'vlat Yisrael, Elizer MIZRAHI;
Party for the Advancement of Zionist Ideology (PAZI), Minister of
Finance Yitzhak MODAI;
Tehiya Party, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Infrastructure
Yuval NE'EMAN;
Tzomet Party, Minister of Agriculture Rafael EITAN;
Unity for Peace and Aliyah, Efrayim GUR;
Moledet Party, Rehavam ZE'EVI;

Opposition parties--Labor Party, Shimon PERES;
Citizens' Rights Movement, Shulamit ALONI;
United Workers' Party (MAPAM), Yair TZABAN;
Center Movement-Shinui, Amnon RUBENSTEIN;
New Israeli Communist Party (MAKI), Meir WILNER;
Progressive List for Peace, Muhammad MI'ARI;
Arab Democratic Party, Abd Al Wahab DARAWSHAH;
Black Panthers, Charlie BITON

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 23 February 1988 (next to be held February 1994);
results--Chaim HERZOG reelected by Knesset;

Knesset--last held 1 November 1988 (next to be held by November 1992);
seats--(120 total) Labor Party 38, Likud bloc 37, SHAS 5, National
Religious Party 5, Citizens' Rights Movement 5, Agudat Yisrael 4,
PAZI 3, MAKI 3, Tehiya Party 3, MAPAM 3, Tzomet Party 2, Moledet Party 2,
Degel HaTorah 2, Center Movement-Shinui 2, Progressive List for Peace 1,
Arab Democratic Party 1; Black Panthers 1, Moriya 1, Ge'ulat Yisrael 1,
Unity for Peace and Aliyah 1

Communists: Hadash (predominantly Arab but with Jews in its
leadership) has some 1,500 members

Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Jewish
nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza
Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West Bank/Gaza Strip and
Lebanon policies

Member of: AG (observer), CCC, EBRD, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Zalman SHOVAL; Chancery at
3514 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
364-5500; there are Israeli Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San
Francisco;

US--Ambassador William A. BROWN; Embassy at 71 Hayarkon Street,
Tel Aviv (mailing address is APO New York 09672); telephone  972  (3)
654338; there is a US Consulate General in Jerusalem

Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as
the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal
blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government
participation. It depends on imports for crude oil, food, grains, raw
materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources,
Israel has developed its agricultural and industrial sectors on an
intensive scale over the past 20 years. Industry accounts for about 23%
of the labor force, agriculture for 5%, and services for most of the
balance. Diamonds, high-technology machinery, and agricultural products
(fruits and vegetables) are the biggest export earners. The balance of
payments has traditionally been negative, but is offset by large transfer
payments and foreign loans. About half of Israel's $18 billion external
government debt is owed to the US, which is its major source for economic
and military aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel must continue
to exploit high-technology niches in the international market, such as
medical scanning equipment. Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August dealt
a blow to Israel's economy in 1990. Higher world oil prices added an
estimated $300 million to Israel's 1990 oil import bill, and helped
keep the inflation rate at 18% for the year. Regional tensions
and continuing acts of the Palestinian uprising
(intifadah)-related violence contributed to a sharp dropoff in
tourism--a key source of foreign exchange--to the lowest level since the
1973 Arab-Israeli war. In 1991, the influx of up to 400,000 Soviet
immigrants will increase unemployment, intensify the country's
housing crisis, and contribute to a widening budget deficit.

GNP: $46.5 billion, per capita $10,500; real growth rate 3.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.8% (March 1991)

Budget: revenues $28.7 billion; expenditures $33.0 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91)

Exports: $10.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--polished diamonds, citrus and other fruits, textiles
and clothing, processed foods, fertilizer and chemical products, military
hardware, electronics;

partners--US, UK, FRG, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy

Imports: $14.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--military equipment, rough diamonds, oil, chemicals,
machinery, iron and steel, cereals, textiles, vehicles, ships, aircraft;

partners--US, FRG, UK, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

External debt: $24.5 billion, of which government debt is
$18 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.5% (1989); accounts
for about 40% of GDP

Electricity: 4,392,000 kW capacity; 17,500 million kWh produced,
4,000 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing,
textiles, clothing, chemicals, metal products, military equipment,
transport equipment, electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery,
potash mining, high-technology electronics, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP; largely self-sufficient in
food production, except for bread grains; principal products--citrus and
other fruits, vegetables, cotton; livestock products--beef, dairy, and
poultry

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.5 billion

Currency: new Israeli shekel (plural--shekels);
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--2.35
(May 1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946
(1987), 1.4878 (1986), 1.1788 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March; changing to calender year basis
starting January 1992

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 594 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated

Highways: 4,500 km; majority is bituminous surfaced

Pipelines: crude oil, 708 km; refined products, 290 km; natural
gas, 89 km

Ports: Ashdod, Haifa, Elat

Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 516,714
GRT/611,795 DWT; includes 7 cargo, 21 container, 2 refrigerated cargo;
note--Israel also maintains a significant flag of convenience fleet,
which is normally at least as large as the Israeli flag fleet; the
Israeli flag of convenience fleet typically includes all of its POL
tankers

Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft

Airports: 51 total, 44 usable; 26 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: most highly developed in the Middle East
though not the largest; good system of coaxial cable and radio relay;
1,800,000 telephones; stations--11 AM, 24 FM, 54 TV; 2 submarine cables;
satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Israel Defense Forces includes ground, naval, and air
components; historically there have been no separate Israeli military
services

Manpower availability: eligible 15-49, 2,213,808; of the 1,117,733
males 15-49, 920,449 are fit for military service; of the 1,096,075
females 15-49, 899,022 are fit for military service; 44,429 males and
42,249 females reach military age (18) annually; both sexes are liable
for military service; Nahal or Pioneer Fighting Youth, Frontier Guard,
Chen

Defense expenditures: $5.3 billion, 13.9% of GNP (1991);
note--includes an estimated $1.8 billion in US military aid



  * ITALY

ITALY

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 301,230 km2; land area: 294,020 km2; includes Sardinia
and Sicily

Comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries: 1,902.2 km total; Austria 430 km, France 488 km,
San Marino 39 km, Switzerland 740 km, Vatican City 3.2 km, Yugoslavia
202 km

Coastline: 4,996 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry
in south

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal
lowlands

Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling
natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal

Land use: arable land 32%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and
pastures 17%; forest and woodland 22%; other 19%; includes irrigated 10%

Environment: regional risks include landslides, mudflows,
snowslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, pollution; land
sinkage in Venice

Note: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as
well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

PEOPLE
Population: 57,772,375 (July 1991), growth rate 0.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 82 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Italian(s); adjective--Italian

Ethnic divisions: primarily Italian but population includes small
clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and
Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south; Sicilians; Sardinians

Religion: nominally Roman Catholic almost 100%

Language: Italian; parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are
predominantly German speaking; significant French-speaking minority in
Valle d'Aosta region; Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia
area

Literacy: 97% (male 98%, female 96%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 23,988,000; services 58%, industry 32.2%,
agriculture 9.8% (1988)

Organized labor: 40-45% of labor force (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Italian Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Rome

Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular--regione);
Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia
Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia,
Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta,
Veneto

Independence: 17 March 1861, Kingdom of Italy proclaimed

Constitution: 1 January 1948

Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law
influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; judicial review under
certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)

Executive branch: president, prime minister (president of the
Council of Ministers)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlamento) consists of
an upper chamber or Senate of the Republic (Senato della Repubblica)
and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francesco COSSIGA (since 3 July 1985);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Giulio ANDREOTTI (since 22 July
1989, heads the government for the seventh time); Deputy Prime Minister
Claudio MARTELLI (since 23 July 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party (DC), Arnaldo FORLANI (general secretary),
Ciriaco De MITA (president);
Socialist Party (PSI), Bettino CRAXI (party secretary);
Social Democratic Party (PSDI), Antonio CARIGLIA (party secretary);
Liberal Party (PLI), Renato ALTISSIMO (secretary general);
Democratic Party of the Left (PDS--was Communist Party, or PCI, until
January 1991), Achille OCCHETTO (secretary general);
Italian Social Movement (MSI), Giuseppe (Pino) RAUTI (national
secretary);
Republican Party (PRI), Giorgio La MALFA (political secretary);
Lega Nord, Umberto BOSSI, president;
Italy's 50th postwar government was formed on 13 April 1991,
with Prime Minister ANDREOTTI, a Christian Democrat, presiding over a
four-party coalition consisting of the Christian Democrats, Socialists,
Social Democrats, and Liberals

Suffrage: universal at age 18 (except in senatorial elections,
where minimum age is 25)

Elections:

Senate--last held 14-15 June 1987 (next to be held by June 1992);
results--DC 33.9%, PCI 28.3%, PSI 10.7%, other 27.1%;
seats--(320 total, 315 elected) DC 125, PCI 100, PSI 36, other 54;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 14-15 June 1987
(next to be held by June 1992);
results--DC 34.3%, PCI 26.6%, PSI 14.3%, MSI 5.9%, PRI 3.7%, PSDI 3.0%,
Radicals 2.6%, Greens 2.5%, PLI 2.1%, Proletarian Democrats 1.7%,
other 3.3%;
seats--(630 total) DC 234, PCI 177, PSI 94, MSI 35, PRI 21, PSDI 17,
Radicals 13, Greens 13, PLI 11, Proletarian Democrats 8, other 7

Communists: 1.3 million (1990)

Other political or pressure groups: the Roman Catholic Church;
three major trade union confederations (CGIL--Communist dominated,
CISL--Christian Democratic, and UIL--Social Democratic, Socialist, and
Republican); Italian manufacturers association (Confindustria);
organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM,
CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IEA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS (observer),
OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Rinaldo PETRIGNANI; Chancery
at 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone];
there are Italian Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Houston, New
Orleans, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Consulates in
Detroit and Newark (New Jersey);

US--Ambassador Peter F. SECCHIA; Embassy at Via Veneto 119/A,
00187-Rome (mailing address is APO New York 09794); telephone  39  (6)
46741; there are US Consulates General in Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples,
and Palermo (Sicily)

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
red; similar to the flag of Ireland which is longer and is green (hoist
side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Ivory Coast
which has the colors reversed--orange (hoist side), white, and green

ECONOMY
Overview: Since World War II the economy has changed from one based
on agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the
same total and per capita output as France and the UK. The country is
still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by small
private companies, and an undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by
large public enterprises. Services account for 48% of GDP, industry 34%,
agriculture 4%, and public administration 13%. Most raw materials needed
by industry and over 75% of energy requirements must be imported. The
economic recovery that began in mid-1983 has continued through 1990, with
the economy growing at an annual average rate of 3%. For the 1990s, Italy
faces the problems of refurbishing a tottering communications system,
curbing pollution in major industrial centers, and adjusting to the new
competitive forces accompanying the ongoing economic integration of the
European Community.

GDP: $844.7 billion, per capita $14,600; real growth rate 2.0%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 11.0% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $355 billion; expenditures $448 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $170.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--textiles, wearing apparel, metals, transportation
equipment, chemicals;

partners--EC 57%, US 8%, OPEC 4%

Imports: $182.0 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, industrial machinery, chemicals, metals,
food, agricultural products;

partners--EC 58%, OPEC 6%, US 5%

External debt: NA

Industrial production: growth rate - 0.1% (1990); accounts for
almost 35% of GDP

Electricity: 56,800,000 kW capacity; 225,000 million kWh produced,
3,900 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,
textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Agriculture: accounts for about 4% of GDP and 10% of the
work force; self-sufficient in foods other than meat and dairy products;
principal crops--fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets,
soybeans, grain, olives; fish catch of 388,200 metric tons in 1988

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9
billion

Currency: Italian lira (plural--lire); 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100
centesimi

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,134.4 (January
1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987),
1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned
standard gauge (8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned--2,100 km
1.435-meter standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km
0.950-meter narrow gauge (380 km electrified)

Highways: 294,410 km total; autostrada 5,900 km, state highways
45,170 km, provincial highways 101,680 km, communal highways 141,660 km;
260,500 km concrete, bituminous, or stone block, 26,900 km gravel and
crushed stone,7,010 km earth

Inland waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial
traffic, although of limited overall value

Pipelines: crude oil, 1,703 km; refined products, 2,148 km; natural
gas, 19,400 km

Ports: Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples,
Palermo (Sicily), Taranto, Trieste, Venice

Merchant marine: 575 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,462,744
GRT/11,593,730 DWT; includes 11 passenger, 44 short-sea passenger,
103 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 23 container, 67 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
7 vehicle carrier, 1 multifunction large-load carrier, 2 livestock
carrier, 151 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 37 chemical
tanker, 38 liquefied gas, 10 specialized tanker, 14 combination ore/oil,
60 bulk, 2 combination bulk

Civil air: 125 major transport aircraft

Airports: 138 total, 135 usable; 90 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 36 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 38 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: well engineered, constructed, and operated;
28,000,000 telephones; stations--144 AM, 54 (over 1,800 repeaters) FM,
450 (over 1,300 repeaters) TV; 22 submarine cables; communication
satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2
Indian Ocean, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,747,224; 12,877,803 fit for
military service; 418,043 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $19.2 billion, 2.2% of GDP (1990)



  * IVORY COAST

IVORY COAST
(also known as Cote d'Ivoire)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 322,460 km2; land area: 318,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: 3,110 km total; Burkina 584 km, Ghana 668 km,
Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Coastline: 515 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons--warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May),
hot and wet (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Natural resources: crude oil, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper

Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
9%; forest and woodland 26%; other 52%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; severe
deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 12,977,909 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 97 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ivorian(s); adjective--Ivorian

Ethnic divisions: over 60 ethnic groups; most important are the
Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, and Agni; foreign
Africans, mostly Burkinabe about 2 million; non-Africans about 130,000 to
330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

Religion: indigenous 63%, Muslim 25%, Christian 12%,

Language: French (official), over 60 native dialects; Dioula most
widely spoken

Literacy: 54% (male 67%, female 40%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 5,718,000; over 85% of population engaged in
agriculture, forestry, livestock raising; about 11% of labor force are
wage earners, nearly half in agriculture and the remainder in government,
industry, commerce, and professions; 54% of population of working age
(1985)

Organized labor: 20% of wage labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of the Ivory Coast; note--the local
official name is Republique de Cote d'Ivoire

Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Capital: Abidjan (capital city changed to Yamoussoukro in March
1983 but not recognized by US)

Administrative divisions: 49 departments (departements,
singular--(departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope,
Agboville, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou,
Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane,
Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa,
Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota,
Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro,
Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tengrela,
Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula

Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution: 3 November 1960

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 7 December

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Dr. Felix
HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY (since 27 November 1960); Prime Minister Allassane
OUATTARE (since 7 November 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast (PDCI), Dr. Felix
HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY;
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO;
Ivorian Worker's Party (PIT), Francis WODIE;
Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI), Morifere BAMBA;
over 20 smaller parties

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held October 1995);
results--President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY received 81% of the vote
in his first contested election; he is currently serving his seventh
consecutive five-year term;

National Assembly--last held 25 November 1990 (next to be held November 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(175 total) PDCI 163, FPI 9, PIT 1, independents 2

Communists: no Communist party; possibly some sympathizers

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO,
FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Charles GOMIS; Chancery at
2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
797-0300;

US--Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN; Embassy at 5 Rue Jesse Owens,
Abidjan (mailing address is 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan); telephone  225
21-09-79 or 21-46-72

Flag: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and
green; similar to the flag of Ireland which is longer and has the colors
reversed--green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag
of Italy which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on
the flag of France

ECONOMY
Overview: Ivory Coast is among the world's largest producers
and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm-kernel oil. Consequently,
the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices
for coffee and cocoa and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the
government to diversify, the economy is still largely dependent on
agriculture and related industries. The agricultural sector accounts for
over one-third of GDP and about 80% of export earnings and employs about
85% of the labor force. A collapse of world cocoa and coffee prices in
1986 threw the economy into a recession, from which the country had not
recovered by 1990.

GDP: $10 billion, per capita $800; real growth rate - 2.9% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14% (1985)

Budget: revenues $2.8 billion (1989 est.); expenditures $4.1
billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Exports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--cocoa 30%, coffee 20%, tropical woods 11%, cotton,
bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton;

partners--France, FRG, Netherlands, US, Belgium, Spain (1985)

Imports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--manufactured goods and semifinished products 50%,
consumer goods 40%, raw materials and fuels 10%;

partners--France, other EC, Nigeria, US, Japan (1985)

External debt: $15.0 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 6% (1989); accounts for
17% of GDP

Electricity: 1,081,000 kW capacity; 2,440 million kWh produced,
210 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: foodstuffs, wood processing, oil refinery, automobile
assembly, textiles, fertilizer, beverage

Agriculture: most important sector, contributing one-third to GDP
and 80% to exports; cash crops include coffee, cocoa beans, timber,
bananas, palm kernels, rubber; food crops--corn, rice, manioc, sweet
potatoes; not self-sufficient in bread grain and dairy products

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis on a small scale for
the international drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $356
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.9 billion

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 660 km (Burkina border to Abidjan, 1.00-meter gauge,
single track, except 25 km Abidjan-Anyama section is double track)

Highways: 46,600 km total; 3,600 km bituminous and
bituminous-treated surface; 32,000 km gravel, crushed stone, laterite,
and improved earth; 11,000 km unimproved

Inland waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous
coastal lagoons

Ports: Abidjan, San-Pedro

Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,945 GRT/
90,684 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 1 chemical tanker

Civil air: 12 major transport aircraft, including multinationally
owned Air Afrique fleet

Airports: 48 total, 41 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: system above African average; consists of
open-wire lines and radio relay links; 87,700 telephones; stations--3 AM,
17 FM, 11 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; 2 coaxial
submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie,
Presidential Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,981,269; 1,543,412 fit for
military service; 145,693 males reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $199 million, 2.3% of GDP (1988)



  * JAMAICA

JAMAICA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 10,990 km2; land area: 10,830 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,022 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Land use: arable land 19%; permanent crops 6%; meadows and pastures
18%; forest and woodland 28%; other 29%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: subject to hurricanes (especially July to November);
deforestation; water pollution

Note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica
Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

PEOPLE
Population: 2,489,353 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Jamaican(s); adjective--Jamaican

Ethnic divisions: African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian
and Afro-East Indian 3.0%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%,
other 1.2%

Religion: predominantly Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%,
Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%, Seven-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%,
Methodist 3.1%, United Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%,
other 39.1%, including some spiritualist cults (1982)

Language: English, Creole

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 99%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,062,100; services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry
19%; unemployed 17.5% (1989)

Organized labor: 24% of labor force (1989)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Kingston

Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover,
Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine,
Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny,
Westmoreland

Independence: 6 August 1962 (from UK)

Constitution: 6 August 1962

Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day (first Monday in August),
6 August 1990

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Florizel A. GLASSPOLE (since 2 March
1973);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Michael MANLEY
(since 13 February 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
People's National Party (PNP), Michael MANLEY;
Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA;
Workers' Party of Jamaica (WPJ), Trevor MUNROE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 9 February 1989 (next to be
held by February 1994);
results--PNP 57%, JLP 43%;
seats--(60 total) PNP 45, JLP 15

Communists: Workers' Party of Jamaica (Marxist-Leninist)

Other political or pressure groups:
Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-19, G-77,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Richard BERNAL;
Chancery at Suite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington DC 20006; telephone
[phone]; there are Jamaican Consulates General in Miami and New
York;

US--Ambassador Glen A. HOLDEN; Embassy at 3rd Floor, Jamaica Mutual
Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston; telephone [phone]

Flag: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four
triangles--green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism.
In 1985 it suffered a setback with the closure of some facilities in the
bauxite and alumina industry, a major source of hard currency earnings.
Since 1986 an economic recovery has been under way. In 1987 conditions
began to improve for the bauxite and alumina industry because of
increases in world metal prices. The recovery has also been supported by
growth in the manufacturing and tourism sectors. In September 1988,
Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe damage on crops and the electric power
system, a sharp but temporary setback to the economy. By October 1989 the
economic recovery from the hurricane was largely complete and real growth
was up about 3% for 1989. In 1990, 3.5% economic growth was led by
mining and tourism.

GDP: $3.9 billion, per capita $1,580; real growth rate 3.5% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 18.2% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.0 billion; expenditures $1.1 billion, including
capital expenditures of $197 million (FY90 est.)

Exports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--bauxite, alumina, sugar, bananas;

partners--US 36%, UK, Canada, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago

Imports: $1.83 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, machinery, food, consumer goods,
construction goods;

partners--US 48%, UK, Venezuela, Canada, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago

External debt: $4.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1989 est.); accounts
for almost 25% of GDP

Electricity: 1,122,000 kW capacity; 2,508 million kWh produced,
1,030 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, bauxite mining, textiles, food processing,
light manufactures

Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GDP, 22% of work force,
and 17% of exports; commercial crops--sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus,
potatoes, and vegetables; livestock and livestock products include
poultry, goats, milk; not self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy
products

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis; transshipment point
for ships carrying cocaine and cannabis from central and South America
to North America

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.45 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $27 million;
Communist countries (1974-89), $349 million

Currency: Jamaican dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1--8.106 (January
1991), 7.184 (1990), 5.7446 (1989), 5.4886 (1988), 5.4867 (1987), 5.4778
(1986), 5.5586 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 370 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track

Highways: 18,200 km total; 12,600 km paved, 3,200 km gravel,
2,400 km improved earth

Pipelines: refined products, 10 km

Ports: Kingston, Montego Bay

Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,048
GRT/21,412 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 1 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 bulk

Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 41 total, 25 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fully automatic domestic telephone network;
127,000 telephones; stations--10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations; 3 coaxial submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Coast Guard and Air
Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 628,225; 446,229 fit for
military service; no conscription; 26,442 reach minimum volunteer
age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $20 million, less than 1% of GDP (FY91)



  * JAN MAYEN

JAN MAYEN
(territory of Norway)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 373 km2; land area: 373 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 124.1 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 10 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

Disputes: Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims beween
Greenland and Jan Mayen

Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is
the highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass;
volcanic activity resumed in 1970

Note: located north of the Arctic Circle about 590 km
north-northeast of Iceland between the Greenland Sea and the
Norwegian Sea

PEOPLE
Population: no permanent inhabitants

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: territory of Norway

Note: administered by a governor (sysselmann) resident in
Longyearbyen (Svalbard)

ECONOMY
Overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable
natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services
for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on
the island.

Electricity: 15,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced,
NA kWh per capita (1989)

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 1 with runway 1,220 to 2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Telecommunications: radio and meteorological station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway



  * JAPAN

JAPAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 377,835 km2; land area: 374,744 km2; includes Bonin
Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima,
Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands
(Kazan-retto)

Comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 29,751 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm (3 nm in international straits--La Perouse
or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western channels of the Korea or
Tsushima Strait)

Disputes: Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan Islands and the
Habomai island group occupied by Soviet Union since 1945, claimed by
Japan; Liancourt Rocks disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto
(Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan

Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous

Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish

Land use: arable land 13%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 67%; other 18%; includes irrigated 9%

Environment: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500
seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; subject to tsunamis

Note: strategic location in northeast Asia

PEOPLE
Population: 124,017,137 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 10 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 82 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Japanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Japanese

Ethnic divisions: Japanese 99.4%, other (mostly Korean) 0.6%

Religion: most Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist rites
so the percentages add to more than 100%--Shinto 95.8%,
Buddhist 76.3%, Christian 1.4%, other 12% (1985)

Language: Japanese

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

Labor force: 63,330,000; trade and services 54%; manufacturing,
mining, and construction 33%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%;
government 3% (1988)

Organized labor: about 29% of employed workers; public service
76.4%, transportation and telecommunications 57.9%, mining 48.7%,
manufacturing 33.7%, services 18.2%, wholesale, retail, and restaurant
9.3%

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Tokyo

Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures (fuken, singular and
plural); Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima,
Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate,
Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi,
Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa,
Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima,
Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Independence: 660 BC, traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu

Constitution: 3 May 1947

Legal system: civil law system with English-American influence;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)

Executive branch: emperor, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Diet (Kokkai) consists of an upper
house or House of Councillors (Sangi-in) and a lower house or House of
Representatives (Shugi-in)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Kiichi MIYAZAWA (since 5
November 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Toshiki KAIFU, president; Keizo OBUCHI,
secretary general;
Japan Socialist Party (JSP), T. DOI, chairman;
Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Keigo OUCHI, chairman;
Japan Communist Party (JCP), K. MIYAMOTO, Presidium chairman;
Komeito (Clean Government Party, CGP), Koshiro ISHIDA, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

House of Councillors--last held on 23 July 1989
(next to be held 23 July 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(252 total, 100 elected) LDP 109, JSP 67, CGP 21, JCP 14,
other 41;

House of Representatives--last held on 18 February 1990
(next to be held by February 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(512 total) LDP 275, JSP 136, CGP 45, JCP 16, DSP 14,
other parties 5, independents 21; note--9 independents are expected
to join the LDP, 5 the JSP

Communists: about 490,000 registered Communist party members

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP,
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NEA, OAS (observer),
OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ryohei MURATA; Chancery at
2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
939-6700; there are Japanese Consulates General in Agana (Guam),
Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City
(Missouri), Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Seattle,
and Portland (Oregon), and a Consulate in Saipan (Northern Mariana
Islands);

US--Ambassador Michael H. ARMACOST; Embassy at 10-1, Akasaka
1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo (mailing address is APO San Francisco
96503); telephone  81  (3) 3224-5000; there are US Consulates General
in Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, and Sapporo and a Consulate in Fukuoka

Flag: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without
rays) in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: Although Japan has few natural resources, since 1971 it
has become the world's third-largest economy, ranking behind only the
US and the USSR. Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic,
and a comparatively small defense allocation have helped Japan advance
rapidly, notably in high-technology fields. Industry, the most important
sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and
fuels. Self-sufficent in rice, Japan must import 50% of its requirements
for other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's
largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global
catch. Overall economic growth has been spectacular: a 10% average in the
1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1990 strong investment and
consumption spending helped maintain growth at 5.6%. Inflation remains
low at 3.1% despite higher oil prices and rising wages because of a
tight labor market. Japan continues to run a huge trade surplus, $52
billion in 1990, which supports extensive investment in foreign
properties.

GNP: $2,115.2 billion, per capita $17,100; real growth rate 5.6%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.1% (1990)

Budget: revenues $499 billion; expenditures $532 billion, including
capital expenditures (public works only) of $52 billion (FY90)

Exports: $286.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--manufactures 97% (including machinery 38%, motor
vehicles 17%, consumer electronics 10%);

partners--US 31%, Southeast Asia 29%, Western Europe 21%, Communist
countries 3%, Middle East 3%

Imports: $234.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--manufactures 50%, fossil fuels 24%, foodstuffs and raw
materials 26%;

partners--Southeast Asia 23%, US 23%, Western Europe 18%,
Middle East 13%, Communist countries 7%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (1990 est.); accounts for
30% of GDP (mining and manufacturing)

Electricity: 191,000,000 kW capacity; 790,000 million kWh produced,
6,390 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: metallurgy, engineering, electrical and electronic,
textiles, chemicals, automobiles, fishing, telecommunications

Agriculture: accounts for only 2% of GNP; highly subsidized and
protected sector, with crop yields among highest in world; principal
crops--rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; animal products include
pork, poultry, dairy and eggs; about 50% self-sufficient in food
production; shortages of wheat, corn, soybeans; world's largest fish
catch of 11.9 million metric tons in 1988

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $83.2
billion; ODA outlay of $7.9 billion in 1989

Currency: yen (plural--yen); 1 yen (Y) = 100 sen

Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1--133.88 (January 1991), 144.79
(1990), 137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987), 168.52 (1986),
238.54 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 27,327 km total; 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
and 25,315 km predominantly 1.067-meter narrow gauge; 5,724 km
doubletrack and multitrack sections, 9,038 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge
electrified, 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard-gauge electrified (1987)

Highways: 1,098,900 km total; 718,700 km paved, 380,200 km gravel,
crushed stone, or unpaved; 3,900 km national expressways, 46,544 km
national highways, 43,907 km principal local roads, 86,930 km prefectural
roads, and 917,619 other (1987)

Inland waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal
inland seas

Pipelines: crude oil, 84 km; refined products, 322 km; natural gas,
1,800 km

Ports: Chiba, Muroran, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Tomakomai, Nagoya, Osaka,
Tokyo, Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Niigata, Fushiki-Toyama, Shimizu,
Himeji, Wakayama-Shimozu, Shimonoseki, Tokuyama-Shimomatsu

Merchant marine: 1,019 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
22,396,958 GRT/34,683,035 DWT; includes 9 passenger, 55 short-sea
passenger, 4 passenger cargo, 95 cargo, 40 container, 33
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 125 refrigerated cargo, 99 vehicle carrier, 231
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 14 chemical tanker, 41
liquefied gas, 11 combination ore/oil, 3 specialized tanker, 257 bulk, 2
combination bulk; note--Japan also owns a large flag of convenience
fleet, including up to 40% of the total number of ships under Panamanian
flag

Civil air: 360 major transport aircraft

Airports: 165 total, 157 usable; 129 with permanent-surface
runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 29 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
56 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international service;
64,000,000 telephones; stations--318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196
major--1 kw or greater); satellite earth stations--4 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; submarine cables to US (via Guam),
Philippines, China, and USSR

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force),
Maritime Safety Agency (Coast Guard)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 32,256,893; 27,771,374 fit for
military service; 992,255 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, 1.0% of GNP (1990 est.)



  * JARVIS ISLAND

JARVIS ISLAND
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 4.5 km2; land area: 4.5 km2

Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 8 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a  narrow fringing reef

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing
shrubs; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging
habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

Note: 2,090 km south of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, just
south of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

Note: Millersville settlement on western side of island
occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when
it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical
Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use
permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none (territory of the US)

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge System

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only--one boat landing area in the
middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the
island

Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually
by the US Coast Guard



  * JERSEY

JERSEY
(British crown dependency)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 117 km2; land area: 117 km2

Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 70 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north
coast

Natural resources: agricultural land

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; about 58% of land under
cultivation

Environment: about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; 27 km
from France

PEOPLE
Population: 84,331 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Channel Islander(s); adjective--Channel Islander

Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent

Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Language: English and French (official), with the Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
but compulsory education age 5 to 16

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Bailiwick of Jersey

Type: British crown dependency

Capital: Saint Helier

Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice

Legal system: English law and local statute

National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States

Judicial branch: Royal Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief
Air Marshal Sir John SUTTON (since NA 1990); Bailiff Peter CRILL (since
NA)

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

Assembly of the States--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents

Communists: probably none

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)

Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron
saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based largely on financial services,
agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially
flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey
breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important
export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EC countries. In 1986
the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP,
accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years the government
has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that
an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional
manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are
imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 8% (1987 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $284.4 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Exports: $NA;

commodities--light industrial and electrical goods,
foodstuffs, textiles;

partners--UK

Imports: $NA;

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals;

partners--UK

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 50,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by
France

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy

Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle
farming

Economic aid: none

Currency: Jersey pound (plural--pounds); 1 Jersey pound (LJ) =
100 pence

Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (Saint
Peter)

Telecommunications: 63,700 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1
TV; 3 submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * JOHNSTON ATOLL

JOHNSTON ATOLL
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2.8 km2; land area: 2.8 km2

Comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 10 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade
winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until about 1890)

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: some low-growing vegetation

Note: strategic location 1,328 km west-southwest of Honolulu in
the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way between Hawaii and
the Marshall Islands; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural
islands; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands
formed from coral dredging; closed to the public; former nuclear weapons
test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System
(JACADS)

PEOPLE
Population: 1,325 (December 1990); all US government personnel and
contractors

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none (territory of the US)

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US
Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the
Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of
the National Wildlife Refuge system

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: the flag of the US is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to
US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All
food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by the United States Military

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Johnston Island

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,743 m

Telecommunications: excellent system including 60-channel submarine
cable, Autodin/SRT terminal, digital telephone switch, Military
Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), commercial satellite television
system (receive only), and UHF/VHF air-ground radio, marine
VHF/FM Channel 16

Note: US Coast Guard operates a LORAN transmitting station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * JORDAN

JORDAN
(see separate West Bank entry)
Note: The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended
with Israel in control of the West Bank. As stated in the 1978 Camp David
Accords and reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace
initiative, the final status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their
relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and
Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. The Camp David
Accords further specify that these negotiations will resolve the location
of the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process, it
is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip has
yet to be determined.


GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 91,880 km2; land area: 91,540 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries: 1,586 km total; Iraq 134 km, Israel 238 km,
Saudi Arabia 742 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Coastline: 26 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: differences with Israel over the location of the
1949 Armistice Line which separates the two countries

Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to
April)

Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west;
Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops 0.5%; meadows and
pastures 1%; forest and woodland 0.5%; other 94%; includes irrigated 0.5%

Environment: lack of natural water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

PEOPLE
Population: 3,412,553 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Jordanian(s); adjective--Jordanian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Religion: Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 8%

Language: Arabic (official); English widely understood among
upper and middle classes

Literacy: 80% (male 89%, female 70%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 572,000 (1988); agriculture 20%, manufacturing and
mining 20% (1987 est.)

Organized labor: about 10% of labor force

Note: 1.5-1.7 million Palestinians live on the East Bank (55-60%
of the population), most are Jordanian citizens

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amman

Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Balqa, Al Karak, Al Mafraq,
Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa, Irbid, Maan

Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration; formerly Trans-Jordan)

Constitution: 8 January 1952

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma)
consists of an upper house or House of Notables (Majlis al-Aayan) and a
lower house or House of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab); note--the
House of Deputies was dissolved by King Hussein on 30 July 1988 as
part of Jordanian disengagement from the West Bank and in November 1989
the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held, with no seats
going to Palestinians on the West Bank

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation

Leaders:

Chief of State--King HUSSEIN Ibn Talal I (since 11 August 1952);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Tahir al-MASRI (since 17 June
1991)

Political parties and leaders: none; after the 1989 parliamentary
elections, King Hussein promised to allow the formation of political
parties; a national charter that sets forth the ground rules for
democracy in Jordan--including the creation of political parties--has
been completed but not yet approved

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1989 (next to be
held November 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(80 total) Muslim Brotherhood 22, Independent Islamic bloc
10, Democratic bloc (mostly leftist) 15, Liberal bloc (traditionalist)
7, Nationalist bloc (traditionalist) 14, independent 12

Communists: party actively repressed, membership less than 500
(est.)

Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN,
UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hussein A. HAMMAMI;
Chancery at 3504 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Roger Gram HARRISON; Embassy on Jebel Amman, Amman
(mailing address is P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO New York 09892);
telephone  962  (6) 644-371

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green
with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small
white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the
seven fundamental laws of the Koran

ECONOMY
Overview: Jordan was a secondary beneficiary of the oil boom of
the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual GNP growth averaged
10-12%. Recent years, however, have witnessed a sharp reduction in grant
aid from Arab oil-producing countries and a dropoff in worker
remittances, with national growth averaging 1-2%. Imports--mainly oil,
capital goods, consumer durables, and foodstuffs--have been outstripping
exports by roughly $2 billion annually, the difference being made up by
aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government
agreed to implement an IMF austerity program designed to tackle the
country's serious economic problems. The program sought to gradually
reduce the government's budget deficit over the next several years and
implement badly needed structural reforms in the economy. In return for
agreeing to the IMF program, Jordan was granted IMF standby loans of over
$100 million. Recognizing that it would be unable to cover its debt
obligations, the government also began debt rescheduling negotiations
with creditors in mid-1989. The onset of the Gulf crisis in August 1990
forced the government to shelve the IMF program and suspend most debt
payments and rescheduling negotiations. Economic prospects for 1991
are especially gloomy, given the unsettled conditions in the Middle
East.

GNP: $4.6 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate - 15%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (January 1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.05 billion; expenditures $1.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Exports: $0.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--fruits and vegetables, phosphates, fertilizers;

partners--Iraq, Saudi Arabia, India, Kuwait, Japan, China,
Yugoslavia, Indonesia

Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--crude oil, textiles, capital goods, motor vehicles,
foodstuffs;

partners--EC, US, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Romania, China,
Taiwan

External debt: $8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 15% (1990 est.); accounts
for 20% of GDP

Electricity: 981,000 kW capacity; 3,500 million kWh produced,
1,180 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,
light manufacturing

Agriculture: accounts for only 5% of GDP; principal products are
wheat, barley, citrus fruit, tomatoes, melons, olives; livestock--sheep,
goats, poultry; large net importer of food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.5 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $44 million

Currency: Jordanian dinar (plural--dinars);
1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1--0.6670 (January
1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988), 0.3387 (1987), 0.3499
(1986), 0.3940 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 619 km 1.050-meter gauge, single track

Highways: 7,500 km; 5,500 km asphalt, 2,000 km gravel and crushed
stone

Pipelines: crude oil, 209 km

Ports: Al Aqabah

Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,870
GRT/38,187 DWT; includes 1 bulk, 1 cargo

Civil air: 19 major transport aircraft

Airports: 19 total, 16 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate system of radio relay, cable, and
radio; 81,500 telephones; stations--4 AM, 3 FM, 24 TV; satellite earth
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT,
1 domestic TV receive-only; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, and Syria; radio relay to Lebanon is inactive; a microwave
network linking Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Jordan

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Jordan Arab Army, Royal Jordanian Air Force,
Royal Jordanian Coast Guard, Public Security Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 778,353; 555,144 fit for
military service; 39,879 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $377 million, 12.4% of GNP (1990)



  * JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND

JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND
(French possession)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 4.4 km2; land area: 4.4 km2

Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 24.1 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: undetermined

Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 90%; other 10%

Environment: subject to periodic cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Note: located in the central Mozambique Channel about halfway
between Africa and Madagascar

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the
Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: short line going to a jetty

Airports: 1 with nonpermanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * KENYA

KENYA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 582,650 km2; land area: 569,250 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries: 3,477 km total; Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km,
Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline: 536 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide
with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on
unification of ethnic Somalis

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great
Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes,
rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
7%; forest and woodland 4%; other 85%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: unique physiography supports abundant and varied
wildlife of scientific and economic value; deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; glaciers on Mt. Kenya

Note: Kenyan Highlands one of the most successful agricultural
production regions in Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 25,241,978 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 69 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 64 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Kenyan(s); adjective--Kenyan

Ethnic divisions: Kikuyu 21%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 11%,
Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%

Religion: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs
26%, Muslim 6%

Language: English and Swahili (official); numerous indigenous
languages

Literacy: 69% (male 80%, female 58%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 9.2 million (includes unemployed); the total
employed is 1.37 million (14.8% of the labor force); services
54.8%, industry 26.2%, agriculture 19.0% (1989)

Organized labor: 390,000 (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Kenya

Type: republic

Capital: Nairobi

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast,
Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North-Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK; formerly British East
Africa)

Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964;
reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, and 1988

Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic
law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations; constitutional amendment in 1982 made Kenya a de jure
one-party state

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Daniel Teroitich
arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI
(since 10 May 1989)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Kenya African National
Union (KANU), Daniel T. arap MOI, president

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 21 March 1988 (next to be held by March 1993);
results--President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected;

National Assembly--last held on 21 March 1988
(next to be held by March 1993); results--KANU is the only party;
seats--(202 total, 188 elected) KANU 200

Communists: may be a few Communists and sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; exile
opposition--Mwakenya and other groups

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Denis Daudi AFANDE; Chancery
at 2249 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone]; there
are Kenyan Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York;

US--Ambassador Smith HEMPSTONE, Jr.; Embassy at the corner of Moi
Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi (mailing address is P. O. Box
30137, Nairobi or APO New York 09675); telephone  254  (2) 334141; there
is a US Consulate in Mombasa

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green;
the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed
spears is superimposed at the center

ECONOMY
Overview: A serious underlying economic problem is Kenya's 3.6%
annual population growth rate--one of the highest in the world. In the
meantime, GDP growth in the near term has kept slightly ahead of
population--annually averaging 4.9% in the 1986-90 period. Undependable
weather conditions and a shortage of arable land hamper long-term
growth in agriculture, the leading economic sector.

GDP: $8.5 billion, per capita $360; real growth rate 4% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.9% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%, but there is a high level of unemployment
and underemployment

Budget: revenues $2.0 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA billion (FY89)

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--tea 25%, coffee 21%, petroleum products 7% (1989);

partners--EC 44%, Africa 25%, Asia 5%, US 5%, Middle East 4% (1988)

Imports: $2.4 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment 29%,
petroleum and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%,
raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989 est.);

partners--EC 45%, Asia 11%, Middle East 12%, US 5% (1988)

External debt: $5.8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1989 est.); accounts
for 17% of GDP

Electricity: 730,000 kW capacity; 2,700 million kWh produced,
110 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture,
batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing,
oil refining, cement, tourism

Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 29% of GDP,
about 80% of the work force, and over 50% of exports; cash
crops--coffee, tea, sisal, pineapple; food products--corn, wheat,
sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products; food output not keeping
pace with population growth

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis used mostly for
domestic consumption; widespread cultivation of cannabis and qat on
small plots; transit country for heroin and methaqualone en route
from Southwest Asia to West Africa, Western Europe, and the US

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $839
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $6.7 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $83 million

Currency: Kenyan shilling (plural--shillings);
1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1--24.427 (January
1991), 22.915 (1990), 20.572 (1989), 17.747 (1988), 16.454 (1987), 16.226
(1986), 16.432 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,040 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 64,590 km total; 7,000 km paved, 4,150 km gravel,
remainder improved earth

Inland waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries
of Kenya; principal inland port is at Kisumu

Pipelines: refined products, 483 km

Ports: Mombasa, Lamu

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

Airports: 249 total, 213 usable; 22 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 47 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: in top group of African systems; consists of
radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiocommunication stations;
260,000 telephones; stations--11 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV; satellite earth
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTLESAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General
Service Unit of the Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,444,247; 3,362,290 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $100 million, 1.0% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * KINGMAN REEF

KINGMAN REEF
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1 km2; land area: 1 km2

Comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 3 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds

Terrain: low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about
1 meter

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; wet or
awash most of the time

Note: located 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa; maximum
elevation of about 1 meter makes this a navigational hazard; closed to
the public

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the
US Navy

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * KIRIBATI

KIRIBATI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 717 km2; land area: 717 km2; includes three island
groups--Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,143 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
reefs

Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 51%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 3%; other 46%

Environment: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to
March; 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited

Note: Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great
phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Makatea
in French Polynesia and Nauru

PEOPLE
Population: 71,137 (July 1991), growth rate 1.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 33 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 63 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 58 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--I-Kiribati (sing., pl.); adjective--I-Kiribati

Ethnic divisions: Micronesian

Religion: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)

Language: English (official), Gilbertese

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 7,870 economically active (1985 est.)

Organized labor: Kiribati Trades Union Congress--2,500 members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Kiribati; note--pronounced Kiribas

Type: republic

Capital: Tarawa

Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands; note--a new administrative structure of 6 districts
(Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern  Gilberts, Southern
Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 20 island councils (one for
each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae,
Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei,
Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina

Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK; formerly Gilbert Islands)

Constitution: 12 July 1979

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni
Maungatabu)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Ieremia TABAI
(since 12 July 1979); Vice President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 20 July 1979)

Political parties and leaders:
Gilbertese National Party;
Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO, secretary;
essentially not organized on the basis of political parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 12 May 1987 (next to be held May 1991);
results--Ieremia TABAI 50.1%, Tebruroro TITO 42.7%, Tetao
TEANNAKI 7.2%;

House of Assembly--last held on 19 March l987 (next to be held May 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP (associate), IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant) lives in Tarawa
(Kiribati);

US--none

Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over
a yellow rising sun and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy
white stripes to represent the ocean

ECONOMY
Overview: The country has few national resources. Commercially
viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence
in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports.
The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined
about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the
level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output
rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in
economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish
catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1%
in 1989 and again in 1990.

GDP: $36.8 million, per capita $525; real growth rate 1.0% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.0% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1985); considerable underemployment

Budget: revenues $29.9 million; expenditures $16.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $14.0 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $5.8 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--fish 55%, copra 42%;

partners--EC 20%, Marshall Islands 12%, US 8%, American
Samoa 4% (1985)

Imports: $26.7 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, fuel, transportation equipment;

partners--Australia 39%, Japan 21%, NZ 6%, UK 6%, US 3% (1985)

External debt: $2.0 million (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.0% (1988 est.); accounts
for less than 4% of GDP

Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 13 million kWh produced,
190 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: fishing, handicrafts

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fishing); copra
and fish contribute about 95% to exports; subsistence farming
predominates; food crops--taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables;
not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $258 million

Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: NA

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 640 km of motorable roads

Inland waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line
Islands

Ports: Banaba and Betio (Tarawa)

Civil air: 2 Trislanders; no major transport aircraft

Airports: 22 total; 21 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 1,400 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: no military force maintained; the Police Force carries
out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small
police posts on all islands

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * KOREA, NORTH

KOREA, NORTH

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 120,540 km2; land area: 120,410 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi

Land boundaries: 1,671 km total; China 1,416 km, South Korea 238
km, USSR 17 km

Coastline: 2,495 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm;

Military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the
exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea (all foreign vessels and
aircraft without permission are banned)

Disputes: short section of boundary with China is indefinite;
Demarcation Line with South Korea

Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow
valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite,
iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower

Land use: arable land 18%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
NEGL%; forest and woodland 74%; other 7%; includes irrigated 9%

Environment: mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible,
and sparsely populated; late spring droughts often followed by severe
flooding

Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and USSR

PEOPLE
Population: 21,814,656 (July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Korean(s); adjective--Korean

Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous

Religion: Buddhism and Confucianism; religious activities now
almost nonexistent

Language: Korean

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 9,615,000; agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%;
shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

Organized labor: 1,600,000 members; single-trade union system
coordinated by the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea under the
Central Committee

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea; abbreviated
DPRK

Type: Communist state; dictatorship

Capital: P'yongyang

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and
3 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do,
Hamgyong-namdo, Hamgyong-bukto, Hwanghae-namdo, Hwanghae-bukto,
Kaesong-si*, Kangwon-do, Namp'o-si*, P'yongan-bukto,
P'yongan-namdo, P'yongyang-si*, Yanggang-do

Independence: 9 September 1948

Constitution: adopted 1948, revised 27 December 1972

Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 9 September (1948)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, premier, eleven
vice premiers, State Administration Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego
Inmin Hoeui)

Judicial branch: Central Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President KIM Il-song (since 28 December 1972);
Designated Successor KIM Chong-il (son of President, born 16 February
1942);

Head of Government--Premier YON Hyong-muk (since NA December 1988)

Political parties and leaders: major party--Korean Workers' Party
(KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary, and his son, KIM Chong-il,
secretary, Central Committee;
Korean Social Democratic Party, YI Kye-paek, chairman;
Chondoist Chongu Party, CHONG Sin-hyok, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 17

Elections:

President--last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held 1994);
results--President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition;

Supreme People's Assembly--last held on 24 May 1990
(next to be held 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(687 total) the KWP approves a single list of candidates
who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats

Communists: KWP claims membership of about 3 million

Member of: FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and
blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band
is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

ECONOMY
Overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized;
agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95%
of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually
tight even for a Communist country because of the small size and
homogeneity of the society and the strict one-man rule of Kim. Economic
growth during the period 1984-90 averaged approximately 3%. Abundant
natural resources and hydropower form the basis of industrial
development. Output of the extractive industries includes coal, iron ore,
magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals.
Manufacturing emphasis is centered on heavy industry, with light industry
lagging far behind. Despite the use of high-yielding seed varieties,
expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea
has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Four consecutive
years of poor harvests, coupled with distribution problems, have led to
chronic food shortages. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in
economic development and living standards.

GNP: $29.7 billion, per capita $1,390; real growth rate 2%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: officially none

Budget: revenues $15.6 billion; expenditures $15.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $1.95 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural
products, manufactures;

partners--USSR, China, Japan, Hong Kong, FRG, Singapore

Imports: $2.85 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--petroleum, machinery and equipment, coking coal,
grain;

partners--USSR, Japan, China, Hong Kong, FRG, Singapore

External debt: $7 billion (1991)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 6,440,000 kW capacity; 40,250 million kWh produced,
1,890 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: machine building, military products, electric power,
chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing

Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GNP and 36% of work force;
principal crops--rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock and
livestock products--cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient in
grain; fish catch estimated at 1.7 million metric tons in 1987

Economic aid: Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s

Currency: North Korean won (plural--won);
1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon

Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1--2.2 (March 1991),
2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989), 2.13 (December 1988), 0.94
(March 1987), NA (1986), NA (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,535 km total; 3,870 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge; 159 km double track;
3,175 km electrified; government owned (1989)

Highways: about 30,000 km (1989); 98.5% gravel, crushed stone, or
earth surface; 1.5% concrete or bituminous

Inland waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only

Pipelines: crude oil, 37 km

Ports: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Namp'o, Wonsan, Songnim,
Najin, Sonbong

Merchant marine: 68 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 465,801
GRT/709,442 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger,
1 passenger-cargo, 58 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 4 bulk, 1 combination bulk

Airports: 55 total, 55 usable (est.); about 30 with
permanent-surface runways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; 20
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 30 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 200,000 TV sets;
3,500,000 radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Korean People's Army (includes of the Army, Navy,
Air Force), Civil Security Forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,381,859; 3,899,606 fit for
military service; 214,690 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, 20-25% of GNP (1991 est.);
note--the officially announced but suspect figure is $1.7 billion,
6% of GNP (1991 est.)



  * KOREA, SOUTH

KOREA, SOUTH

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 98,480 km2; land area: 98,190 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana

Land boundary: 238 km with North Korea

Coastline: 2,413 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific

Territorial sea: 12 nm (3 nm in the Korea Strait)

Disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks
claimed by Japan

Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west
and south

Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
hydropower

Land use: arable land 21%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 67%; other 10%; includes irrigated 12%

Environment: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
earthquakes in southwest; air pollution in large cities

Notes: strategic location along the Korea Strait, Sea of Japan, and
Yellow Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 43,134,386 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Korean(s); adjective--Korean

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous; small Chinese minority
(about 20,000)

Religion: strong Confucian tradition; vigorous Christian minority
(28% of the total population); Buddhism; pervasive folk religion
(Shamanism); Chondokyo (religion of the heavenly way), eclectic religion
with nationalist overtones founded in 19th century, claims about 1.5
million adherents

Language: Korean; English widely taught in high school

Literacy: 96% (male 99%, female 94%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 16,900,000; 52% services and other; 27% mining and
manufacturing; 21% agriculture, fishing, forestry (1987)

Organized labor: about 10% of nonagricultural labor force in
government-sanctioned unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Korea; abbreviated ROK

Type: republic

Capital: Seoul

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and
6 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,
Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto,
Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do,
Kwangju-jikhalsi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto,
Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*,
Taegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi*

Independence: 15 August 1948

Constitution: 25 February 1988

Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1948)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
State Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Kuk Hoe)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President ROH Tae Woo (since 25 February 1988);

Head of Government--Prime Minister CHUNG Won Shik (since 24
May 1991); Deputy Prime Minister CHOI Kak Kyu (since 19 February
1991)

Political parties and leaders:

ruling party--Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), ROH Tae Woo,
president, KIM Young Sam, chairman;
note--the DLP resulted from a merger of the Democratic Justice Party
(DJP), Reunification Democratic Party (RDP), and New Democratic
Republican Party (NDRP) on 9 February 1990;

opposition--New Democratic Party (NDP, formerly Party for Peace
and Democracy or PPD), KIM Dae Jung, president; Democratic Party (DP),
YI Ki Taek; several smaller parties

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

President--last held on 16 December 1987 (next to be held December 1992);
results--ROH Tae Woo (DJP) 35.9%, KIM Young Sam (RDP) 27.5%,
KIM Dae Jung (PPD) 26.5%, other 10.1%;

National Assembly--last held on 26 April 1988 (next to be held April 1992);
results--DJP 34%, RDP 24%, PPD 19%, NDRP 15%, other 8%;
seats--(299 total) DJP 125, PPD 70, RDP 59, NDRP 35, other 10;
note--on 9 February 1990 the DJP, RDP, and NDRP merged to form the DLP;
also the PPD became the NDP; as a result the distribution
of seats changed to DLP 218, NDP 70, other 11 (June 1990)

Communists: Communist party activity banned by government

Other political or pressure groups: Korean National Council of
Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Council of
College Student Representatives; National Federation of Farmers'
Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean
Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean
Industries; Korean Traders Association

Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador HYUN Hong Joo;
Chancery at 2320 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there are Korean Consulates General in Agana (Guam),
Anchorage, Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York,
San Francisco, and Seattle;

US--Ambassador Donald P. GREGG; Embassy at 82 Sejong-Ro,
Chongro-ku, Seoul (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96301);
telephone  82  (2) 732-2601 through 2618; there is a US Consulate
in Pusan

Flag: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the
center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching
(Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

ECONOMY
Overview: The driving force behind the economy's dynamic growth
has been the planned development of an export-oriented economy in a
vigorously entrepreneurial society. Real GNP--which grew by 6.7% in 1989
after an average annual growth of over 12% between 1986-88--grew about
9% in 1990. Labor unrest--which led to substantial wage hikes in
1987-88--was noticeably calmer in 1990, unemployment averaged a low
2.5%, and investment was strong. Inflation rates, however, are beginning
to challenge South Korea's strong economic performance. Consumer prices
rose 8.6%, the highest rate in nine years. Policymakers are concerned
higher prices could lead to a resurgence of labor unrest.

GNP: $238 billion, per capita $5,600; real growth rate 9% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.5% (1990)

Budget: revenues $38 billion; expenditures $38 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Exports: $65 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--textiles, clothing, electronic and electrical
equipment, footwear, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships, fish;

partners--US 30%, Japan 19%

Imports: $70 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains;

partners--Japan 27%, US 24% (1990)

External debt: $31.7 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.6% (1990 est.); accounts for
about 45% of GDP

Electricity: 21,000,000 kW capacity; 85,000 million kWh produced,
1,970 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing,
chemicals, steel, electronics, automobile production, ship building

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP and employs 21% of work force
(including fishing and forestry); principal crops--rice, root crops,
barley, vegetables, fruit; livestock and livestock products--cattle,
hogs, chickens, milk, eggs; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat;
fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh-largest in world

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.9
billion; non-US countries (1970-89), $3.0 billion

Currency: South Korean won (plural--won);
1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chon (theoretical)

Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1--718.14 (January
1991), 707.76 (1990), 671.46 (1989), 731.47 (1988), 822.57 (1987), 881.45
(1986), 870.02 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,106 km operating in 1983; 3,059 km 1.435-meter
standard gauge, 47 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, 712 km double track,
418 km electrified; government owned

Highways: 62,936 km total (1982); 13,476 km national highway,
49,460 km provincial and local roads

Inland waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft

Pipelines: 455 km refined products

Ports: Pusan, Inchon, Kunsan, Mokpo, Ulsan

Merchant marine: 439 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,182,519
GRT/11,906,897 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 138 cargo, 45
container, 11 refrigerated cargo, 11 vehicle carrier, 48 petroleum, oils,
and lubricants (POL) tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 13 liquefied gas, 7
combination ore/oil, 146 bulk, 7 combination bulk, 1 multifunction
large-load carrier

Civil air: 93 major transport aircraft

Airports: 110 total, 102 usable; 60 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 17 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate domestic and international services;
4,800,000 telephones; stations--79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or
greater); satellite earth stations--2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian
Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 12,859,511; 8,294,624 fit for
military service; 429,088 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $10.4 billion, 4.5% of GNP (1991)



  * KUWAIT

KUWAIT

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 17,820 km2; land area: 17,820 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 462 km total; Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline: 499 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Iraqi forces invaded and occupied Kuwait from
2 August 1990 until 27 February 1991; in April 1991 official Iraqi
acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which demands that Iraq
accept its internationally recognized border with Kuwait, ended earlier
claims to Bubiyan and Warbah Islands or to all of Kuwait; ownership
of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands disputed by Saudi Arabia

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 8%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 92%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: some of world's largest and most sophisticated
desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution;
desertification

Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

PEOPLE
Population: 2,204,400 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 2 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Kuwaiti(s); adjective--Kuwaiti

Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 27.9%, other Arab 39%, South Asian 9%,
Iranian 4%, other 20.1%

Religion:
Muslim 85% (Shia 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi,
and other 15%

Language: Arabic (official); English widely spoken

Literacy: 74% (male 78%, female 69%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Labor force: 566,000 (1986); services 45.0%, construction 20.0%,
trade 12.0%, manufacturing 8.6%, finance and real estate 2.6%,
agriculture 1.9%, power and water 1.7%, mining and quarrying 1.4%; 70% of
labor force was non-Kuwaiti

Organized labor: labor unions exist in oil industry and among
government personnel

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: State of Kuwait

Type: nominal constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kuwait

Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt,
Hawalli; note--there may be a new governorate of Farwaniyyah

Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)

Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29
August 1962)

Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in
personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 25 February

Executive branch: amir, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: National Assembly (Majlis al Umma) dissolved
3 July 1986

Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Amir Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-SABAH
(since 31 December 1977);

Head of Government--Prime Minister and Crown Prince Sad
al-Abdallah al-Salim al-SABAH (since 8 February 1978); Deputy
Prime Minister Salim al-Sabah al-Salim al-SABAH

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their
male descendants at age 21; note--out of all citizens, only 8.3% are
eligible to vote and only 3.5% actually vote

Elections:

National Assembly--dissolved 3 July 1986; new elections are
scheduled for October 1992

Communists: insignificant

Other political or pressure groups: large (150,000) Palestinian
community; several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist
groups are active; prodemocracy opposition

Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO,
G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Shaykh Saud Nasir al-SABAH;
Chancery at 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Edward (Skip) GNEHM; Embassy at Bneid al-Gar
(opposite the Hilton Hotel), Kuwait City (mailing address is P. O. Box 77
Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait City); telephone  [phone] through 4159

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and
red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Up to the invasion by Iraq in August 1990, the oil
sector had dominated the economy. Kuwait has the third-largest
oil reserves in the world after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Earnings from
hydrocarbons generated over 90% of both export and government revenues
and contributed about 40% to GDP. Most of the nonoil sector has
traditionally been dependent upon oil-derived government revenues.
Iraq's destruction of Kuwait's oil industry during the Gulf war
has devastated the economy. Iraq destroyed or damaged more than 80%
of Kuwait's 950 operating oil wells, as well as sabotaging key surface
facilities. Western firefighters had brought about 140 of the 600
oil well fires and blowouts under control as of early June 1991.
It could take two to three years to restore Kuwait's oil production to
its prewar level of about 2.0 million barrels per day.

GDP: $19.8 billion, per capita $9,700; real growth rate 3.5%
(1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 0% (1989)

Budget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88)

Exports: $11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--oil 90%;

partners--Japan, Italy, FRG, US

Imports: $6.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--food, construction materials, vehicles and parts,
clothing;

partners--Japan, US, FRG, UK

External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1988); accounts for
52% of GDP

Electricity: 8,290,000 kW capacity; 10,000 million kWh produced,
5,000 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food
processing, salt, construction

Agriculture: virtually none; dependent on imports for food; about
75% of potable water must be distilled or imported

Economic aid: donor--pledged $18.3 billion in bilateral aid to less
developed countries (1979-89)

Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (plural--dinars);
1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1--0.2915 (January
1990), 0.2937 (1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987), 0.2919 (1986), 0.3007
(1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 3,000 km total; 2,500 km bituminous; 500 km earth, sand,
light gravel

Pipelines: crude oil, 877 km; refined products, 40 km; natural gas,
165 km

Ports: Ash Shuaybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina al Ahmadi

Merchant marine: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,332,159
GRT/2,099,303 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 4 livestock carrier,
20 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 liquefied gas, 1 bulk;
note--all Kuwaiti ships greater than 1,000 GRT were outside Kuwaiti
waters at the time of the Iraqi invasion; many of these ships transferred
to the Liberian flag or to the flags of other Persian Gulf states;
Kuwaiti tankers are currently managed from London and Kuwaiti cargo and
container ships are managed from Dubai

Civil air: 19 major transport aircraft

Airports: 7 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent international, adequate domestic
facilities; 258,000 telephones; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 3 TV; satellite
earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT; 1
INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq and Saudi
Arabia

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National
Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 738,812; 441,611 fit for
military service; 19,452 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 4.8% of GDP (1990)



  * LAOS

LAOS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area:  236,800 km2; land area: 230,800 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries: 5,083 km total; Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km,
China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand

Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry
season (December to April)

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold,
gemstones

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 3%; forest and woodland 58%; other 35%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 4,113,223 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 124 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 52 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Lao (sing., Lao or Laotian); adjective--Lao
or Laotian

Ethnic divisions: Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%,
Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other 15%

Religion: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15%

Language: Lao (official), French, and English

Literacy: 84% (male 92%, female 76%)
age 15 to 45 can read and write (1985 est.)

Labor force: 1-1.5 million; 85-90% in agriculture (est.)

Organized labor: Lao Federation of Trade Unions is subordinate to
the Communist party

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Lao People's Democratic Republic

Type: Communist state

Capital: Vientiane

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural);
Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang
Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet,
Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang

Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)

Constitution: draft constitution under discussion since 1976

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

National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the Lao People's
Democratic Republic), 2 December (1975)

Executive branch: president, chairman and four vice chairmen of the
Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: Supreme People's Assembly

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN (since 15
August 1991);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers General
Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN, party
chairman;
includes Lao Patriotic Front and Alliance Committee of Patriotic
Neutralist Forces;
other parties moribund

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Supreme People's Assembly--last held on 26 March 1989 (next to be
held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(79 total) number of seats by party NA

Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups
moribund; most leaders have fled the country

Member of: ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires LINTHONG PHETSAVAN;
Chancery at 2222 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 6417;

US--Charge d'Affaires Charles B. SALMON, Jr.; Embassy at Rue
Bartholonie, Vientiane (mailing address is B. P. 114, Vientiane, or
Box V, APO San Francisco 96346); telephone 2220, 2357, 2384

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and
red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

ECONOMY
Overview: One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a
Communist centrally planned economy with government ownership and control
of productive enterprises of any size. Recently, however, the government
has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise.
Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, that is,
it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and
internal telecommunications, and electricity available in only a
limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation,
accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of
total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable
future the economy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign
aid from the IMF and other international sources; foreign aid from the
USSR and Eastern Europe is being cut sharply.

GDP: $600 million, per capita $150; real growth rate 5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 21% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $83 million; expenditures $188.5 million,
including capital expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $72 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--electricity, wood products, coffee, tin;

partners--Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US

Imports: $238 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures;

partners--Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam

External debt: $1.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 8% (1989 est.); accounts
for about 20% of GDP

Electricity: 176,000 kW capacity; 1,100 million kWh produced,
270 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tin mining, timber, electric power, agricultural
processing, construction

Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the
work force; subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient
in non-drought years; principal crops--rice (80% of cultivated land),
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton;
livestock--buffaloes, hogs, cattle, chicken

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and opium poppy for the
international drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $546 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million

Currency: new kip (plural--kips); 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at

Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1--695 (April 1991),
700 (September 1990), 576 (1989), 385 (1988), 200 (1987), 108 (1986),
95 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous
treated; 7,451 km gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km
unimproved earth and often impassable during rainy season mid-May to
mid-September

Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries;
2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing
less than 0.5 m

Pipelines: 136 km, refined products

Ports: none

Airports: 65 total, 51 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: service to general public considered poor;
radio network provides generally erratic service to government users;
7,390 telephones (1986); stations--10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and
militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 991,864; 531,084 fit for
military service; 45,548 reach military age (18) annually;
conscription age NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, 3.8% of GDP (1987)



  * LEBANON

LEBANON

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 10,400 km2; land area: 10,230 km2

Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: 454 km total; Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line;
Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in
northern Lebanon since October 1976

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa (Bekaa Valley)
separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt; water-surplus state
in a water-deficit region

Land use: arable land 21%; permanent crops 9%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 8%; other 61%; includes irrigated 7%

Environment: rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect,
and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, ethnicity;
deforestation; soil erosion; air and water pollution; desertification

Note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East
not crossing an international boundary

PEOPLE
Population: 3,384,626 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Lebanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Lebanese

Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religion: Islam 75%, Christian 25%, Judaism NEGL%; 17 legally
recognized sects--4 Orthodox Christian (Armenian Orthodox, Greek
Orthodox, Nestorean, Syriac Orthodox), 7 Uniate Christian (Armenian
Catholic, Caldean, Greek Catholic, Maronite, Protestant, Roman Catholic,
Syrian Catholic), 5 Islam (Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Ismailite,
Shia, Sunni), and 1 Jewish

Language: Arabic and French (both official); Armenian, English

Literacy: 80% (male 88%, female 73%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 650,000; industry, commerce, and services 79%,
agriculture 11%, goverment 10% (1985)

Organized labor: 250,000 members (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Note: Between early 1975 and late 1976 Lebanon was torn by civil
war between its Christians--then aided by Syrian troops--and its Muslims
and their Palestinian allies. The cease-fire established in October
1976 between the domestic political groups generally held for about six
years, despite occasional fighting. Syrian troops constituted as the Arab
Deterrent Force by the Arab League have remained in Lebanon. Syria's
move toward supporting the Lebanese Muslims and the Palestinians and
Israel's growing support for Lebanese Christians brought the two sides
into rough equilibrium, but no progress was made toward national
reconciliation or political reforms--the original cause of the war.

Continuing Israeli concern about the Palestinian presence in
Lebanon led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982. Israeli
forces occupied all of the southern portion of the country and mounted a
summer-long siege of Beirut, which resulted in the evacuation of the
PLO from Beirut in September under the supervision of a multinational
force (MNF) made up of US, French, and Italian troops.

Within days of the departure of the MNF, Lebanon's newly elected
president, Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated. In the wake of his death,
Christian militiamen massacred hundreds of Palestinian refugees in two
Beirut camps. This prompted the return of the MNF to ease the security
burden on Lebanon's weak Army and security forces. In late March 1984
the last MNF units withdrew.

Lebanese Parliamentarians met in Taif, Saudi Arabia in late 1989
and concluded a national reconciliation pact that codified a new
power-sharing formula, specifiying a Christian president but giving
Muslims more authority. Rene Muawad was subsequently elected president on
4 November 1989, ending a 13-month period during which Lebanon had no
president and rival Muslim and Christian governments. Muawad was
assassinated 17 days later, on 22 November; on 24 November Ilyas Harawi
was elected to succeed Muawad.

In October 1990, the chances for ending the 16 year old civil war
and implementing Ta'if were markedly improved when Syrian and Lebanese
forces ousted renegade Christian General Awn from his stronghold in East
Beirut. Awn had defied the legitimate government and established a
separate mini-state within East Beirut after being appointed acting
Prime Minister by outgoing President Gemayel in 1988. Awn and his
supporters feared Ta'if would diminish Christian power in Lebanon
and increase the influence of Syria.

Since the removal of Awn, the Lebanese Government has reunited the
capital city and implemented a phased plan to disarm the militias
and gradually reestablish authority throughout Lebanon. The army has
deployed from Beirut north along the coast road to Triptial

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures
3%; forest and woodland 65%; other 19%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: subject to hurricanes from November to January;
includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Note: located 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific
Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 744,006 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 12 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Fijian(s); adjective--Fijian

Ethnic divisions: Indian 49%, Fijian 46%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%

Religion: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%),
Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%; note--Fijians are mainly Christian,
Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)

Language: English (official); Fijian; Hindustani

Literacy: 86% (male 90%, female 81%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.)

Labor force: 235,000; subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners
18%, salary earners 15% (1987)

Organized labor: about 45,000 employees belong to some 46 trade
unions, which are organized along lines of work and ethnic origin (1983)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Fiji

Type: military coup leader Major General Sitiveni Rabuka formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Capital: Suva

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987);
a new Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated
on 25 July 1990

Legal system: based on British system

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an
upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives,
was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the Constitution of 23
September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU
(since 5 December 1987);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 5
December 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Josefata KAMIKAMICA (since NA
October 1991);
note--Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA served as prime minister from 10 October
1970 until the 5-11 April 1987 election; after a second coup led by
Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA on 25 September 1987, Ratu Sir Kamisese
MARA was reappointed as prime minister

Political parties and leaders:
Fijian Political Party (primarily Fijian), leader NA;
National Federation (primarily Indian), Siddiq KOYA;
Western United Front (Fijian), Ratu Osea GAVIDI;
Fiji Labor Party, Adi Kuini BAVADRA

Suffrage: none

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 14 May 1987 (next to be
held July 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnic
Indians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) number of seats
by party NA

Communists: some

Member of: ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, PCA,
SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires Ratu Finau MARA;
Chancery at Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007;
telephone [phone]; there is a Fijian Consulate in New York;

US--Ambassador Evelyn I. H. TEEGEN; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street,
Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva); telephone  [phone] or
314-069

Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,
bananas, and a white dove

ECONOMY
Overview: Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large
subsistence sector. Sugar exports are a major source of foreign exchange
and sugar processing accounts for one-third of industrial output.
Industry, including sugar milling, contributes 13% to GDP. Fiji
traditionally had earned considerable sums of hard currency from the
250,000 tourists who visited each year. In 1987, however, after two
military coups, the economy went into decline. GDP dropped by 7.8% in
1987 and by another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainty created a drop in
tourism, and the worst drought of the century caused sugar production
to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar and tourism turned in strong
performances in 1989, and the economy rebounded vigorously. In 1990
the economy received a setback from cyclone Sina which cut sugar
output by an estimated 21%.

GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $1,693; real growth rate 3.5%
(1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.9 (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $314 million; expenditures $355 million,
including capital expenditures of $81 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $646 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.);

commodities--sugar 40%, gold, clothing, copra, processed fish,
lumber;

partners--EC 31%, Australia 21%, Japan 8%, US 6%

Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.);

commodities--machinery and transport 32%, food 15%, petroleum
products, consumer goods, chemicals;

partners--Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%

External debt: $428 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1991 est.); accounts
for 13% of GDP

Electricity: 215,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 430
kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, fishing, clothing,
lumber, small cottage industries

Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is
sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas; small
livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1980-87), $732 million

Currency: Fijian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Fijian dollar
(F$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1--1.4476 (January
1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988), 1.2439 (1987), 1.1329
(1986), 1.1536 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 644 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, belonging to the
government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation

Highways: 3,300 km total (1984)--390 km paved; 1,200 km
bituminous-surface treatment; 1,290 km gravel, crushed stone, or
stabilized soil surface; 420 unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and
200-metric-ton barges

Ports: Lambasa, Lautoka, Savusavu, Suva

Merchant marine: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,214
GRT/37,161 DWT; includes 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 container,
1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker

Civil air: 1 DC-3 and 1 light aircraft

Airports: 26 total, 24 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph,
and teleprinter facilities; regional radio center; important COMPAC cable
link between US-Canada and New Zealand-Australia; 53,228 telephones;
stations--7 AM, 1 FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Fiji Military Force (FMF; Army, Navy, Police)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 190,120; 104,861 fit for
military service; 7,879 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $25.8 million, 2.5% of GDP (1988)



  * FINLAND

FINLAND

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 337,030 km2; land area: 305,470 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries: 2,628 km total; Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km,
USSR 1,313 km

Coastline: 1,126 km excluding islands and coastal indentations

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 6 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively
mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes
and low hills

Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
NEGL%; forest and woodland 76%; other 16%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: permanently wet ground covers about 30% of land;
population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

Note: long boundary with USSR; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent

PEOPLE
Population: 4,991,131 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Finn(s); adjective--Finnish

Ethnic divisions: Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%,
none 9%, other 1%

Language: Finnish 93.5%, Swedish (both official) 6.3%; small Lapp-
and Russian-speaking minorities

Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Labor force: 2,470,000; services 38.2%, mining and manufacturing
22.7%, commerce 14.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%,
construction 8.0%, transportation and communications 7.2% (1989)

Organized labor: 80% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Finland

Type: republic

Capital: Helsinki

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit,
singular--laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi,
Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)

Constitution: 17 July 1919

Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court
may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Exekutive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Council of State (Valtioneuvosto)

Legislative branch: unicameral Eduskunta

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Mauno KOIVISTO (since 27 January 1982);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991);
Deputy Prime Minister Ilkka KANERVA (since 26 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders:

government coalition--Center Party, Esko AHO;
National Coalition (Conservative) Party, Ilkka SUOMINEN; and
Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole NORRBACK;

other parties--Social Democratic Party, Pertti PAASIO;
Leftist Alliance (Communist) consisting of People's Democratic League and
Democratic Alternative, Claes ANDERSSON;
Green League, Heidi HAUTALA;
Rural Party, Heikki RIIHIJAERVI;
Finnish Christian League, Esko ALMGREN;
Liberal People's Party, Kyosti LALLUKKA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 31 January-1 February and 15 February 1988
(next to be held January 1994);
results--Mauno KOIVISTO 48%, Paavo VAYRYNEN 20%, Harri HOLKERI 18%;

Eduskunta--last held 17 March 1991
(next to be held March 1995);
results--Center Party 24.8%, Social Democratic Party 22.1%, National
Coalition (Conservative) Party 19.3%, Leftist Alliance (Communist)
10.1%, Green League 6.8%, Swedish People's Party 5.5%, Rural 4.8%,
Finnish Christian League 3.1%, Liberal People's Party 0.8%;
seats--(200 total) Center Party 55, Social Democratic Party 48,
National Coalition (Conservative) Party 40, Leftist Alliance (Communist)
19, Swedish People's Party 12, Green League 10, Finnish Christian League
8, Rural 7, Liberal People's Party 1

Communists: 28,000 registered members; an additional 45,000 persons
belong to People's Democratic League

Other political or pressure groups:
Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Esko-Juhani TENNILA;
Constitutional Rightist Party;
Finnish Pensioners Party;
Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD,
ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, OAS
(observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI; Chancery at
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington DC 20016; telephone [phone];
there are Finnish Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York,
and Consulates in Chicago and Houston;

US--Ambassador John G. WEINMANN; Embassy at Itainen Puistotie
14A, SF-00140, Helsinki (mailing address is APO New York 09664);
telephone  358  (0) 171931

Flag: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in
the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

ECONOMY
Overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market
economy, with per capita output nearly three-fourths the US figure.
Its main economic force is the manufacturing sector--principally
the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with
the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and
several minerals, Finland depends on imported raw materials, energy, and
some components of manufactured goods. Because of the climate,
agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in
basic commodities. The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9%
annual growth between 1987 and 1989, leveled off in 1990 and is now
in a recession facing negative growth in 1991. The clearing account
system between Finland and the Soviet Union in the postwar period--mainly
Soviet oil and gas for Finnish manufactured goods--had kept Finland
isolated from world recessions; the system, however, was dismantled on
1 January 1991 in favor of hard currency trade. As a result, Finland must
increase its competitiveness in certain sectors, for example, textiles,
foodstuffs, paper, and metals, and has already begun to shift trade
westward. Finland, as a member of EFTA, is negotiating a European
Economic Area arrangement with the EC which would allow for free
movement of capital, goods, services, and labor within the organization.

GDP: $77.3 billion, per capita $15,500; real growth rate - 0.1%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.0% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $35.1 billion; expenditures $33.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $1.4 billion (1990)

Exports: $23.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--timber, paper and pulp, ships, machinery, clothing and
footwear;

partners--EC 44.0% (UK 12.0%, FRG 10.8%), USSR 14.5%, Sweden 14.3%,
US 6.4%

Imports: $24.4 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn
and fabrics, fodder grains;

partners--EC 44.5% (FRG 17.3%, UK 6.6%), Sweden 13.6%, USSR 11.5%,
US 6.3%

External debt: $5.3 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 3.0% (1991 est.); accounts
for 28% of GDP

Electricity: 13,324,000 kW capacity; 49,330 million kWh produced,
9,940 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: metal manufacturing and shipbuilding, forestry and wood
processing (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, clothing

Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GNP (including forestry); livestock
production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; forestry is an
important export earner and a secondary occupation for the rural
population; main crops--cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85%
self-sufficient, but short of food and fodder grains; annual fish catch
about 160,000 metric tons

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7
billion

Currency: markka (plural--markkaa); 1 markka (FMk) or
Finmark = 100 pennia

Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1--3.6421 (January 1991),
3.8235 (1990), 4.2912 (1989), 4.1828 (1988), 4.3956 (1987), 5.0695
(1986), 6.1979 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 5,924 km total; Finnish State Railways (VR) operate a
total of 5,863 km 1.524-meter gauge, of which 480 km are multiple track
and 1,445 km are electrified

Highways: about 103,000 km total, including 35,000 km paved
(bituminous, concrete, bituminous-treated surface) and 38,000 km unpaved
(stabilized gravel, gravel, earth); additional 30,000 km of private
(state-subsidized) roads

Inland waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km
suitable for steamers

Pipelines: natural gas, 580 km

Ports: Helsinki, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku; 6 secondary, numerous
minor ports

Merchant marine: 83 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 807,020
GRT/831,774 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 10 short-sea passenger, 16 cargo,
1 refrigerated cargo, 23 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 14 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 8 bulk

Civil air: 42 major transport

Airports: 160 total, 157 usable; 57 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 23 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good service from cable and radio relay
network; 3,140,000 telephones; stations--4 AM, 42 (101 relays) FM, 79
(197 relays) TV; 2 submarine cables; satellite service via Swedish earth
stations; earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including
Sea Guard)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,313,346; 1,089,217 fit for
military service; 32,866 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 1.5% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * FRANCE

FRANCE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 547,030 km2; land area: 545,630 km2; includes Corsica
and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas
administrative divisions

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Colorado

Land boundaries: 2,892.4 km total; Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km,
Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km,
Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km

Coastline: 3,427 km (includes Corsica, 644 km)

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12-24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Canada (Saint Pierre and
Miquelon); Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso
Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims
Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin
Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton
Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land)

Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters
and hot summers along the Mediterranean

Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and
west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in
east

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc,
potash

Land use: arable land 32%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
23%; forest and woodland 27%; other 16%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: most of large urban areas and industrial centers in
Rhone, Garonne, Seine, or Loire River basins; occasional warm tropical
wind known as mistral

Note: largest West European nation

PEOPLE
Population: 56,595,587 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 82 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women);
adjective--French

Ethnic divisions: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North
African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities

Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%,
Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%

Language: French (100% of population); rapidly declining regional
dialects (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)

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

Labor force: 24,170,000; services 61.5%, industry 31.3%,
agriculture 7.3% (1987)

Organized labor: 20% of labor force (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: French Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Paris

Administrative divisions: metropolitan France--22 regions
(regions, singular--region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne,
Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse,
Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon,
Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais,
Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes,
Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes;

note--the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate
entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte,
Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands,
Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna;
note--the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: unified by Clovis in 486, First Republic proclaimed
in 1792

Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of
president in 1962

Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an
upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or National Assembly
(Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Edith CRESSON (since 15 May
1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR, formerly UDR), Jacques CHIRAC;
Union for French Democracy (UDF, federation of PR, CDS, and RAD),
Valery Giscard d'ESTAING;
Republican Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET;
Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre MEHAIGNERIE;
Radical (RAD), Yves GALLARD;
Socialist Party (PS), Pierre MAUROY;
Left Radical Movement (MRG), Yves COLLIN;
Communist Party (PCF), Georges MARCHAIS;
National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held May 1995);
results--Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%;

Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(321 total; 296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments
and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 93,
UDF 143 (PR 53, CDS 65, RAD 25), PS 64, PCF 16, independents 2,
unknown 3;

National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--Second Ballot PS-MRG 48.7%, RPR 23.1%, UDF 21%, PCF 3.4%,
other 3.8%;
seats--(577 total) PS 275, RPR 132, UDF 90, UDC 40, PCF 25,
independents 15

Communists: 700,000 claimed but probably closer to 150,000;
Communist voters, 2.8 million in 1988 election

Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor
union (Confederation Generale du Travail) nearly 2.4 million
members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation
Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members
est.; independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members
(est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale
des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French
Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais--CNPF or Patronat)

Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BDEAC,
BIS, CCC, CDB, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate),
ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, GATT, G-5, G-7, G-10, IABD, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI; Chancery at
4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington DC 20007; telephone [phone];
there are French Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan
(Puerto Rico);

US--Ambassador Walter J. P. CURLEY; Embassy at 2 Avenue
Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 (mailing address is APO New York 09777);
telephone  33  (1) 42-96-12-02 or 42-61-80-75; there are US Consulates
General in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and
red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and
colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including those
of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Ivory Coast, and Luxembourg; the official flag
for all French dependent areas

ECONOMY
Overview: One of the world's most developed economies, France
has substantial agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern
industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of
modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading
agricultural producer in Western Europe. France is largely
self-sufficient in agricultural products and is a major exporter of
wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about
one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial
to the economy. After sluggish growth during the period 1982-87, the
economy expanded at a rapid 3.8% pace in 1988-89. The economy
slowed down in 1990, with growth of 2.0% expected in 1991.
The economy has had difficulty generating enough jobs for new
entrants into the labor force, resulting in a high unemployment rate,
which probably will rise to around 10% during the slowdown.
The steadily advancing economic integration within the European
Community is a major force affecting the fortunes of the various economic
sectors.

GDP: $873.5 billion, per capita $15,500; real growth rate 2.8%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9% (1990)

Budget: revenues $207.6 billion; expenditures $224.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $34 billion (1990 est.)

Exports: $181.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and
clothing;

partners--FRG 16%, Italy 12.1%, UK 9.5%, Spain 9.5%,
Netherlands 9.2%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.9%, US 6.6%, Japan 1.9%,
USSR 1.0% (1989 est.)

Imports: $201.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural
products, chemicals, iron and steel products;

partners--FRG 19.4%, Italy 11.6%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.2%,
Netherlands 8.6%, US 7.6%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7.1%, Japan 4.1%,
USSR 1.4% (1989 est.)

External debt: $59.3 billion (December 1987)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.7% (1989); accounts
for 26% of GDP

Electricity: 109,972,000 kW capacity; 403,570 million kWh produced,
7,210 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, and tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GNP (including fishing and
forestry); one of the world's top five wheat producers; other principal
products--beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine
grapes; self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods; shortages include
fats and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm
products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top
20 countries and is all used domestically

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1
billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.8 (May 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,568 km
1.435-meter standard gauge; 11,674 km electrified, 15,132 km double or
multiple track; 2,138 km of various gauges (1.000-meter to 1.440-meter),
privately owned and operated

Highways: 1,551,400 km total; 33,400 km national highway;
347,000 km departmental highway; 421,000 km community roads; 750,000 km
rural roads; 5,401 km of controlled-access divided autoroutes; about
803,000 km paved

Inland waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled

Pipelines: crude oil, 3,059 km; refined products, 4,487 km; natural
gas, 24,746 km

Ports: maritime--Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque,
Fos-Sur-Mer, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, Sete, Toulon;
inland--42

Merchant marine: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,141,276
GRT/5,006,695 DWT; includes 8 short-sea passenger, 15 cargo, 18
container, 2 multifunction large-load carrier, 29 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
34 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 8 chemical tanker,
6 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 11 bulk; note--France also
maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen
Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and French Polynesia

Civil air: 195 (1989 est.)

Airports: 470 total, 460 usable; 246 with permanent-surface
runways; 3 with runways over 3,659 m; 34 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
136 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: highly developed system provides satisfactory
telephone, telegraph, radio and TV broadcast services; 39,200,000
telephones; stations--40 AM, 138 (777 relays) FM, 216 (8,902 relays) TV;
25 submarine coaxial cables; communication satellite earth stations
operating in INTELSAT, 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, EUTELSAT,
MARISAT, and domestic systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National
Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,366,492; 12,077,706 fit for
military service; 395,128 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $29.7 billion, 3.6% of GDP (1990)



  * FRENCH GUIANA

FRENCH GUIANA
(overseas department of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 91,000 km2; land area: 89,150 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries: 1,183 km total; Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline: 378 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and
Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation

Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains

Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered),
cinnabar, kaolin, fish

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 82%; other 18%

Environment: mostly an unsettled wilderness

PEOPLE
Population: 101,603 (July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--French Guianese (sing., pl.); adjective--French
Guiana

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%; Caucasian 12%; East Indian,
Chinese, Amerindian 12%; other 10%

Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic

Language: French

Literacy: 82% (male 81%, female 83%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force: 23,265; services, government, and commerce 60.6%,
industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)

Organized labor: 7% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Department of Guiana

Type: overseas department of France

Capital: Cayenne

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: French president, commissioner of the republic

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
Regional Council

Judicial branch: highest local court is the Court of Appeals
based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and
French Guiana

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981);

Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Francois
DI CHIARA (since NA 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Gerard HOLDER;
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Paulin BRUNE;
Guyanese Democratic Action (ADG), Andre Lecante;
Union for French Democracy (UDF), Claude Ho A CHUCK;
National Front (FN), Guy MALON;
Popular and National Party of Guiana (PNPG), Claude ROBO;
National Anti-Colonist Guianese Party (PANGA), Michel KAPEL

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Regional Council--last held 16 March 1986 (next to be
held NA 1991);
results--PSG 43%, RPR 27.7%, ADG 12.2%, UDF 8.9%, FN 3.7%,
PNPG 1.4%, other 3.1%;
seats--(31 total) PSG 15, RPR 9, ADG 4, UDF 3;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) PSG 1;

French National Assembly--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1

Communists: Communist party membership negligible

Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France
the interests of French Guiana are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through
subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing
and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports
of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60%
of total revenue in 1987. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not
fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn
logs for export. Cultivation of crops--rice, cassava, bananas, and
sugarcane--are limited to the coastal area, where the population is
largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports
of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly
among younger workers.

GDP: $186 million, per capita $2,240; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1987)

Budget: revenues $735 million; expenditures $735 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1987)

Exports: $54.0 million (f.o.b., 1987);

commodities--shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence;

partners--France 31%, US 22%, Japan 10% (1987)

Imports: $394.0 million (c.i.f., 1987);

commodities--food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods,
producer goods, petroleum;

partners--France 62%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, US 4%, FRG 3%
(1987)

External debt: $1.2 billion (1988)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 92,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced,
1,890 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products,
rum, gold mining

Agriculture: some vegetables for local consumption; rice, corn,
manioc, cocoa, bananas, sugar; livestock--cattle, pigs, poultry

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-87), $1.25 billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 680 km total; 510 km paved, 170 km improved and
unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and
river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km possibly navigable by native craft

Ports: Cayenne

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 10 total, 10 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair open wire and radio relay system;
18,100 telephones; stations--5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49 28,650; 18,903 fit for military
service

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * FRENCH POLYNESIA

FRENCH POLYNESIA
(overseas territory of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 3,941 km2; land area: 3,660 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of
Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 2,525 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but moderate

Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 19%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 31%; other 44%

Environment: occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five
archipelagoes

Note: Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great
phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba
(Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

PEOPLE
Population: 195,046 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 31 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--French Polynesian(s); adjective--French
Polynesian

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%,
metropolitan French 4%

Religion: mainly Christian; Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%,
other 16%

Language: French (official), Tahitian

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%)
age 14 and over but definition of literacy not available (1977)

Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of French Polynesia

Type: overseas territory of France since 1946

Capital: Papeete

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named
Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles
du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent; note--Clipperton Island is administered
from French Polynesia and may have become a dependency of French
Polynesia

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: based on French system

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: French president, high commissioner of the
republic, president of the Council of Ministers, vice president of the
Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since
21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT
(since NA November 1987);

Head of Government--President of the Council of Ministers
Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991);
Vice President of the Council of Ministers NA

Political parties and leaders:
People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE;
Polynesian Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF;
New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON;
Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU;
other small parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Territorial Assembly--last held 17 March 1991
(next to be held March 1996); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian Union Party
14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) party NA;

French National Assembly last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be
held June 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 1, New Fatherland Party 1

Member of: FZ, SPC, WMO

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France,
French Polynesian interests are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in
the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to
one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by
the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about
20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.

GDP: $1.2 billion, per capita $6,300; real growth rate NA% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8% (1986 est.)

Budget: revenues $614 million; expenditures $957 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla,
shark meat;

partners--France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%

Imports: $806 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--fuels, foodstuffs, equipment;

partners--France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced,
1,390 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit;
poultry, beef, dairy products

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $3.95 billion

Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs);
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--93.28 (January 1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988),
109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 600 km (1982)

Ports: Papeete, Bora-bora

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,128
GRT/6,710 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 1 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo;
note--a captive subset of the French register

Civil air: about 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 43 total, 41 usable; 23 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 33,200 telephones; 84,000 radio receivers;
26,400 TV sets; stations--5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,844; NA fit for military
service

Note: defense is responsibility of France



  * FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS

FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS
(overseas territory of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 7,781 km2; land area: 7,781 km2; includes Ile
Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet;
excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica
that is not recognized by the US

Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,232 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (Iles Kerguelen only);

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by
the US

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: volcanic

Natural resources: fish, crayfish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
volcanoes

Note: located in the southern Indian Ocean about equidistant
between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia

PEOPLE
Population: summer (January 1991)--180, winter (July 1991)--150,
growth rate 0.0% (1991);
note--mostly researchers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic
Lands

Type: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High
Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since NA May 1990), who is
assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific
Council

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by
the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles
Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes Terre Adelie
claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological
and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets.
The fishing catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are
exported to France and Reunion.

Budget: $33.6 million (1990)

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
220,392 GRT/350,131 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo,
2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
2 liquefied gas, 2 bulk; note--a captive subset of the French register

Telecommunications: NA

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force)

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * GABON

GABON

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 267,670 km2; land area: 257,670 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries: 2,551 km total; Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km,
Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline: 885 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea
because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Climate: tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and
south

Natural resources: crude oil, manganese, uranium, gold, timber,
iron ore

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
18%; forest and woodland 78%; other 2%

Environment: deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 1,079,980 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 14 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 104 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Gabonese (sing., pl.); adjective--Gabonese

Ethnic divisions: about 40 Bantu tribes, including four major
tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke); about 100,000
expatriate Africans and Europeans, including 27,000 French

Religion: Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%, remainder animist

Language: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,
Bandjabi

Literacy: 61% (male 74%, female 48%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 120,000 salaried; agriculture 65.0%, industry and
commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government 2.5%; 58% of population of
working age (1983)

Organized labor: there are 38,000 members of the national trade
union, the Gabonese Trade Union Confederation (COSYGA)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Gabonese Republic

Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties
legalized 1990)

Capital: Libreville

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution: 21 February 1961, revised 15 April 1975

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the
Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

National holiday: Renovation Day (Gabonese Democratic Party
established), 12 March (1968)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December
1967);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Casimir OYE-MBA (since 3
May 1990)

Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG,
former sole party), El Hadj Omar BONGO, president;
National Recovery Movement-Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons);
Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP);
National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original);
Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG);
Gabonese Socialist Union (USG);
Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP);
Union for Democracy and Development (UDD)

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held on 9 November 1986
(next to be held November 1993);
results--President Omar BONGO was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held on 28 October 1990 (next to be
held by February 1992);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(120 total, 111 elected) PDG 62, National Recovery
Movement-Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons) 19, PGP 18, National Recovery
Movement (Morena-Original) 7, ASPG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independent 3

Communists: no organized party; probably some Communist
sympathizers

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24,
G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Alexandre
SAMBAT; Chancery at 2034 20th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone
[phone];

US--Ambassador Keith L. WAUCHOPE; Embassy at Boulevard de la Mer,
Libreville (mailing address is B. P. 4000, Libreville); telephone 762003
or 762004, 743492

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy, dependent on timber and manganese until
the early 1970s, is now dominated by the oil sector. During the period
1981-85 oil accounted for about 46% of GDP, 83% of export earnings, and
65% of government revenues on average. The high oil prices of the early
1980s contributed to a substantial increase in per capita income,
stimulated domestic demand, reinforced migration from rural to urban
areas, and raised the level of real wages to among the highest in
Sub-Saharan Africa. The three-year slide of Gabon's economy, which
began with falling oil prices in 1985, was reversed in 1989 because of a
near doubling of oil prices over their 1988 lows. In 1990 the economy
continued to grow, but debt servicing problems are hindering economic
advancement. The agricultural and industrial sectors are relatively
underdeveloped, except for oil.

GDP: $3.3 billion, per capita $3,090; real growth rate 13% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $277 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $1.16 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--crude oil 70%, manganese 11%, wood 12%, uranium 6%;

partners--France 53%, US 22%, FRG, Japan

Imports: $0.78 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products,
construction materials, manufactures, machinery;

partners--France 48%, US 2.6%, FRG, Japan, UK

External debt: $3.4 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 10% (1988 est.)

Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 980 million kWh produced,
920 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, food and beverages, timber, cement
plywood, textiles, mining--manganese, uranium, gold)

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing and
forestry); cash crops--cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock not developed;
importer of food; small fishing operations provide a catch of about
20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is the most important
timber product

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $66
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--253.32 (December 1990), 171.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 649 km 1.437-meter standard-gauge single track
(Transgabonese Railroad)

Highways: 7,500 km total; 560 km paved, 960 km laterite, 5,980 km
earth

Inland waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: crude oil, 270 km; refined products, 14 km

Ports: Owendo, Port-Gentil, Libreville

Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,563
GRT/25,330 DWT

Civil air: 11 major transport aircraft

Airports: 73 total, 61 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate system of open-wire, radio relay,
tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations; 13,800
telephones; stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 8 TV; satellite earth stations--2
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, paramilitary
Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 266,472; 133,648 fit for
military service; 9,634 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * THE GAMBIA

THE GAMBIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 11,300 km2; land area: 10,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundary: 740 km with Senegal

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 18 nm;

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler,
dry season (November to May)

Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 16%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
9%; forest and woodland 20%; other 55%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: deforestation

Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the
continent of Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 874,553 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 138 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 51 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Gambian(s); adjective--Gambian

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%,
Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%); non-Gambian 1%

Religion: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Language: English (official); Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars

Literacy: 27% (male 39%, female 16%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 75.0%, industry,
commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%; 55% population of
working age (1983)

Organized labor: 25-30% of wage labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of The Gambia

Type: republic

Capital: Banjul

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower
River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK); The Gambia and Senegal
signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982)
that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as
Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989

Constitution: 24 April 1970

Legal system: based on a composite of English common law,
Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Alhaji Sir Dawda
Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Bakary Bunja DARBO
(since 12 May 1982)

Political parties and leaders:
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general;
National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA;
Gambian People's Party (GPP), Assan Musa CAMARA;
United Party (UP);
People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS)

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992);
results--Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%,
Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 13.7%;

House of Representatives--last held on 11 March 1987 (next to
be held by March 1992);
results--PPP 56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%;
seats--(43 total, 36 elected) PPP 31, NCP 5

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH; Chancery at
Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005;
telephone [phone] or 842-1359;

US--Ambassador Arlene RENDER; Embassy at Pipeline Road
(Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19,
Banjul); telephone Serrekunda  220  92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white
edges, and green

ECONOMY
Overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural
resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's
poorest countries with a per capita income of about $230. About 75%
of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising,
which contributes 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing
activity--processing peanuts, fish, and hides--accounts for less than
10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports
one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports
are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).

GDP: $195 million, per capita $230; real growth rate 6.0% (FY90
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.0% (FY91)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million,
including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90)

Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm
kernels;

partners--Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1% other 5% (1989)

Imports: $147 million (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel,
machinery and transport equipment;

partners--Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3%
(1989)

External debt: $336 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8%
of GDP (FY90)

Electricity: 29,000 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 80 kWh
per capita (1989)

Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural
machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the
population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is
peanuts; the principal crops--millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava,
palm kernels; livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing
resources not fully exploited

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $492 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $39 million

Currency: dalasi (plural--dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--7.610 (January 1991),
7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987),
6.9380 (1986), 3.8939 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite,
and 2,151 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 400 km

Ports: Banjul

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications: adequate network of radio relay and wire;
3,500 telephones; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, paramilitary Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 188,393; 95,133 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 0.7% of GDP (1988)



  * GAZA STRIP

GAZA STRIP
Note: The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967
ended with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the
Sinai, and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords
and reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace initiative,
the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship
with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to
be negotiated among the concerned parties. Camp David further specifies
that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending
the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the view of
the US, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the Jordan
under Jordanian administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With
respect to negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, however, it
is US policy that a distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the
rest of the West Bank because of the city's special status and
circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the final status of
Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the rest of the
West Bank.


GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 380km2; land area: 380 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 62 km total; Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with status to be determined

Disputes: Israeli occupied with status to be determined

Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain: flat to rolling, sand and dune covered coastal plain

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 13%, permanent crops 32%, meadows and
pastures 0%, forest and woodland 0%, other 55%

Environment: desertification

Note: there are 18 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip

PEOPLE
Population: 642,253 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991);
in addition, there are 2,500 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip (1990
est.)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 41 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: NA

Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 99.8%, Jewish 0.2%

Religion: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99%, Christian 0.7%,
Jewish 0.3%

Language: Arabic, Israeli settlers speak Hebrew, English widely
understood

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: (excluding Israeli Jewish settlers) small
industry, commerce and business 32.0%, construction 24.4%, service
and other 25.5%, and agriculture 18.1% (1984)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Note: The Gaza Strip is currently governed by Israeli military
authorities and Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the
final status of the Gaza Strip will be determined by negotiations among
the concerned parties. These negotiations will determine how this area is
to be governed.

ECONOMY
Overview: Nearly half the labor force of the Gaza Strip is
employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and
agricultural enterprises, with worker transfer funds accounting for 46%
of GNP in 1990. The once dominant agricultural sector now contributes
only 13% to GNP, about the same as that of the construction sector, and
industry accounts for 7%. Gaza depends upon Israel for 90% of its
imports and as a market for 80% of its exports. Unrest in the territory
in 1988-91 (intifadah) has raised unemployment and substantially
lowered the incomes of the population. Furthermore, the Persian Gulf
crisis dealt a severe blow to the Gaza Strip in 1990 and on into 1991.
Worker remittances from the Gulf states have plunged, unemployment has
increased, and export revenues have fallen dramatically. The risk of
malnutrition is a real possibility in 1991.

GNP: $270 million, per capita $430; real growth rate - 25%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $36.6 million; expenditures $32.0 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1986)

Exports: $88 million;

commodities--citrus;

partners--Israel, Egypt (1989 est.)

Imports: $260 million;

commodities--food, consumer goods, construction materials;

partners--Israel, Egypt (1989 est.)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: power supplied by Israel

Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement,
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the
Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an
industrial center

Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, beef,
dairy products

Economic aid: none

Currency: new Israeli shekel (plural--shekels);
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--2.0120 (January
1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987), 1.4878
(1986), 1.1788
(1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-March 31

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: one line, abandoned and in disrepair, but trackage
remains

Highways: small, poorly developed indigenous road network

Ports: facilities for small boats to service Gaza

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway less than 1,220 m

Telecommunications: stations--no AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: NA

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 136,311; NA fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * GERMANY

GERMANY

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 356,910 km2; land area: 349,520 km2; comprises the
formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic
Republic, and Berlin following formal unification on 3 October 1990

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries: 3,790 km total; Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km,
Czechoslovakia 815 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km,
Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Coastline: 2,389 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: North Sea and Schleswig-Holstein coast of
Baltic Sea--3 nm (extends, at one point, to 16 nm in the
Helgolander Bucht); remainder of Baltic Sea--12 nm

Disputes: the boundaries of Germany were set by the Treaty on the
Final Settlement With Respect to Germany signed 12 September 1990 in
Moscow by the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic
Republic, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet
Union; this treaty entered into force on 15 March 1991; a subsequent
treaty between Germany and Poland, reaffirming the German-Polish
boundary, was signed on 14 November 1990 and is set to be ratified in
1991; the US Government is seeking to settle the property claims of US
nationals against the former GDR

Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and
summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity

Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in
south

Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite,
uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel

Land use: arable land 34%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and
pastures 16%; forest and woodland 30%; other 19%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: air and water pollution; ground water, lakes, and
air quality in eastern Germany are especially bad; significant
deforestation in the eastern mountains caused by air pollution and acid
rain

Note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the
entrance to the Baltic Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 79,548,498 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--German(s); adjective--German

Ethnic divisions: primarily German; small Danish and Slavic
minorities

Religion: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or
other 18%

Language: German

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

Labor force: 36,750,000; industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53%
(1987)

Organized labor: 47% of labor force (1986 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Federal Republic of Germany

Type: federal republic

Capital: Berlin; note--the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take
place over a period of years with Bonn retaining many administrative
functions

Administrative divisions: 16 states (lander, singular--land);
Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein,
Thuringen

Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided
into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945
following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany)
proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones;
German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October
1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and
East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four power rights formally
relinquished 15 March 1991

Constitution: 23 May 1949, provisional constitution known as
Basic Law

Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: 3 October 1990, German Unity Day

Executive branch: president, chancellor, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral parliament (no official name
for the two chambers as a whole) consists of an upper chamber or
Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower chamber or Federal Diet
(Bundestag)

Judicial branch:
Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)

Leaders:
Chief of State--President Dr. Richard von WEIZSACKER
(since 1 July 1984);

Head of Government--Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL
(since 4 October 1982)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Helmut KOHL, chairman;
Christian Social Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL;
Free Democratic Party (FDP), Otto Count LAMBSDORFF, chairman;
Social Democratic Party (SPD), Bjoern ENGHOLM, chairman;
Green Party--Volmer LUDGER, Christine WEISKE, co-chairmen
(after the 2 December 1990 election the East and West German
Green Parties united);
Alliance 90 includes three parties--New Forum, Jens REICH, Sebastian
PFLUGBEIL, spokespersons; Democracy Now, Konrad WEISS, spokesperson;
and Initiative, Peace, and Human Rights Party, Gerd POPPE;
Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS, formerly the East German
Communist Party), Gregor GYSI, chairman;
Republikaner, Franz SCHONHUBER;
National Democratic Party (NPD), Martin MUSSGNUG;
Communist Party (DKP), Herbert MIES

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:
Federal Diet--last held 2 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994);
results--CDU 36.7%, SPD 33.5%, FDP 11.0%, CSU 7.1%,
Green Party (West Germany) 3.9%, PDS 2.4%, Republikaner 2.1%,
Alliance 90/Green Party (East Germany) 1.2%, other 2.1%;
seats--(662 total, 656 statutory with special rules to allow for
slight expansion) CDU 268, SPD 239, FDP 79, CSU 51, PDS 17, Alliance
90/Green Party (East Germany) 8; note--special rules for this
election allowed former East German parties to win seats if they
received at least 5% of vote in eastern Germany

Communists:
West--about 40,000 members and supporters;
East--284,000 party members (December 1990)

Other political or pressure groups: expellee, refugee, and veterans
groups

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,
COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA,
OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNHCR, UPU,
WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation:

Ambassador Jeurgen RUHFUS; Chancery at 4645 Reservoir Road NW,
Washington DC 20007; telephone [phone]; there are German
Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, and Consulates
in Miami and New Orleans;

US--Ambassador-designate Robert M. KIMMITT; Embassy at Deichmanns
Avenue, 5300 Bonn 2 (mailing address is APO New York 09080); telephone
 49  (228) 3391; there is a US Branch Office in Berlin and US Consulates
General in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart

Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow

ECONOMY
Overview: The newly unified German economy presents a starkly
contrasting picture. Western Germany has an advanced market economy
and is a leading exporter. It experienced faster-than-projected real
growth largely because of demand in eastern Germany for western German
goods. Western Germany has a highly urbanized and skilled population
which enjoys excellent living standards, abundant leisure time, and
comprehensive social welfare benefits. Western Germany is relatively
poor in natural resources, coal being the most important mineral.
Western Germany's world-class companies manufacture technologically
advanced goods. The region's economy is mature: manufacturing and service
industries account for the dominant share of economic activity, and raw
materials and semimanufactured products constitute a large proportion of
imports. In 1989 manufacturing accounted for 31% of GDP, with other
sectors contributing lesser amounts. In recent years, gross fixed
investment has accounted for about 21% of GDP. In 1990 GDP in the western
region was an estimated $16,300 per capita.

In contrast, eastern Germany's obsolete command economy, once
dominated by smokestack heavy industries, has been undergoing a
wrenching change to a market economy. Industrial production in early
1991 is down 50% from the same period last year, due largely to the
slump in domestic demand for eastern German-made goods and the ongoing
economic restructuring. The FRG's legal, social welfare, and economic
systems have been extended to the east, but economic
restructuring--privatizing industry, establishing clear property rights,
clarifying responsibility for environmental clean-up, and removing
Communist-era holdovers from management--is proceeding slowly
so far, deterring outside investors. The region is one of the world's
largest producers of low-grade lignite coal, but has few other resources.
The quality of statistics from eastern Germany remains poor; Bonn is
still trying to bring statistics for the region in line with West German
practices.

The most challenging economic problem of a united Germany is the
reconstruction of eastern Germany's economy--specifically, finding the
right mix of fiscal, regulatory, monetary, and tax policies that
will spur investment in the east without derailing western Germany's
healthy economy or damaging relations with Western partners. The
biggest danger is that soaring unemployment in eastern Germany, which
could climb to the 30 to 40% range, could touch off labor disputes
or renewed mass relocation to western Germany and erode investor
confidence in eastern Germany. Overall economic activity grew an
estimated 4.6% in western Germany in 1990, while dropping roughly 15% in
eastern Germany. Per capita GDP in the eastern region was approximately
$8,700 in 1990.

GDP: $1,157.2 billion, per capita $14,600; real growth rate 1.7%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
West--3.0% (1989);
East--0.8% (1989)

Unemployment rate:
West--7.1% (1990);
East--1% (1989); 3% (first half, 1990)

Budget:
West--revenues $539 billion; expenditures $563 billion, including
capital expenditures of $11.5 billion (1988);
East--revenues $147.0 billion; expenditures $153.4 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Exports:

West--$324.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--manufactures 86.6% (including machines and machine
tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products),
agricultural products 4.9%, raw materials 2.3%, fuels 1.3%;

partners--EC 52.7% (France 12%, Netherlands 9%, Italy 9%, UK 9%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 7%), other West Europe 18%, US 10%, Eastern
Europe 4%, OPEC 3% (1987);

East--$32.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment 47%, fuels and
metals 16%, consumer goods 16%, chemical products and building
materials 13%, semimanufactured goods and processed foodstuffs 8%;

partners--USSR, Czechoslovakia, Poland, FRG, Hungary, Bulgaria,
Switzerland, Romania, EC, US (1989)

Imports:

West--$247.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--manufactures 68.5%, agricultural products 12.0%,
fuels 9.7%, raw materials 7.1%;

partners--EC 52.7% (France 12%, Netherlands 11%, Italy 10%, UK 7%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 7%), other West Europe 15%, US 6%, Japan 6%, Eastern
Europe 5%, OPEC 3% (1987);

East--$30.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--fuels and metals 40%, machinery and transport
equipment 29%, chemical products and building materials 9%;

partners--USSR and Eastern Europe 65%, FRG 12.7%, EC 6.0%,
US 0.3% (1989)

External debt:
West--$500 million (June 1988);
East--$20.6 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rates, West--3.3% (1988);
East--2.7% (1989 est.)

Electricity: 133,000,000 kW capacity; 580,000 million kWh produced,
7,390 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries:
West--among world's largest producers of iron, steel, coal, cement,
chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics;
food and beverages;
East--metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine
building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum

Agriculture:
West--accounts for about 2% of GDP (including fishing and forestry);
diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops and livestock
include potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage, cattle,
pigs, poultry; net importer of food; fish catch of 202,000 metric tons
in 1987;
East--accounts for about 10% of GNP (including fishing and forestry);
principal crops--wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit;
livestock products include pork, beef, chicken, milk, hides and skins;
net importer of food; fish catch of 193,600 metric tons in 1987

Economic aid:
West--donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.5 billion;
East--donor--$4.0 billion extended bilaterally to non-Communist less
developed countries (1956-88)

Currency: deutsche mark (plural--marks);
1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige

Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1--1.5100 (January
1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988), 1.7974 (1987), 2.1715
(1986), 2.9440 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads:
West--31,443 km total; 27,421 km government owned, 1.435-meter
standard gauge (12,491 km double track, 11,501 km electrified);
4,022 km nongovernment owned, including 3,598 km 1.435-meter standard
gauge (214 km electrified) and 424 km 1.000-meter gauge (186 km
electrified);
East--14,025 km total; 13,750 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
275 km 1.000-meter or other narrow gauge; 3,830 (est.) km 1.435-meter
double-track standard gauge; 3,475 km overhead electrified (1988)

Highways:
West--466,305 km total; 169,568 km primary, includes 6,435 km
autobahn, 32,460 km national highways (Bundesstrassen), 65,425 km state
highways (Landesstrassen), 65,248 km county roads (Kreisstrassen);
296,737 km of secondary communal roads (Gemeindestrassen);
East--124,604 km total; 47,203 km concrete, asphalt, stone block,
of which 1,855 km are autobahn and limited access roads, 11,326 are trunk
roads, and 34,022 are regional roads; 77,401 municipal roads (1988)

Inland waterways:
West--5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric
ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel
Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea;
East--2,319 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,644 km, refined products 3,946 km,
natural gas 97,564 km (1988)

Ports: maritime--Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Cuxhaven, Emden,
Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Wismar,
Stralsund, Sassnitz; inland--31 major

Merchant marine: 598 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,029,615
GRT/6,391,875 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 5 short-sea passenger,
315 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 126 container, 1 multifunction
large-load carrier, 33 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 railcar carrier,
6 barge carrier, 11 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
27 chemical tanker, 21 liquefied gas tanker, 5 combination ore/oil,
14 combination bulk, 15 bulk; note--the German register includes
ships of the former East Germany and West Germany; during 1991 the
fleet is expected to undergo major restructuring as now-surplus
ships are sold off

Civil air: 239 major transport aircraft

Airports: 655 total, 647 usable; 312 with permanent-surface
runways; 4 with runways over 3,659 m; 86 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
95 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications:
West--highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of
the country; fully adequate in all respects; 41,740,000 telephones;
stations--70 AM, 205 (370 relays) FM, 300 (6,422 relays) TV; 6 submarine
coaxial cables; earth stations operating in INTELSAT (12 Atlantic Ocean,
2 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and domestic systems;

East--3,970,000 telephones; stations--23 AM, 17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV
relays); 6,181,860 TVs; 6,700,000 radios; at least 1 earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Border Police

Manpower availability:--males 15-49, 20,219,289; 17,557,807 fit for
military service; 415,108 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $47.1 billion, 4.7% of GDP (1990)



  * GHANA

GHANA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 238,540 km2; land area: 230,020 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: 2,093 km total; Burkina 548 km, Ivory Coast
668 km, Togo 877 km

Coastline: 539 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast
coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central
area

Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
manganese, fish, rubber

Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
15%; forest and woodland 37%; other 36%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: recent drought in north severely affecting marginal
agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; dry,
northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

Note: Lake Volta is world's largest artificial lake

PEOPLE
Population: 15,616,934 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 86 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 53 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ghanaian(s); adjective--Ghanaian

Ethnic divisions: black African 99.8% (major tribes--Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%

Religion: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%,
other 8%

Language: English (official); African languages include Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga

Literacy: 60% (male 70%, female 51%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,700,000; agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry
18.7%, sales and clerical 15.2%, services, transportation, and
communications 7.7%, professional 3.7%; 48% of population of working age
(1983)

Organized labor: 467,000 (about 13% of labor force)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Ghana

Type: military

Capital: Accra

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo,
Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta,
Western

Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK, formerly Gold Coast)

Constitution: 24 September 1979; suspended 31 December 1981

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Executive branch: chairman of the Provisional National Defense
Council (PNDC), PNDC, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly dissolved after 31
December 1981 coup, and legislative powers were assumed by the
Provisional National Defense Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the Provisional
National Defense Council Flt. Lt. (Ret.) Jerry John RAWLINGS (since
31 December 1981)

Political parties and leaders: none; political parties outlawed
after 31 December 1981 coup

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: a small number of Communists and sympathizers

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Joseph ABBEY; Chancery at
2460 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone];
there is a Ghanaian Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Raymond C. EWING; Embassy at Ring Road East, East of
Danquah Circle, Accra (mailing address is P. O. Box 194, Accra);
telephone  233  (21) 775347 through 775349

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with a large black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia
which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

ECONOMY
Overview: Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana
has been implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983,
including moves toward privatization and relaxation of government
controls. Heavily dependent on cocoa, gold, and timber exports,
economic growth is threatened by a poor cocoa harvest and higher oil
prices in 1991. Rising inflation--unofficially estimated at 50%--could
undermine Ghana's relationships with multilateral lenders. Civil service
wage increases and the cost of peacekeeping forces sent to Liberia are
boosting government expenditures and undercutting structural adjustment
reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange in 1990.

GNP: $5.8 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 2.7% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.9% (1989)

Budget: revenues $821 million; expenditures $782 million, including
capital expenditures of $151 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $826 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--cocoa 45%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum;

partners--US 23%, UK, other EC

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate
goods, capital equipment;

partners--US 10%, UK, FRG, France, Japan, South Korea, GDR

External debt: $3.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7.4% in manufacturing (1989);
accounts for almost 1.5% of GDP

Electricity: 1,172,000 kW capacity; 4,110 million kWh produced,
280 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, fishing,
aluminum, food processing

Agriculture: accounts for more than 50% of GDP (including fishing
and forestry); the major cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops--rice,
coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, timber; normally
self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $106 million

Currency: cedi (plural--cedis); 1 cedi (C) = 100 pesewas

Exchange rates: cedis (C) per US$1--342.91 (November 1990), 270.00
(1989), 202.35 (1988), 153.73 (1987), 89.20 (1986), 54.37 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 953 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 32 km double track;
railroads undergoing major renovation

Highways: 28,300 km total; 6,000 km concrete or bituminous surface,
22,300 km gravel, laterite, and improved earth surfaces

Inland waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 155 km of
perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides
1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways

Pipelines: none

Ports: Tema, Takoradi

Merchant marine: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
52,016 GRT/66,627 DWT

Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 10 total, 9 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor to fair system of open-wire and cable,
radio relay links; 38,000 telephones; stations--6 AM, no FM, 9 TV;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, paramilitary Palace
Guard, National Civil Defense Organization

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 3,538,503; 1,983,493 fit for
military service; 169,698 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $23 million, 0.5% of GNP (1988)



  * GIBRALTAR

GIBRALTAR
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 6.5 km2; land area: 6.5 km2

Comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 1.2 km with Spain

Coastline: 12 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK

Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: natural freshwater sources are meager so large
water catchments (concrete or natural rock) collect rain water

Note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links
the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 29,613 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Gibraltarian; adjective--Gibraltar

Ethnic divisions: mostly Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, and
Spanish descent

Religion: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%,
other 3%), Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)

Language: English and Spanish are primary languages; Italian,
Portuguese, and Russian also spoken; English used in the schools and for
official purposes

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: about 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers); UK
military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the
labor force

Organized labor: over 6,000

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Gibraltar

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 30 May 1969

Legal system: English law

National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March),
12 March 1990

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
Gibraltar Council, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Adm. Sir Derek
REFFELL (since NA 1989);

Head of Government--Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March
1988)

Political parties and leaders:
Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO;
Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil
Rights (GCL/AACR), Adolfo CANEPA;
Independent Democratic Party, Joe PITALUGA

Suffrage: universal at age 18, plus other UK subjects resident six
months or more

Elections:

House of Assembly: last held on 24 March 1988
(next to be held March 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(18 total, 15 elected) SL 8, GCL/AACR 7

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Housewives Association, Chamber
of Commerce, Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, double-width) and red
with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging
from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy depends heavily on British defense
expenditures, revenue from tourists, fees for services to shipping, and
revenues from banking and finance activities. Because more than 70% of
the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have
a major impact on the level of employment. Construction workers are
particularly affected when government expenditures are cut.

GNP: $182 million, per capita $4,600; real growth rate 5% (FY87)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $136 million; expenditures $139 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

Exports: $82 million (1988);

commodities--(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured
goods 41%, other 8%;

partners--UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

Imports: $258 million (1988);

commodities--fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs;

partners--UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

External debt: $318 million (1987)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 47,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced,
6,670 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce;
support to large UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot
in the port; light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral
waters, candy, beer, and canned fish

Agriculture: NA

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $0.8
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $187 million

Currency: Gibraltar pound (plural--pounds);
1 Gibraltar pound (LG) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Gibraltar pound is at par with the
British pound

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only

Highways: 50 km, mostly good bitumen and concrete

Ports: Gibraltar

Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,399,594
GRT/2,667,656 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container,
10 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
1 combination oil/ore, 9 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate international radiocommunication
facilities; automatic telephone system with 14,000 telephones;
stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * GLORIOSO ISLANDS

GLORIOSO ISLANDS
(French possession)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5 km2; land area: 5 km2; includes Ile Glorieuse,
Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock

Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 35.2 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: undetermined

Natural resources: guano, coconuts

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other--lush vegetation and coconut palms 100%

Environment: subject to periodic cyclones

Note: located in the Indian Ocean just north of the Mozambique
Channel between Africa and Madagascar

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the
Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * GREECE

GREECE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 131,940 km2; land area: 130,800 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries: 1,228 km total; Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km,
Turkey 206 km, Yugoslavia 246 km

Coastline: 13,676 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 6 nm

Disputes: complex maritime and air (but not territorial) disputes
with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Macedonia question with
Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; Northern Epirus question with Albania

Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands

Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, crude oil, marble

Land use: arable land 23%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures
40%; forest and woodland 20%; other 9%; includes irrigated 7%

Environment: subject to severe earthquakes; air pollution;
archipelago of 2,000 islands

Note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern
approach to Turkish Straits

PEOPLE
Population: 10,042,956 (July 1991), growth rate 0.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Greek(s); adjective--Greek

Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2%; note--the Greek Government
states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece

Religion: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Language: Greek (official); English and French widely understood

Literacy: 93% (male 98%, female 89%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,860,000; services 43%, agriculture 27%,
manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 7% (1985)

Organized labor: 10-15% of total labor force, 20-25% of urban
labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Hellenic Republic

Type: presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by
referendum 8 December 1974

Capital: Athens

Administrative divisions: 51 departments (nomoi,
singular--nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis,
Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania,
Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia,
Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala,
Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes,
Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi,
Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza,
Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki,
Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

Independence: 1827 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Constitution: 11 June 1975

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Independence Day (proclamation of the war of
independence), 25 March (1821)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Greek Chamber of Deputies
(Vouli ton Ellinon)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Constantinos KARAMANLIS (since 5 May
1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Constantinos MITSOTAKIS
(since 11 April 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
New Democracy (ND; conservative), Constantinos MITSOTAKIS;
Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU;
Democratic Renewal (DIANA), Constantine STEFANOPOULOS;
Communist Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA;
Greek Left Party (EAR), Leonidas KYRKOS;
Ecologist-Alternative List, leader NA;
note--KKE and EAR have joined in the Left Alliance, Maria DAMANAKI,
president

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 4 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995);
results--Constantinos KARAMANLIS was elected by Parliament;

Parliament--last held on 8 April 1990
(next to be held April 1994);
results--ND 46.89%, PASOK 38.62%, Left Alliance 10.27%, PASOK/Left
Alliance 1.02%, Ecologist-Alternative List 0.77%, DIANA 0.67%,
Muslim independents 0.5%;
seats--(300 total) ND 150, PASOK 123, Left Alliance 19,
PASOK-Left Alliance 4, Muslim independents 2, DIANA 1,
Ecologist-Alternative List 1;
note--one DIANA deputy joined ND in July, giving ND 151 seats; in
November a special electoral court ruled in favor of ND on a
contested seat, giving ND 152 seats and taking one from PASOK (now 122)

Communists: an estimated 60,000 members and sympathizers

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
FAO, G-6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Christos ZACHARAKIS; Chancery
at 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
667-3168; there are Greek Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, and a Consulate in New Orleans;

US--Ambassador Michael G. SOTIRHOS; Embassy at 91 Vasilissis
Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens (mailing address is APO New York
09255-0006); telephone  30  (1) 721-2951 or 721-8401; there is a US
Consulate General in Thessaloniki

Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Christianity, the
established religion of the country

ECONOMY
Overview: Greece has a mixed capitalistic economy with the basic
entrepreneurial system overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist government
that enlarged the public sector from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70%
when Prime Minister Mitsotakis took office. Mitsotakis inherited several
severe economic problems from the preceding socialist and caretaker
governments, which neglected the runaway budget deficit, a ballooning
current account deficit, and accelerating inflation. With only a
two-seat majority in the Chamber of Deputies, Mitsotakis has concentrated
on cutting the public-sector payroll, cautiously expanding the tax base,
and adopting guidelines for privatizing Greece's loss-ridden state-owned
enterprises. Once the political situation is sorted out, Greece will have
to face the challenges posed by the steadily increasing integration of
the European Community, including the progressive lowering of trade and
investment barriers. Tourism continues as a major industry, providing a
vital offset to the sizable commodity trade deficit.

GDP: $76.7 billion, per capita $7,650; real growth rate 0.9%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.0% (1989)

Budget: revenues $20.9 billion; expenditures $34.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Exports: $9.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuels and
lubricants, raw materials;

partners--FRG 20%, Italy 17%, France 8%, UK 7%, US 6%

Imports: $20.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, light manufactures,
fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs, chemicals;

partners--FRG 21%, Italy 16%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, UK 6%

External debt: $18.7 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.0% (1990 est.); accounts
for 22% of GDP

Electricity: 10,500,000 kW capacity; 36,420 million kWh produced,
3,630 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal
products, tourism, mining, petroleum

Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for 13% of
GNP and 27% of the labor force; principal products--wheat, corn, barley,
sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes, beef, mutton,
pork, dairy products; self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 135,000
metric tons in 1987

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.35 billion

Currency: drachma (plural--drachmas); 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Exchange rates: drachma (Dr) per US$1--159.87 (January 1991),
158.51 (1990), 162.42 (1989), 141.86 (1988), 135.43 (1987), 139.98
(1986), 138.12 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,479 km total; 1,565 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, of
which 36 km electrified and 100 km double track, 892 km 1.000-meter
gauge; 22 km 0.750-meter narrow gauge; all government owned

Highways: 38,938 km total; 16,090 km paved, 13,676 km crushed stone
and gravel, 5,632 km improved earth, 3,540 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals
and three unconnected rivers

Pipelines: crude oil, 26 km; refined products, 547 km

Ports: Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Merchant marine: 958 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,585,048
GRT/39,011,361 DWT; includes 13 passenger, 63 short-sea passenger,
2 passenger-cargo, 152 cargo, 21 container, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
23 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 185 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 15 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 25
combination ore/oil, 5 specialized tanker, 407 bulk, 19 combination bulk;
note--ethnic Greeks also own large numbers of ships under the registry of
Liberia, Panama, Cyprus, and Lebanon

Civil air: 35 major transport aircraft

Airports: 81 total, 79 usable; 60 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
4,122,317 telephones; stations--30 AM, 17 (20 repeaters) FM, 39 (560
repeaters) TV; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations operating in
INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and MARISAT
systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,434,762; 1,870,699 fit for
military service; 72,707 reach military age (21) annually

Defense expenditures: $3.7 billion, 5.5% of GDP (1990)



  * GREENLAND

GREENLAND
(part of the Danish realm)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,175,600 km2; land area: 341,700 km2 (ice free)

Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 44,087 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between
Greenland and Jan Mayen

Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,
mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum,
cryolite, uranium, fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 99%

Environment: sparse population confined to small settlements along
coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and
Europe

PEOPLE
Population: 56,752 (July 1991), growth rate 1.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 28 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 69 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Greenlander(s); adjective--Greenlandic

Ethnic divisions: Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born
Caucasians) 86%, Danish 14%

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran

Language: Eskimo dialects, Danish

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 22,800; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division

Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner,
singular--kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Independence: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division

Constitution: Danish

Legal system: Danish

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Executive branch: Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule
chairman, prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyre)

Legislative branch: unicameral Landsting

Judicial branch: High Court (Landsret)

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972),
represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA);

Head of Government--Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN
(since 15 March 1991)

Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling
coalition--Siumut (a moderate socialist party that advocates more
distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars
Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; and Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a Marxist-Leninist
party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home
rule);
Atassut Party (a more conservative party that favors continuing close
relations with Denmark), leader NA;
Polar Party (conservative-Greenland nationalist), leader NA;
Center Party (a new nonsocialist protest party), leader NA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Landsting--last held on 5 March 1991
(next to be held 5 March 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit
5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1;

Danish Folketing--last held on 12 December 1990
(next to be held by December 1994);
Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1

Member of: NC

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a
large disk slightly to the hoist side of center--the top half of the
disk is red, the bottom half is white

ECONOMY
Overview: Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from
one based on subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent
on foreign trade. Fishing is still the most important industry,
accounting for over 75% of exports and about 25% of the
population's income. Maintenance of a social welfare system similar to
Denmark's has given the public sector a dominant role in the economy.
In 1990, the economy became critically dependent on shrimp exports and an
annual subsidy (now about $355 million) from the Danish Government
because cod exports had fallen, the zinc and lead mine closed, and
a large promising platinum and gold mine was not yet operational.
Greenland has signed a contract for its largest construction project,
a power plant to supply the capital. To avoid a decline in the economy,
Denmark has agreed to pay 75% of the costs of running Sondrestrom
Airbase and Kulusuk Airfield as civilian bases after the US withdraws
in 1992.

GNP: $500 million, per capita $9,000; real growth rate 5% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 9% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $381 million; expenditures $381 million, including
capital expenditures of $36 million (1989)

Exports: $417 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--fish and fish products 78%, metallic ores and
concentrates 19%;

partners--Denmark 74%, FRG 11%, Sweden 6%

Imports: $394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--manufactured goods 36%, machinery and transport
equipment 26%, food products 13%, petroleum and petroleum products
10%;

partners--Denmark 69%, Norway, FRG, Japan, US, Sweden

External debt: $480 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced,
3,180 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), potential for
platinum and gold mining, handicrafts, shipyards

Agriculture: sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops
limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500
metric tons

Economic aid: none

Currency: Danish krone (plural--kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr)
= 100 ore

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--5.817 (January 1991),
6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986),
10.596 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 80 km

Ports: Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab),
Nuuk (Godthaab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik,
North Star Bay

Merchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
1,021 GRT/1,778 DWT; note--operates under the registry of Denmark

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 11 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate domestic and international service
provided by cables and radio relay; 17,900 telephones; stations--5 AM,
7 (35 relays) FM, 4 (9 relays) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is responsibility of Denmark



  * GRENADA

GRENADA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 340 km2; land area: 340 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains

Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Land use: arable land 15%; permanent crops 26%; meadows and
pastures 3%; forest and woodland 9%; other 47%

Environment: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season
lasts from June to November

Note: islands of the Grenadines group are divided politically
with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

PEOPLE
Population: 83,812 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 32 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 29 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Grenadian(s); adjective--Grenadian

Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent

Religion: largely Roman Catholic; Anglican; other Protestant sects

Language: English (official); some French patois

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 36,000; services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction
8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

Organized labor: 20% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Saint George's

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou
and Little Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint
John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)

Constitution: 19 December 1973

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, Ministers of Government (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Paul SCOON (since 30 September 1978);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Nicholas BRATHWAITE
(since 13 March 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nicholas BRATHWAITE;
Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY;
The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith
MITCHELL;
Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MERRYSHOW;
New Jewel Movement (NJM), Bernard COARD

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held on 13 March 1990
(next to be held by March 1996);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) NDC 8, GULP 3, TNP 2, NNP 2

Communists: about 450 members of the New Jewel Movement
(pro-Soviet) and the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (pro-Cuban)

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS,
NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE; Chancery at
1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202)
265-2561; there is a Grenadian Consulate General in New York;

US--Charge d'Affaires Annette VELER; Embassy at Ross Point Inn,
Saint George's (mailing address is P. O. Box 54, Saint George's);
telephone [phone] through 1178

Flag: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and
bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border
around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three
centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border,
and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is
also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the
world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven
stars represent the seven administrative divisions

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on
the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture
accounts for about 16% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the
labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by
agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but
is expected to grow, given a more favorable private investment climate
since 1983. Despite an impressive average annual growth rate for the
economy of 5.6% during the period 1986-90, unemployment remains high
at about 25%.

GDP: $200.7 million, per capita $2,390 (1989); real growth rate
5.4% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $54.9 million; expenditures $77.6 million,
including capital expenditures of $16.6 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $27.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--nutmeg 36%, cocoa beans 9%, bananas 14%, mace 8%,
textiles 5;

partners--US 12%, UK, FRG, Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago (1989)

Imports: $115.6 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%,
chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989);

partners--US 29%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1989)

External debt: $90 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1989 est.); accounts
for 6% of GDP

Electricity: 12,500 kW capacity; 26 million kWh produced,
310 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations,
tourism, construction

Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP and 80% of exports; bananas,
cocoa, nutmeg, and mace account for two-thirds of total crop production;
world's second-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of nutmeg
and mace; small-size farms predominate, growing a variety of citrus
fruits, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, and vegetables

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY84-89), $60
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $67 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $32 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed
rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,000 km total; 600 km paved, 300 km otherwise improved;
100 km unimproved

Ports: Saint George's

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: automatic, islandwide telephone system with
5,650 telephones; new SHF links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent;
VHF and UHF links to Trinidad and Carriacou; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * GUADELOUPE

GUADELOUPE
(overseas department of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,780 km2; land area: 1,760 km2

Comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 306 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high
humidity

Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation

Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches, and climate that
foster tourism

Land use: arable land 18%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and
pastures 13%; forest and woodland 40%; other 24%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to hurricanes (June to October); La
Soufriere is an active volcano

Note: located 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 344,897 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guadeloupian(s); adjective--Guadeloupe

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%; white 5%; East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Language: French, creole patois

Literacy: 90% (male 90%, female 91%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force: 120,000; 53.0% services, government, and commerce,
25.8% industry, 21.2% agriculture

Organized labor: 11% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Department of Guadeloupe

Type: overseas department of France

Capital: Basse-Terre

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: government commissioner

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral
Regional Council

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction
over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since
21 May 1981);

Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Paul PROUST
(since November 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Marlene CAPTANT;
Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE;
Socialist Party (PSG), Dominique LARIFLA;
Independent Republicans;
Union for French Democracy (UDF);
Union for a New Majority (UNM)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

General Council --last held NA 1986 (next to be held by NA 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(42 total) number of seats by party NA;

Regional Council--last held on 16 March 1986
(next to be held by 16 March 1992);
results--RPR 33.1%, PS 28.7%, PCG 23.8%, UDF 10.7%, other 3.7%;
seats--(41 total) RPR 15, PS 12, PCG 10, UDF 4;

French Senate--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be
held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects two representatives;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) PCG 1, PS 1;

French National Assembly--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1994); Guadeloupe elects four representatives;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(4 total) PS 2 seats, RPR 1 seat, PCG 1 seat

Communists: 3,000 est.

Other political or pressure groups: Popular Union for the
Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Popular Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General
Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for
the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)

Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France,
the interests of Guadeloupe are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light
industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large
subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from
the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit
the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being
replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of
export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops
are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still
dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light
industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured
goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the
young.

GDP: $1.1 billion, per capita $3,300; real growth rate NA% (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 38% (1987)

Budget: revenues $254 million; expenditures $254 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $153 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--bananas, sugar, rum;

partners--France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer
goods, construction materials, petroleum products;

partners--France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced,
1,290 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Agriculture: cash crops--bananas and sugarcane; other products
include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock--cattle, pigs, and
goats; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $7.9 billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines

Highways: 1,940 km total; 1,600 km paved, 340 km gravel and earth

Ports: Pointe-a-Pitre, Basse-Terre

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 9 total, 9 usable, 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic facilities inadequate; 57,300
telephones; interisland radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica,
and Martinique; stations--2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to
broadcast FM), 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 98,069; NA fit for military
service

Note: defense is responsibility of France



  * GUAM

GUAM
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 541 km2; land area: 541 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 125.5 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively
flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep
coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in
center, mountains in south

Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism
(especially from Japan)

Land use: arable land 11%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and
pastures 15%; forest and woodland 18%; other 45%

Environment: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to
relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons
(especially in August)

Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 5,955 km
west-southwest of Honolulu about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii
and the Philippines

PEOPLE
Population: 144,928 (July 1991), growth rate 2.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guamanian(s); adjective--Guamanian

Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%,
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%

Religion: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%

Language: English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese
also widely spoken

Literacy: 96% (male 96%, female 96%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 54,000; government 42%, private 58% (1988)

Organized labor: 13% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Guam

Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US

Capital: Agana

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March),
6 March 1989

Executive branch: President of the US, governor,
lieutenant governor, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);

Head of Government--Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November
1986); Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party (controls the legislature);
Republican Party (party of the Governor)

Suffrage: universal at age 18; US citizens, but do not vote in US
presidential elections

Elections:

Governor--last held on 6 November 1990
(next to be held November 1994);

Legislature--last held on 6 November 1990
(next to be held November 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(21 total) Democratic 11, Republican 10;

US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990
(next to be held November 1992);
Guam elects one nonvoting delegate;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) Republican 1

Communists: none

Note: relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction
of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of
the Interior

Member of: ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides;
centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a
beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word
GUAM superimposed in bold red letters

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on US military spending and on
revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has
grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the
expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1990. The
small manufacturing sector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food,
and watch production. About 60% of the labor force works for the private
sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are
imported, with about 75% from the US. In 1990 the unemployment rate was
about 2%, down from 10% in 1983.

GNP: $1.0 billion, per capita $7,000; real growth rate 18%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $300 million; expenditures $290 million,
including capital expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1983);

commodities--mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products,
construction materials, fish, food and beverage products;

partners--US 25%, other 75%

Imports: $611 million (c.i.f., 1983);

commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured
goods;

partners--US 77%, other 23%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced,
16,300 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment,
concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported;
fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra

Economic aid: NA

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 674 km all-weather roads

Ports: Apra Harbor

Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 26,317 telephones (1989); stations--3 AM,
3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * GUATEMALA

GUATEMALA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 108,890 km2; land area: 108,430 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries: 1,687 km total; Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km,
Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline: 400 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims Belize, but boundary negotiations to resolve the
dispute are underway

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau (Peten)

Natural resources: crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and
pastures 12%; forest and woodland 40%; other 32%; includes
irrigated 1%

Environment: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent
violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
tropical storms; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Note: no natural harbors on west coast

PEOPLE
Population: 9,266,018 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 58 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 66 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guatemalan(s); adjective--Guatemalan

Ethnic divisions: Ladino (mestizo--mixed Indian and European
ancestry) 56%, Indian 44%

Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant,
traditional Mayan

Language: Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian
language as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche,
Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Literacy: 55% (male 63%, female 47%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,500,000; agriculture 60%, services 13%,
manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%,
utilities 0.8%, mining 0.4% (1985)

Organized labor: 8% of labor force (1988 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Guatemala

Type: republic

Capital: Guatemala

Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal,
Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu,
Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
Totonicapan, Zacapa

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic
(Congreso de la Republica)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Jorge SERRANO
Elias (since 14 January 1991); Vice President Gustavo ESPINA Salguero
(since 14 January 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
National Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge CARPIO Nicolle;
Solidarity Action Movement (MAS), Jorge SERRANO Elias;
Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo;
National Advancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen;
National Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario SOLARZANO Martinez;
Popular Alliance 5 (AP-5), Max ORLANDO Molina;
Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos CHAVARRIA;
National Authentic Center (CAN), Hector MAYORA Dawe;
Alliance for '90 led by Rios MONTT, consisting of three
parties--Democratic Institutional Party (PID), Oscar RIVAS;
Nationalist United Front (FUN), Gabriel GIRON;
Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Berna ROLANDO Mendez

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--runoff held on 11 January 1991 (next to be held 11 November 1995);
results--Jorge SERRANO Elias (MAS) 68.1%, Jorge CARPIO Nicolle (UCN) 31.9%;

Congress--last held on 11 November 1990
(next to be held 11 November 1995);
results--UCN 25.6%, MAS 24.3%, DCG 17.5%, PAN 17.3%, MLN 4.8%,
PSD/AP-5 3.6%, PR 2.1%;
seats--(116 total) UCN 41, DCG 28, MAS 18, PAN 12, Alliance for '90
11, MLN 4, PR 1, PSD/AP-5 1

Communists: Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT); main radical left
guerrilla groups--Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), Revolutionary
Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA), Rebel Armed Forces (FAR),
and PGT dissidents

Other political or pressure groups: Federated Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (CACIF), Mutual Support Group (GAM), Unity for Popular and
Labor Action (UASP), Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO), Committee for
Campesino Unity (CUC)

Member of: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Juan Jose CASO Fanjul;
Chancery at 2220 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
745-4952 through 4954;
there are Guatemalan Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Thomas F. STROOCK; Embassy at 7-01 Avenida de la
Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City (mailing address is APO Miami 34024);
telephone  502  (2) 31-15-41

Flag: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side),
white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national
bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE
SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain)
all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed
swords and framed by a wreath

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for
26% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds
of exports. Manufacturing accounts for about 15% of GDP and 12% of the
labor force. In 1990 the economy grew by 3.5%, the fourth consecutive
year of mild growth. Government economic policies, however, were erratic
in 1990--an election year--and inflation shot up to 60%, the highest
level in modern times.

GDP: $11.1 billion, per capita $1,180; real growth rate 3.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 13%, with 30-40% underemployment (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.05 billion; expenditures $1.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $270 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $1.24 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--coffee 24%, sugar 9%, bananas 8%, beef 4%;

partners--US 28%, El Salvador, FRG, Costa Rica, Italy

Imports: $1.77 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain,
fertilizers, motor vehicles;

partners--US 40%, Mexico, FRG, Japan, El Salvador

External debt: $2.8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.0% (1988); accounts
for 18% of GDP

Electricity: 819,000 kW capacity; 2,594 million kWh produced,
280 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP; most important sector of
economy and contributes two-thirds to export earnings; principal
crops--sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom;
livestock--cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the
international drug trade; the government has engaged in aerial
eradication of opium poppy; transit country for cocaine shipments

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $1.1
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $7.8 billion

Currency: quetzal (plural--quetzales); 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1--5.4
(April 1991), 4.4858 (1990), 2.8161 (1989), 2.6196 (1988), 2.500
(1987), 1.875 (1986), 1.000 (1985); note--black-market rate 2.800
(May 1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 870 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 780 km
government owned, 90 km privately owned

Highways: 26,429 km total; 2,868 km paved, 11,421 km gravel,
and 12,140 unimproved

Inland waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km
navigable during high-water season

Pipelines: crude oil, 275 km

Ports: Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
4,129 GRT/6,450 DWT

Civil air: 10 major transport aircraft

Airports: 430 total, 381 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fairly modern network centered in Guatemala
 city ; 97,670 telephones; stations--91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave;
connection into Central American Microwave System; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,097,234; 1,372,623 fit for
military service; 110,949 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $113 million, 1% of GDP (1990)



  * GUERNSEY

GUERNSEY
(British crown dependency)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 194 km2; land area: 194 km2; includes Alderney,
Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands

Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 50 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of
days are overcast

Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest

Natural resources: cropland

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; cultivated about 50%

Environment: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

Note: 52 km west of France

PEOPLE
Population: 57,596 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Channel Islander(s); adjective--Channel Islander

Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent

Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist

Language: English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country
districts

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
but compulsory education age 5 to 16

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Bailiwick of Guernsey

Type: British crown dependency

Capital: Saint Peter Port

Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice

Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is
administered by the Royal Court

National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff,
deputy bailiff

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States

Judicial branch: Royal Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Lieutenant Governor Lt. Gen. Sir Michael
WILKINS (since 1990); Bailiff Sir Charles FROSSARD (since 1982)

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Assembly of the States--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(60 total, 33 elected), all independents

Communists: none

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)

Flag: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) extending to the edges of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Tourism is a major source of revenue. Other economic
activity includes financial services, breeding the world-famous
Guernsey cattle, and growing tomatoes and flowers for export.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 9% (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $208.9 million; expenditures $173.9 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1988)

Exports: $NA;

commodities--tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant,
other vegetables;

partners--UK (regarded as internal trade)

Imports: $NA;

commodities--coal, gasoline and oil;

partners--UK (regarded as internal trade)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced,
9,340 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: tourism, banking

Agriculture: tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses),
sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables and fruit; Guernsey cattle

Economic aid: none

Currency: Guernsey pound (plural--pounds);
1 Guernsey (LG) pound = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Guernsey pound is at par with the
British pound

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Airport: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (La
Villiaze)

Telecommunications: stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900
telephones; 1 submarine cable

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * GUINEA

GUINEA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 245,860 km2; land area: 245,860 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: 3,399 km total; Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Ivory Coast
610 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

Coastline: 320 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season
(June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to
May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous
interior

Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium,
hydropower, fish

Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 12%; forest and woodland 42%; other 40%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season; deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 7,455,850 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 21 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 144 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 41 years male, 45 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guinean(s); adjective--Guinean

Ethnic divisions: Fulani 35%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, small
indigenous tribes 15%

Religion: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Language: French (official); each tribe has its own language

Literacy: 24% (male 35%, female 13%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,400,000 (1983); agriculture 82.0%, industry and
commerce 11.0%, services 5.4%; 88,112 civil servants (1987); 52% of
population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: virtually 100% of wage earners loosely affiliated
with the National Confederation of Guinean Workers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Guinea

Type: republic

Capital: Conakry

Administrative divisions: 29 administrative regions (regions
administratives, singular--region administrative); Beyla, Boffa,
Boke, Conakry, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah,
Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia,
Kissidougou, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Macenta, Mali, Mamou,
Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou

Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France; formerly French Guinea)

Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law,
and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April
(1984)

Executive branch: president, Transitional Committee for National
Recovery (Comite Transitionale de Redressement National or CTRN)
replaced the Military Committee for National Recovery (Comite
Militaire de Redressement National or CMRN); Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: People's National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale Populaire) was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Gen. Lansana CONTE (since
5 April 1984)

Political parties and leaders: none; following the 3 April 1984
coup all political activity was banned

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: no Communist party, although there are some
sympathizers

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant); Chancery at
2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Dane F. SMITH, Jr.; Embassy at 2nd Boulevard and 9th
Avenue, Conakry (mailing address is B. P. 603, Conakry); telephone (224)
44-15-20 through 24

Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and
green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the
flag of Rwanda which has a large black letter R centered in the
yellow band

ECONOMY
Overview: Although possessing many natural resources and
considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea is one of the
poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about
40% to GDP and employs more than 80% of the work force, while industry
accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of theworld's
bauxite reserves; exports of bauxite and alumina accounted for
about 70% of total exports in 1989.

GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 4.4%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28.2% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $394 million; expenditures $548 million, including
capital expenditures of $254 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $645 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--alumina, bauxite, diamonds, coffee, pineapples,
bananas, palm kernels;

partners--US 33%, EC 33%, USSR and Eastern Europe 20%, Canada

Imports: $551 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport
equipment, foodstuffs, textiles and other grain;

partners--US 16%, France, Brazil

External debt: $2.6 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP

Electricity: 113,000 kW capacity; 300 million kWh produced,
40 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: bauxite mining, alumina, gold, diamond mining,
light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and
forestry); mostly subsistence farming; principal products--rice, coffee,
pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber;
livestock--cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $1,075 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $446 million

Currency: Guinean franc (plural--francs);
1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1--24.39 (1989),
19.23 (1988), 17.54 (1987), 14.29 (1986), NA (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,045 km; 806 km 1.000-meter gauge, 239 km 1.435-meter
standard gauge

Highways: 30,100 km total; 1,145 km paved, 12,955 km gravel or
laterite (of which barely 4,500 km are currently all-weather roads),
16,000 km unimproved earth (1987)

Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Ports: Conakry, Kamsar

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 16 total, 16 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of open-wire lines, small
radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system; 10,000
telephones; stations--3 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 12,000 TV sets; 125,000 radio
receivers; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force,
Republican Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, Surete Nationale

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,695,832; 853,593 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $27 million, 1.2% of GDP (1988)



  * GUINEA-BISSAU

GUINEA-BISSAU

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 36,120 km2; land area: 28,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
Connecticut

Land boundaries: 724 km total; Guinea 386, Senegal 338 km

Coastline: 350 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rendered its
decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary (in favor
of Senegal)--that decision has been rejected by Guinea-Bissau

Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoon-type rainy
season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December
to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Natural resources: unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite,
phosphates; fish, timber

Land use: arable land 11%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
43%; forest and woodland 38%; other 7%

Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season

PEOPLE
Population: 1,023,544 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 125 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 48 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guinea-Bissauan(s); adjective--Guinea-Bissauan

Ethnic divisions: African about 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca
14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%); European and mulatto less than 1%

Religion: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%

Language: Portuguese (official); Criolo and numerous African
languages

Literacy: 36% (male 50%, female 24%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 403,000 (est.); agriculture 90%, industry, services,
and commerce 5%, government 5%; population of working age 53% (1983)

Organized labor: only one trade union--the National Union of
Workers of Guinea-Bissau (UNTG)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Type: republic; highly centralized one-party regime since September
1974; the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape
Verde (PAIGC) held an extraordinary party congress in December 1990 and
established a two-year transition program during which the constitution
will be revised, allowing for multiple political parties and a
presidential election in 1993

Capital: Bissau

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes,
singular--regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu,
Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Independence: 24 September 1973 (from Portugal; formerly Portuguese
Guinea)

Constitution: 16 May 1984

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Executive branch: president of the Council of State, vice
presidents of the Council of State, Council of State, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly
(Assembleia Nacional Popular)

Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the
Council of Ministers

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President of the
Council of State Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14
November 1980 and elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984);
First Vice President Col. Iafai CAMARA (since 7 November 1985); Second
Vice President Vasco CABRAL (since 21 June 1989)

Political parties and leaders: only party--African Party for the
Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President
Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; the party decided to retain the
binational title despite its formal break with Cape Verde

Suffrage: universal at age 15

Elections:

President of Council of State--last held 19 June 1989
(next to be held NA 1993);
results--Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without
opposition by the National People's Assembly;

National People's Assembly--last held 15 June 1989
(next to be held 15 June 1994);
results--PAIGC is the only party;
seats--(150 total) PAIGC 150, appointed by Regional Councils

Communists: a few Communists, some sympathizers

Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOM (observer), ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL;
Chancery (temporary) at the Guinea-Bissauan Permanent Mission to the UN,
Suite 604, 211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212)
661-3977;

US--Ambassador William L. JACOBSEN, Jr.; Embassy at 17 Avenida
Domingos Ramos, Bissau (mailing address is 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau,
Guinea-Bissau); telephone  [phone], 20-1145, 20-1113

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a
vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star
centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde which has the black star
raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks
and a yellow clam shell

ECONOMY
Overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the
world, with a per capita GDP below $200. Agriculture and fishing are the
main economic activities, with cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels the
primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at
present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of
development. The government's four-year plan (1988-91) has targeted
agricultural development as the top priority.

GDP: $154 million, per capita $160; real growth rate 5.0% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $22.7 million; expenditures $30.8 million,
including capital expenditures of $18.0 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $14.2 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels;

partners--Portugal, Senegal, France, The Gambia, Netherlands,
Spain

Imports: $68.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--capital equipment, consumer goods, semiprocessed
goods, foods, petroleum;

partners--Portugal, Netherlands, Senegal, USSR, Germany

External debt: $462 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.0% (1989 est.); accounts
for 10% of GDP (1989 est.)

Electricity: 22,000 kW capacity; 28 million kWh produced,
30 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks

Agriculture: accounts for over 50% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports,
and 90% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include
corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not
self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully
exploited

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $561 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $68 million

Currency: Guinea-Bissauan peso (plural--pesos);
1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1--1987.2 (1989),
1363.6 (1988), 851.65 (1987), 238.98 (1986), 173.61 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 3,218 km; 2,698 km bituminous, remainder earth

Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal
commerce

Ports: Bissau

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 37 total, 18 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines,
and radiocommunications; 3,000 telephones; stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including
Army, Navy, Air Force), paramilitary force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 222,371; 126,797 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $5 million, 3.2% of GDP (1987)



  * GUYANA

GUYANA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 214,970 km2; land area: 196,850 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho

Land boundaries: 2,462 km total; Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km,
Venezuela 743 km

Coastline: 459 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo river claimed by
Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in
south

Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber,
shrimp, fish

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 6%; forest and woodland 83%; other 8%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons;
water pollution

PEOPLE
Population: 749,508 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 20 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 51 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Guyanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Guyanese

Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian
4%, European and Chinese 2%

Religion: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%

Language: English, Amerindian dialects

Literacy: 95% (male 98%, female 96%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.)

Labor force: 268,000; industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture
33.8%, services 21.7%; public-sector employment amounts to 60-80%
of the total labor force (1985)

Organized labor: 34% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Type: republic

Capital: Georgetown

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini,
Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo
Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam,
Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK; formerly British Guiana)

Constitution: 6 October 1980

Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures
of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Executive branch: executive president, first vice president,
prime minister, first deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature

Leaders:

Chief of State--Executive President Hugh Desmond HOYTE (since 6
August 1985); First Vice President Hamilton GREEN (since 6 August 1985);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Hamilton GREEN (since
NA August 1985)

Political parties and leaders:
People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN;
Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE, Moses
BHAGWAN;
Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE;
People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN;
National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS;
United Force (UF), Marcellus Feilden SINGH;
United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY;
National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Executive President--last held on 9 December 1985 (next to be
held mid-1991); Hugh Desmond HOYTE was elected president (the
leader of the party with the most votes in the National Assembly
elections);

National Assembly--last held on 9 December 1985
(next to be held mid-1991);
results--PNC 78%, PPP 16%, UF 4%, WPA 2%;
seats--(65 total, 53 elected) PNC 42, PPP 8, UF 2, WPA 1

Communists: 100 (est.) hardcore within PPP; top echelons of PPP
and PYO (Progressive Youth Organization, militant wing of the PPP)
include many Communists; small but unknown number of orthodox
Marxist-Leninists within PNC, some of whom formerly belonged to the PPP

Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC);
Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy (GUARD) includes various labor
groups as well as several of the smaller parties; Guyana Council of
Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC);
the latter two organizations are small and active but not well
organized; Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy (GUARD) includes
various labor groups, as well as several of the smaller political
parties

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Cedric Hilburn GRANT;
Chancery at 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
265-6900; there is a Guyanese Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador George JONES; Embassy at 31 Main Street,
Georgetown; telephone  592  (02) 54900 through 54909

Flag: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border
between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow
and the green

ECONOMY
Overview: After growing on average at less than 1% a year in
1986-87, GDP dropped by 3% a year in 1988-89. The decline resulted from
bad weather, labor trouble in the canefields, and flooding and equipment
problems in the bauxite industry. Consumer prices rose about 35% in 1988
and by over 100% in 1989, and the current account deficit widened
substantially as sugar and bauxite exports fell. Moreover, electric
power is in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains
in national output. The government, in association with international
financial agencies, seeks to reduce its payment arrears and to raise new
funds. The government's stabilization program--aimed at establishing
realistic exchange rates, reasonable price stability, and a resumption of
growth--requires considerable public administrative abilities and
continued patience by consumers during a long incubation period.

GDP: $287.2 million, per capita $380; real growth rate - 3.3%
(1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 105% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 12-15% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $65 million; expenditures $129 million, including
capital expenditures of $6 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $234 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.);

commodities--bauxite, sugar, gold, rice, shrimp, molasses, timber,
rum;

partners--UK 31%, US 23%, CARICOM 7%, Canada 6% (1988)

Imports: $319 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.);

commodities--manufactures machinery, food, petroleum;

partners--US 33%, CARICOM 10%, UK 9%, Canada 2% (1989)

External debt: $1.7 billion, including arrears (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 10.0% (1989 est.); accounts
for more than 20% of GDP

Electricity: 250,000 kW capacity; 635 million kWh produced,
830 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing
(shrimp), textiles, gold mining

Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 27% of GDP and
about 50% of exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential
exists for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially
wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $244 million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million

Currency: Guyanese dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1--45.00 (since June
1990), 39.533 (1990), 27.159 (1989), 10.000 (1988), 9.756 (1987), 4.272
(1986), 4.252 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 187 km total, all single track 0.914-meter gauge

Highways: 7,665 km total; 550 km paved, 5,000 km gravel, 1,525 km
earth, 590 km unimproved

Inland waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice,
Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for
150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively

Ports: Georgetown

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft

Airports: 58 total, 55 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; none with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system with radio relay network; over
27,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; stations--4 AM,
3 FM, no TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Coast Guard
and Air Corps), Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana People's Militia (GPM),
Guyana National Service (GNS)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 195,142; 148,477 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $5.5 million, 6% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * HAITI

HAITI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 27,750 km2; land area: 27,560 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundary: 275 km with the Dominican Republic

Coastline: 1,771 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island

Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade
winds

Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous

Natural resources: bauxite

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 13%; meadows and
pastures 18%; forest and woodland 4%; other 45%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject
to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and
earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion

Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic

PEOPLE
Population: 6,286,511 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 106 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 55 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Haitian(s); adjective--Haitian

Ethnic divisions: black 95%, mulatto and European 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic is the official religion; Roman
Catholic  80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo),
Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%),
none 1%, other 3% (1982)

Language: French (official) spoken by only 10% of population; all
speak Creole

Literacy: 53% (male 59%, female 47%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,300,000; agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%;
shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Haiti

Type: republic

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements,
singular--departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)

Constitution: 27 August 1983, suspended February 1986; draft
constitution approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles
reinstated March 1989; March 1987 Constitution fully observed by
government installed on 7 February 1991

Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale) consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or
House of Deputies

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February
1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Rene PREVAL (since
13 February 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD) led by Jean-Bertrand
ARISTIDE, including Congress of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor
BENOIT; National Konbite Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH;
National Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP), a coalition
consisting of Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH),
Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge
GILLES; and National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean
BELIZAIRE;
National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE;
Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE;
Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Sylvio CLAUDE;
Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT;
National Party of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME;
Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY;
Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH), Francois
LATORTUE;
Haitian Social Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE;
Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 16 December 1990
(next election to be held by December 1995);
results--Rev. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%,
Louis DEJOIE 4.9%;

Senate--last held 16 December 1990, with runoff held 20 January 1991
(next to be held by December 1992);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(27) FNCD 13, ANDP 6, PAIN 2, MRN 2, PDCH 1, RDNP 1, PNT 1,
independent 1;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 16 December 1990, with runoff
held 20 January 1991 (next to be held by December 1994);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(83) FNCD 27, ANDP 17, PDCH 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5, PNT 3,
MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independent 5, other 2

Communists: United Party of Haitian Communists (PUCH), Rene
THEODORE (roughly 2,000 members)

Other political or pressure groups: Democratic Unity Confederation
(KID), Roman Catholic Church, Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH),
Federation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS), Autonomous Haitian Workers
(CATH), National Popular Assembly (APN)

Member of: ACCT, CARICOM (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant), Charge
d'Affaires Raymond Alcide JOSEPH; Chancery at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone] through 4092; there
are Haitian Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York,
and San Juan (Puerto Rico);

US--Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr.; Embassy at Harry Truman
Boulevard, Port-au-Prince (mailing address is P. O. Box 1761,
Port-au-Prince), telephone  509  (1) 20-354 or 20-368, 20-200, 20-612

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a
centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms which contains a palm
tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto
L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

ECONOMY
Overview: About 85% of the population live in abject poverty.
Agriculture is mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs
two-thirds of the work force. The majority of the population does not
have ready access to safe drinking water, adequate medical care, or
sufficient food. Few social assistance programs exist, and the lack of
employment opportunities remains one of the most critical problems
facing the economy, along with soil erosion and political instability.

GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $440; real growth rate - 3.0% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 25-50% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $300 million; expenditures $416 million, including
capital expenditures of $145 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $169 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--light manufactures 69%, coffee 19%, other agriculture
8%, other 8%;

partners--US 84%, Italy 4%, France 3%, other industrial 6%,
less developed countries 3% (1987)

Imports: $348 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%,
petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9%;

partners--US 64%, Netherlands Antilles 5%, Japan 5%, France 4%,
Canada 3%, Germany 3% (1987)

External debt: $838 million (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.3% (FY88); accounts for
15% of GDP

Electricity: 230,000 kW capacity; 264 million kWh produced,
43 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement
manufacturing, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts

Agriculture: accounts for 33% of GDP and employs 66% of work force;
mostly small-scale subsistence farms; commercial crops--coffee, mangoes,
sugarcane and wood; staple crops--rice, corn, sorghum; shortage of
wheat flour

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $700
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $682 million

Currency: gourde (plural--gourdes); 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1-- 5.0 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 40 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately
owned industrial line

Highways: 4,000 km total; 950 km paved, 900 km otherwise improved,
2,150 km unimproved

Inland waterways: negligible; less than 100 km navigable

Ports: Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 15 total, 10 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic facilities barely adequate,
international facilities slightly better; 36,000 telephones;
stations--33 AM, no FM, 4 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (including Police), Navy, Air Corps

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,287,179; 691,926 fit for
military service; 61,265 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $34 million, 1.5% of GDP (1988 est.)



  * HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS

HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 412 km2; land area: 412 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 101.9 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: Heard Island--bleak and mountainous, with an extinct
volcano; McDonald Islands--small and rocky

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: primarily used as research stations

Note: located 4,100 km southwest of Australia in the
southern Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Type: territory of Australia administered by the Antarctic Division
of the Department of Science in Canberra (Australia)

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia



  * HONDURAS

HONDURAS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 112,090 km2; land area: 111,890 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries: 1,520 km total; Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342
km, Nicaragua 922 km

Coastline: 820 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: dispute with El Salvador over several sections of
the land boundary; dispute over Golfo de Fonseca maritime boundary
because of disputed sovereignty of islands; unresolved maritime boundary
with Nicaragua

Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc,
iron ore, antimony, coal, fish

Land use: arable land 14%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures
30%; forest and woodland 34%; other 20%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes;
damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast; deforestation; soil
erosion

PEOPLE
Population: 4,949,275 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 56 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Honduran(s); adjective--Honduran

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian
7%, black 2%, white 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic about 97%; small Protestant minority

Language: Spanish, Indian dialects

Literacy: 73% (male 76%, female 71%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,300,000; agriculture 62%, services 20%,
manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)

Organized labor: 40% of urban labor force, 20% of rural work force
(1985)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Honduras

Type: republic

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua,
Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios,
Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho,
Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence
of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress (Congreso
Nacional)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS
Romero (since 26 January 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party (PLH)--faction leaders, Carlos FLORES Facusse (leader of
Florista Liberal Movement), Carlos MONTOYA (Azconista subfaction), Ramon
VILLEDA Bermudez and Jorge Arturo REINA (M-Lider faction);
National Party (PNH), Jose Celin DISCUA, party president;
PNH faction leaders--Oswaldo RAMOS Soto and Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS
(Monarca faction);
National Innovation and Unity Party-Social Democrats (PINU-SD), Enrique
AGUILAR Cerrato Paz;
Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Jorge ILLESCAS;
Democratic Action (AD), Walter LOPEZ Reyes

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 26 November 1989
(next to be held November 1993);
results--Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS (PNH) 51%,
Carlos FLORES Facusse (PLH) 43.3%, other 5.7%;

National Congress--last held on 26 November 1989
(next to be held November 1993);
results--PNH 51%, PLH 43%, PDCH 1.9%, PINU 1.5%, other 2.6%;
seats--(128 total) PNH 71, PLH 55, PINU 2

Communists: up to 1,500; Honduran leftist groups--Communist Party
of Honduras (PCH), Party for the Transformation of Honduras (PTH),
Morazanist Front for the Liberation of Honduras (FMLH), People's
Revolutionary Union/Popular Liberation Movement (URP/MPL), Popular
Revolutionary Forces-Lorenzo Zelaya (FPR/LZ), Socialist Party of Honduras
Central American Workers Revolutionary Party (PASO/PRTC)

Other political or pressure groups: National Association of
Honduran Campesinos (ANACH), Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
(COHEP), Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH), National Union of
Campesinos (UNC), General Workers Confederation (CGT), United Federation
of Honduran Workers (FUTH), Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in
Honduras (CODEH), Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP)

Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jorge Ramon HERNANDEZ
Alcerro; Chancery at Suite 100, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington
DC 20008; telephone [phone] through 7702; there are Honduran
Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
and San Francisco, and Consulates in Baton Rouge, Boston, Detroit,
Houston, and Jacksonville;

US--Ambassador S. Crescencio ARCOS; Embassy at Avenida La Paz,
Tegucigalpa (mailing address is APO Miami 34022); telephone  [phone]

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue
with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered
in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal
Republic of Central America--Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador which
features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL
SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also
similar to the flag of Nicaragua which features a triangle
encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA
CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western
Hemisphere. Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy,
accounts for nearly 30% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and
produces two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Industry,
still in its early stages, employs nearly 9% of the labor force,
accounts for 15% of GDP, and generates 20% of exports. The service
sectors, including public administration, account for 50% of GDP and
employ nearly 20% of the labor force.  Basic problems facing the
economy include rapid population growth, high unemployment, sharply
increased inflation, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient
public sector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee
and bananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations. Despite
government efforts at reform and large-scale foreign assistance, the
economy still is unable to take advantage of its sizable natural
resources.

GDP: $4.9 billion, per capita $960; real growth rate -1.0% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35.2% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15% unemployed, 30-40% underemployed (1989)

Budget: revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion,
including capital expenditures of $511 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $939 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, lumber;

partners--US 52%, FRG 11%, Japan, Italy, Belgium

Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f. 1990);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, chemical products,
manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs;

partners--US 39%, Japan 9%, CACM, Venezuela, Mexico

External debt: $2.8 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.9% (1989); accounts for
15% of GDP

Electricity: 668,000 kW capacity; 2,023 million kWh produced,
380 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles,
clothing, wood products

Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for nearly 30% of
GDP, over 60% of the labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal
products include bananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp;
importer of wheat

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on
small plots and used principally for local consumption; transshipment
point for cocaine

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1,027 million

Currency: lempira (plural--lempiras); 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1--5.30 (fixed rate); 5.70
parallel black-market rate (November 1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 785 km total; 508 km 1.067-meter gauge, 277 km
0.914-meter gauge

Highways: 8,950 km total; 1,700 km paved, 5,000 km otherwise
improved, 2,250 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft

Ports: Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo

Merchant marine: 173 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,481
GRT/812,095 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 107 cargo, 12 refrigerated
cargo, 9 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 20 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 1
vehicle carrier, 18 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry; the
USSR owns one ship under the Honduran flag

Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft

Airports: 175 total, 134 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 13 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: improved, but still inadequate; connection into
Central American Microwave System; 35,100 telephones; stations--176 AM,
no FM, 28 TV, 7 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Public
Security Forces (FUSEP)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,106,630; 659,520 fit for
military service; 58,953 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $82.5 million, 1.9% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * HONG KONG

HONG KONG
(dependent territory of the UK)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,040 km2; land area: 990 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than six times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundary: 30 km with China

Coastline: 733 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy
from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 12%; other 79%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: more than 200 islands; occasional typhoons

PEOPLE
Population: 5,855,800 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 77 years male, 84 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: adjective--Hong Kong

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 98%, other 2%

Religion: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Language: Chinese (Cantonese), English

Literacy: 77% (male 90%, female 64%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1971)

Labor force: 2,800,000 (1990); manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and
retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%,
financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications
4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)

Organized labor: 16% of labor force (1990)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none; abbreviated HK

Type: dependent territory of the UK; scheduled to revert to
China in 1997

Capital: Victoria

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK); the UK
signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to
China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect
Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50
years after transition

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief secretary of the
Executive Council

Legislative branch: Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Governor Sir David Clive WILSON (since 9
April 1987);
Chief Secretary Sir David Robert FORD (since NA February 1987)

Political parties:
United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK), Martin LEE Chu-ming;
Liberal Democratic Federation (LDF), HU Fa-kuang;
Hong Kong Democratic Foundation (HKDF), Patrick SHIU Kin-ying;
Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL),
Frederick FUNG Kin-kee;
Meeting Point, Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung;
Progressive Hong Kong Society (PHKS), Maria TAM Wai-chu

Suffrage: direct election--universal at age 21
as a permanent resident living in the territory of Hong Kong for
the past seven years; indirect election--limited to about 100,000
professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies

Elections:

Legislative Council--indirect elections last held 12 September 1991
and direct elections held 15 September 1991
(next to be held by September 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(60 total;
21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18 directly elected,
18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members) indirect
elections--number of seats by functional constituency NA; direct
elections--UDHK 12, Meeting Point 2, ADPL 1, other 3; note--direct
elections were held for the first time in September 1991

Communists: 5,000 (est.) cadres affiliated with Communist Party
of China

Other political or pressure groups:
Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade
Union Council (pro-Taiwan), Confederation of Trade Unions (prodemocracy),
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Chinese General Chamber of
Commerce (pro-China), Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Professional Teachers'
Union, Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement
in China

Member of: AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU,
IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO

Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
the interests of Hong Kong in the US are represented by the UK;

US--Consul General Richard L. WILLIAMS; Consulate General at
26 Garden Road, Hong Kong (mailing address is Box 30, Hong Kong, or
FPO San Francisco 96659-0002); telephone  852  (5) 845-1598

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer
half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks
below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon
(representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner
bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

ECONOMY
Overview: Hong Kong has a free market economy with few tariffs
or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw
materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of
GDP, employs 28% of the labor force, and exports about 90% of its
output. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, then
slowed to 2.5-3.0% in 1989-90. Unemployment, which has been declining
since the mid-1980s, is now less than 2%. A shortage of labor continues
to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term
prospects remain solid so long as major trading partners continue to be
prosperous. The crackdown in China in 1989-90 casts a long shadow over
the longer term economic outlook.

GDP: $64.0 billion, per capita $11,000; real growth rate 2.5%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (1990)

Budget: $8.8 billion (FY90)

Exports: $80.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990), including reexports of
$51.2 billion;

commodities--clothing, textile yarn and fabric, footwear,
electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys;

partners--US 32%, China 19%, FRG 7%, UK 6%, Japan 6% (1989)

Imports: $79.5 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
semimanufactures, petroleum;

partners--China 35%, Japan 17%, Taiwan 9%, US 8% (1989)

External debt: $9.5 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.7% (1989)

Electricity: 8,485,000 kW capacity; 25,000 million kWh produced,
4,340 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks

Agriculture: minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy
products; less than 20% self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, water

Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade;
transshipment and major financial and money-laundering center

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $910 million

Currency: Hong Kong dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$--7.800 (March
1989), 7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987), 7.795 (1986), 7.811 (1985);
note--linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
since 1985

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned

Highways: 1,484 km total; 794 km paved, 306 km gravel, crushed
stone, or earth

Ports: Hong Kong

Merchant marine: 134 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 4,690,770
GRT/8,091,177 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 16 cargo,
5 refrigerated cargo, 16 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 9
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 6
combination ore/oil, 6 liquefied gas, 71 bulk; note--a flag of
convenience registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag and
an estimated 500 Hong Kong-owned ships are registered elsewhere

Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total; 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services; 3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission
links and extensive optical fiber transmission network; stations--6 AM,
6 FM, 4 TV; 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) relay station and
1 British Forces Broadcasting Service relay station; 2,500,000 radio
receivers; 1,312,000 TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets); satellite earth
stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; coaxial
cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5 international submarine cables
providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia,
Middle East, and Western Europe

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal
Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Gurkha Brigade,
Royal Hong Kong Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,718,112; 1,328,230 fit for
military service; 45,437 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.);
this represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself,
the remainder being paid by the UK

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * HOWLAND ISLAND

HOWLAND ISLAND
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1.6 km2; land area: 1.6 km2

Comparative area: about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 6.4 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by
a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 5%; other 95%

Environment: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines,
and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh
water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

Note: remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii
and Australia

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

Note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World
War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use
permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge System

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred
Noonan--they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never
seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along
the middle of the west coast

Note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west
coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since
been rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually
by the US Coast Guard



  * HUNGARY

HUNGARY

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 93,030 km2; land area: 92,340 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries: 2,251 km total; Austria 366 km, Czechoslovakia 676
km, Romania 443 km, USSR 135 km, Yugoslavia 631 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: Nagymaros Dam dispute with Czechoslovakia

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils

Land use: arable land 54%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
14%; forest and woodland 18%; other 11%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: levees are common along many streams, but flooding
occurs almost every year

Note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes
between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between USSR and
Mediterranean basin

PEOPLE
Population: 10,558,001 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Hungarian(s); adjective--Hungarian

Ethnic divisions: Hungarian 96.6%, German 1.6%, Slovak 1.1%,
Southern Slav 0.3%, Romanian 0.2%

Religion: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20.0%, Lutheran 5.0%,
atheist and other 7.5%

Language: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%

Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 98%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 4,860,000; services, trade, government, and other
43.2%, industry 30.9%, agriculture 18.8%, construction 7.1% (1988)

Organized labor: 96.5% of labor force; Central Council of Hungarian
Trade Unions (SZOT) includes 19 affiliated unions, all controlled by the
government; independent unions legal; may be as many as 12 small
independent unions in operation

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Hungary

Type: republic

Capital: Budapest

Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular--megye)
and 1 capital city* (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes,
Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*, Csongrad, Fejer,
Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok,
Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg,
Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala

Independence: 1001, unification by King Stephen I

Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised
19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensures legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
minister and established the principle of parliamentary oversight

Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law
based on Western model

National holiday: October 23 (1956); commemorates the Hungarian
uprising

Executive branch: president, prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly
(Orszaggyules)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, may be restructured as part of
ongoing government overhaul

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
previously interim President from 2 May 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL
(since 23 May 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Forum, Jozsef ANTALL, chairman;
Free Democrats, Janos KIS, chairman;
Independent Smallholders, Ferenc Jozsef NAGY, president;
Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP), Gyula HORN, chairman;
Young Democrats, Gabor FODOR, head;
Christian Democrats, Dr. Lazlo SURJAN, president;
note--the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSZMP)
renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) in
October 1989

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President last held 3 August 1990 (next to be held August 1995);
elected by the National Assembly with a total of 294 votes out of 304;
President GONCZ was elected by the National Assembly as interim President
from 2 May 1990 until elected President;

National Assembly--last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with
the second round held 8 April 1990);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(394 total) Democratic Forum 165, Free Democrats 92,
Independent Smallholders 43, Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) 33,
Young Democrats 21, Christian Democrats 21, independent candidates
or jointly sponsored candidates 19

Communists: fewer than 100,000 (December 1989)

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT,
IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IIB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant);
Chancery at 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there is a Hungarian Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Charles THOMAS; Embassy at V. Szabadsag
Ter 12, Budapest (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone  36
(1) 112-6450

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture is an important sector, providing sizable
export earnings and meeting domestic food needs. Industry accounts for
about 40% of GNP and 30% of employment. About 40% of Hungary's foreign
trade is with the USSR and Eastern Europe and a third is with the EC.
Low rates of growth reflect the inability of the Soviet-style economy to
modernize capital plant and motivate workers. GNP declined by 1% in 1989
and by an estimated 6% in 1990. Since 1985 external debt has more than
doubled, to over $20 billion. In recent years Hungary has experimented
widely with decentralized and market-oriented enterprises. The newly
democratic government has renounced the Soviet economic growth model and
plans to open the economy to wider market forces and to much closer
economic relations with Western Europe. Prime Minister Antall has
declared his intention to move foward on privatization of state
enterprises, provision for bankruptcy, land reform, and marketization of
international trade, but concerns over acceptable levels of unemployment
and inflation may slow the reform process.

GNP: $60.9 billion, per capita $5,800; real growth rate - 5.7%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1990)

Budget: revenues $18.2 billion; expenditures $18.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $805 million (1989)

Exports: $10.2 billion (f.o.b. 1989);

commodities--capital goods 33%, foods 25%, consumer goods 16%,
fuels 1.5%, other 24.5%;

partners USSR and Eastern Europe 42%, developed countries 37.4%,
less developed countries 20.6% (1989)

Imports: $10.1 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--capital goods 15%, fuels 20%, manufactured
consumer goods 12.4%, agriculture 5%, other 47.6%;

partners--USSR and Eastern Europe 34.9%, developed countries 45.5%,
less developed countries 16.6%, US 3%

External debt: $20.7 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 7.9% (1990 est.)

Electricity: 7,800,000 kW capacity; 30,400 million kWh produced,
2,870 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining, metallurgy, engineering industries, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals)

Agriculture: including forestry, accounts for about 15% of GNP
and 19% of employment; highly diversified crop-livestock farming;
principal crops--wheat, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets;
livestock--hogs, cattle, poultry, dairy products; self-sufficient in
food output

Economic aid: donor--$2.0 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist
less developed countries (1962-89)

Currency: forint (plural--forints); 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler

Exchange rates: forints (Ft) per US$1--60.95 (December 1990), 63.21
(1990), 59.07 (1989), 50.41 (1988), 46.97 (1987), 45.83 (1986), 50.12
(1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
222 km narrow gauge (mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge;
1,147 km double track, 2,161 km electrified; all government owned (1988)

Highways: 130,014 km total; 29,715 km national highway
system--26,834 km asphalt and bitumen, 142 km concrete, 51 km stone and
road brick, 2,276 km macadam, 412 km unpaved; 58,495 km country roads
(66% unpaved), and 41,804 km (est.) other roads (70% unpaved) (1988)

Inland waterways: 1,622 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil, 1,204 km; refined products, 630 km;
natural gas, 3,895 km (1986)

Ports: Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube;
maritime outlets are Rostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland),
Szczecin (Poland), Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)

Merchant marine: 16 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk
totaling 94,393 GRT/131,946 DWT

Civil air: 28 major transport aircraft

Airports: 90 total, 90 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: telephone density is at 17 per 100 inhabitants;
49% of all phones are in Budapest; 12-15 year wait for a phone; 16,000
telex lines (June 1990); stations--13 AM, 12 FM, 21 TV (8 Soviet
TV relays); 4.2 TVs (1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier
Guard, Civil Defense

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,667,234; 2,130,749 fit for
military service; 88,851 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: 43.7 billion forints, NA% of GDP (1989);
note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
official administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading
results



  * ICELAND

ICELAND

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 103,000 km2; land area: 100,250 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 4,988 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark,
Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement
in the Rockall area)

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Natural resources: fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power,
diatomite

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 23%; forest and woodland 1%; other 76%

Environment: subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity

Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
westernmost European country

PEOPLE
Population: 259,742 (July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Icelander(s); adjective--Icelandic

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians
and Celts

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Language: Icelandic

Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)

Labor force: 134,429; commerce, finance, and services 55.4%, other
manufacturing 14.3%., agriculture 5.8%, fish processing 7.9%, fishing
5.0% (1986)

Organized labor: 60% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Iceland

Type: republic

Capital: Reykjavik

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular--sysla)
and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular--kaupstadhur); Akranes*,
Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla,
Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla,
Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*,
Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasysla,
Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla,
Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,
Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla,
Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vestmannaeyjar*,
Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic,
17 June (1944)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Althingi with an Upper
House (Efri Deild) and a Lower House (Nedri Deild)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1
August 1980);

Head of Government--Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since
30 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Independence (conservative), David ODDSSON;
Progressive, Steingrimur HERMANNSSON;
Social Democratic, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON;
Citizens Party (conservative nationalist), Julius SOLNES;
Women's List

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

President--last held on 29 June 1980 (next scheduled for June
1992); results--there were no elections in 1984 and 1988 as President
Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed;

Althing--last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995);
results--Independence 38.6%, Progressive 18.9%, Social Democratic 15.5%,
People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.13%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.27%
seats--(63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10,
People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5

Communists: less than 100 (est.), some of whom participate in the
People's Alliance

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Tomas A. TOMASSON; Chancery
at 2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
265-6653 through 6655; there is an Icelandic Consulate General in New
York;

US--Ambassador Charles E. COBB, Jr.; Embassy at Laufasvegur 21,
Box 40, Reykjavik (mailing address is FPO New York 09571-0001); telephone
 354  (1) 29100

Flag: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

ECONOMY
Overview: Iceland's prosperous Scandinavian-type economy is
basically capitalistic, but with extensive welfare measures, low
unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy
is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75%
of export earnings. In the absence of other natural resources, Iceland's
economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. As a result of
climbing fish prices in 1990 and a noninflationary labor agreement,
Iceland is pulling out of a recession, which began in mid-1988 with a
sharp decline in fish prices and an imposition of quotas on fish catches
to conserve stocks. Inflation was down sharply from 20% in 1989
to 8% in 1990.

GDP: $4.2 billion, per capita $16,300; real growth rate 0%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.58 billion; expenditures $1.66 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA million (1990)

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum,
diatomite;

partners--EC 67.7% (UK 25.3%, FRG 12.7%), US 9.9%,
Japan 6%

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum,
foodstuffs, textiles;

partners--EC 49.8% (FRG 12.4%, Denmark 8.6%, UK 8.1%), US 14.4%,
Japan 5.6%

External debt: $3 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 0.8% (1988 est.); accounts
for 22% of GDP

Electricity: 1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced,
20,780 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon
production, hydropower

Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GDP (including fishing);
fishing is most important economic activity, contributing nearly 75%
to export earnings; principal crops--potatoes and turnips;
livestock--cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in crops; fish catch of
about 1.4 million metric tons in 1989

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1
million

Currency: krona (plural--kronur);
1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1--55.216
(January 1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988), 38.677
(1987), 41.104 (1986), 41.508 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 12,343 km total; 166 km bitumen and concrete; 1,284 km
bituminous treated and gravel; 10,893 km earth

Ports: Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik,
Seydhisfjordhur, Siglufjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar; numerous minor ports

Merchant marine: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,409
GRT/73,279 DWT; includes 8 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container,
2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
1 chemical tanker, 1 bulk

Civil air: 20 major transport aircraft

Airports: 99 total, 92 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate domestic service, wire and radio
communication system; 135,000 telephones; stations--10 AM, 17 (43 relays)
FM, 14 (132 relays) TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: no armed forces; State Criminal Police, Coast Guard;
Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force
(IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 69,644; 62,248 fit for military
service; no conscription or compulsory military service

Defense expenditures: none



  * INDIA

INDIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 3,287,590 km2; land area: 2,973,190 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Land boundaries: 14,103 km total; Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605
km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

Coastline: 7,000 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan; water
sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges
and Pakistan over the Indus

Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in
north

Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling
plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world),
iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas,
diamonds, crude oil, limestone

Land use: arable land 55%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
4%; forest and woodland 23%; other 17%; includes irrigated 13%

Environment: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common;
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; air and water pollution;
desertification

Note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important
Indian Ocean trade routes

PEOPLE
Population: 866,351,738 (July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 87 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 57 years male, 59 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Indian(s); adjective--Indian

Ethnic divisions: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and
other 3%

Religion: Hindu 82.6%, Muslim 11.4%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2.0%,
Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%

Language: Hindi, English, and 14 other official languages--Bengali,
Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya,
Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; 24 languages spoken by
a million or more persons each; numerous other languages and dialects,
for the most part mutually unintelligible; Hindi is the national language
and primary tongue of 30% of the people; English enjoys associate status
but is the most important language for national, political, and
commercial communication; Hindustani, a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu, is
spoken widely throughout northern India

Literacy: 48% (male 62%, female 34%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 284,400,000; 67% agriculture (FY85)

Organized labor: less than 5% of the labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of India

Type: federal republic

Capital: New Delhi

Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*;
Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*,
Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala,
Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)

Constitution: 26 January 1950

Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review
of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic,
26 January (1950)

Executive branch: president, vice president, prime minister,
Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad) consists of an
upper house or Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and a lower house or
House of the People (Lok Sabha)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Ramaswamy Iyer VENKATARAMAN (since 25
July 1987); Vice President Dr. Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 3 September
1987);

Head of Government--Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since
21 June 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha RAO, president;
Bharatiya Janata Party, L. K. ADVANI;
Janata Dal Party, V. P. SINGH;
Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M), E. M. S. NAMBOODIRIPAD;
Communist Party of India (CPI), C. Rajeswara RAO;
Telugu Desam (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), N. T. Rama RAO;
All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK; a regional party
in Tamil Nadu), JAYALALITHA;
Samajwadi Janata Party, CHANDRA SHEKHAR;
Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY;
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY;
Bahujana Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM;
Congress (S) Party, leader NA;
Communist Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Satyanarayan SINGH;
Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu),
M. KARUNANIDHI;
Akali Dal factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;
National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir), Farooq
ABDULLAH;
Asom Gana Parishad (a regional party in Assam), Prafulla MAHANTA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

People's Assembly--last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June
1991 (next to be held by November 1996);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(545 total), 509 elected--Congress (I) Party 225,
Bharatiya Janata Party 117,
Janata Dal Party 55,
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 35,
Communist Party of India 13,
Telugu Desam 12,
AIADMK 11,
Samajwadi Janata Party 5,
Shiv Sena 4,
RSP 4,
BSP 1,
Congress (S) Party 1, other 26; note--second and third rounds of
voting were delayed because of the assassination of Congress
President Rajiv GANDHI on 21 May 1991

Communists: 466,000 members claimed by CPI, 361,000 members claimed
by CPI/M; Communist extremist groups, about 15,000 members

Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groups
seeking greater communal autonomy; numerous religious or
militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam Sena, Anand Marg,
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-6,
G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abid HUSSEIN;
Chancery at 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone]; there are Indian Consulates General in
Chicago, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador William CLARK, Jr.; Embassy at Shanti Path,
Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi; telephone  91  (11) 600651; there are US
Consulates General in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and
green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white
band; similar to the flag of Niger which has a small orange disk centered
in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional
village farming and handicrafts, modern agriculture, old and new branches
of industry, and a multitude of support services. It presents both the
entrepreneurial skills and drives of the capitalist system and
widespread government intervention of the socialist mold. Growth of 4%
to 5% annually in the 1980s has softened the impact of population growth
on unemployment, social tranquility, and the environment. Agricultural
output has continued to expand, reflecting the greater use of modern
farming techniques and improved seed that have helped to make India
self-sufficient in food grains and a net agricultural exporter. However,
tens of millions of villagers, particularly in the south, have not
benefited from the green revolution and live in abject poverty. Industry
has benefited from a partial liberalization of controls. The growth rate
of the service sector has also been strong. India, however, has been
challenged more recently by much lower foreign exchange reserves, higher
inflation, and a large debt service burden.

GNP: $254 billion, per capita $300; real growth rate 4.5% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $34 billion; expenditures $54 billion, including
capital expenditures of $13.3 billion (FY91)

Exports: $17.0 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--gems and jewelry, engineering goods, clothing,
textiles, chemicals, tea, coffee, fish products;

partners--EC 25%, US 19%, USSR and Eastern Europe 17%, Japan 10%

Imports: $24.8 billion (c.i.f., FY90);

commodities--petroleum, capital goods, uncut gems and jewelry,
chemicals, iron and steel, edible oils;

partners--EC 33%, Middle East 19%, Japan 10%, US 9%, USSR and
Eastern Europe 8%

External debt: $69.8 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1990); accounts
for about 25% of GDP

Electricity: 70,000,000 kW capacity; 245,000 million kWh produced,
290 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, food processing, steel, machinery,
transportation equipment, cement, jute manufactures, mining, petroleum,
power, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics

Agriculture: accounts for about 30% of GNP and employs 67% of
labor force; self-sufficient in food grains; principal crops--rice,
wheat, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;
livestock--cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and poultry; fish catch of
about 3 million metric tons ranks among the world's top 10 fishing
nations

Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium poppy for the
pharmaceutical trade, but some opium is diverted to illicit
international drug markets; major transit country for illicit narcotics
produced in neighboring countries

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1980-88), $20.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million;
USSR (1970-89), $11.6 billion; Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 million

Currency: Indian rupee (plural--rupees);
1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise

Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1--18.329 (January
1990), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611
(1986), 12.369 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad
gauge, 24,051 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter
and 0.610 meter); 12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrified

Highways: 1,633,300 km total (1986); 515,300 km secondary and
1,118,000 km gravel, crushed stone, or earth

Inland waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels

Pipelines: crude oil, 3,497 km; refined products, 1,703 km; natural
gas, 902 km (1989)

Ports: Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore,
Port Blair (Andaman Islands)

Merchant marine: 308 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,087,451
GRT/10,150,460 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 8 passenger-cargo,
100 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 container, 54 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 9 combination ore/oil,
115 bulk, 2 combination bulk

Civil air: 93 major transport aircraft

Airports: 345 total, 288 usable; 198 with permanent-surface
runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 57 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
88 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor domestic telephone service, international
radio communications adequate; 4,700,000 telephones; stations--96 AM,
4 FM, 274 TV (government controlled); domestic satellite system for
communications and TV; 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; submarine
cables to Malaysia and United Arab Emirates

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Border Security
Forces, Coast Guard, Assam Rifles

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 232,793,714; 137,259,444 fit
for military service; about 9,431,908 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $9.2 billion, 3.5% of GNP (FY91)



  * INDIAN OCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 73,600,000 km2; Arabian Sea, Bass Strait, Bay of
Bengal, Java Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea,
and other tributary water bodies

Comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of the
US; third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but
larger than the Arctic Ocean)

Coastline: 66,526 km

Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon
(June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and
October/November in the north Indian Ocean and January/February in the
south Indian Ocean

Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad,
circular system of currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal
of surface currents in the north Indian Ocean--low pressure over
southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest
monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high
pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the
northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean
floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the
Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety
East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258 meters in the Java Trench

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and
gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Environment: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and
Red Sea

Note: major choke points include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz,
Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok
Strait; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near
Antarctica from May to October

ECONOMY
Overview: The Indian Ocean provides a major transportation highway
for the movement of petroleum products from the Middle East to Europe
and North and South American countries. Fish from the ocean are of
growing economic importance to many of the bordering countries as a
source of both food and exports. Fishing fleets from the USSR, Japan,
Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean for mostly shrimp and
tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore
areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western Australia. An estimated
40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean.
Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are
actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South
Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Industries: based on exploitation of natural resources,
particularly marine life, minerals, oil and gas production, fishing, sand
and gravel aggregates, placer deposits

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India),
Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia),
Jakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne (Australia), Richard's Bay (South Africa)

Telecommunications: no submarine cables



  * INDONESIA

INDONESIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,919,440 km2; land area: 1,826,440 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 2,602 km total; Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New
Guinea 820 km

Coastline: 54,716 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province)
disputed with Portugal

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains

Natural resources: crude oil, tin, natural gas liquids, nickel,
timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
7%; forest and woodland 67%; other 15%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited);
occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis; deforestation

Note: straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major
sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 193,560,494 (July 1991), growth rate 1.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 73 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 63 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Indonesian(s); adjective--Indonesian

Ethnic divisions: majority of Malay stock comprising Javanese
45.0%, Sundanese 14.0%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other
26.0%

Religion: Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%,
Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)

Language: Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official);
English and Dutch leading foreign languages; local dialects, the most
widely spoken of which is Javanese

Literacy: 77% (male 84%, female 68%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 67,000,000; agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%,
construction 4%, transport and communications 3% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: 3,000,000 members (claimed); about 5% of labor
force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Indonesia

Type: republic

Capital: Jakarta

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi,
singular--propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa,
singular--daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district**
(daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta
Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat,
Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku,
Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan,
Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat,
Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*

Independence: 17 August 1945 (from Netherlands; formerly
Netherlands or Dutch East Indies)

Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of
1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
(Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR); note--the People's Consultative
Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus
500 indirectly elected members who meet every five years to elect the
president and vice president and, theoretically, to determine national
policy

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. (Ret.)
SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968); Vice President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) SUDHARMONO
(since 11 March 1983)

Political parties and leaders:
GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen. (Ret.)
WAHONO, general chairman;
Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI--federation of former Nationalist and
Christian Parties), SOERYADI, chairman;
Development Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties),
Ismail Hasan METAREUM, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 17 and married persons regardless of age

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held on 23 April 1987
(next to be held 23 April 1992);
results--Golkar 73%, UDP 16%, PDI 11%;
seats--(500 total--400 elected, 100 appointed) Golkar 299, UDP 61, PDI 40

Communists: Communist Party (PKI) was officially banned in March
1966; current strength about 1,000-3,000, with less than 10% engaged in
organized activity; pre-October 1965 hardcore membership about 1.5
million

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdul Rachman RAMLY;
Chancery at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036;
telephone [phone]; there are Indonesian Consulates General in
Houston, New York, and Los Angeles, and Consulates in Chicago and San
Francisco;

US--Ambassador John C. MONJO; Embassy at Medan Merdeka Selatan 5,
Jakarta (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96356);
telephone  62  (21) 360-360; there are US Consulates in Medan and
Surabaya

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to
the flag of Monaco which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland
which is white (top) and red

ECONOMY
Overview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with many socialist
institutions and central planning but with a recent emphasis on
deregulation and private enterprise. Indonesia has extensive natural
wealth yet, with a large and rapidly increasing population, it remains a
poor country. GDP growth in 1985-89 averaged about 4%, somewhat short of
the more than 5% rate needed to absorb the 2.3 million workers annually
entering the labor force. Agriculture, including forestry and fishing, is
an important sector, accounting for 21% of GDP and over 50% of the labor
force. The staple crop is rice. Once the world's largest rice importer,
Indonesia is now nearly self-sufficient. Plantation crops--rubber and
palm oil--and textiles and plywood are being encouraged for both export
and job generation. Industrial output now accounts for 30% of GDP
based on a supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil,
natural gas, timber, metals, and coal. Of these, the oil sector dominates
the external economy, generating more than 20% of the government's
revenues and 40% of export earnings in 1989. However, the economy's
growth is very dependent on the continuing expansion of nonoil exports.
Japan is Indonesia's most important customer and supplier of aid.

GDP: $94 billion, per capita $490; real growth rate 6.0%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 3%; underemployment 44% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $17.2 billion; expenditures $23.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $8.9 billion (FY91)

Exports: $25.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--petroleum and liquefied natural gas 40%, timber 15%,
textiles 7%, rubber 5%, coffee 3%;

partners--Japan 40%, US 14%, Singapore 7%, Europe 16% (1990)

Imports: $21.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--machinery 39%, chemical products 19%, manufactured
goods 16%;

partners--Japan 23%, US 13%, EC, Singapore

External debt: $58.5 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 11.6% (1989 est.); accounts
for 30% of GDP

Electricity: 11,600,000 kW capacity; 38,000 million kWh produced,
200 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, textiles, mining, cement, chemical
fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber

Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP, subsistence food production;
small-holder and plantation production for export; rice, cassava,
peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, copra, other tropical products;
products--poultry meat, beef, pork, eggs

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade, but not a major player; government actively eradicating
plantings and prosecuting traffickers

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $22.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million

Currency: Indonesian rupiah (plural--rupiahs);
1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)

Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1--1,907.5 (January
1991), 1,842.8 (1990), 1,770.1 (1989), 1,685.7 (1988), 1,643.8 (1987),
1,282.6 (1986), 1,110.6 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km
0.750-meter gauge, 78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km
electrified; all government owned

Highways: 119,500 km total; 11,812 km state, 34,180 km provincial,
and 73,508 km district roads

Inland waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and
Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km

Pipelines: crude oil, 2,505 km; refined products, 456 km; natural
gas, 1,703 km (1989)

Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Ujungpandang,
Semarang, Surabaya

Merchant marine: 365 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,647,632
GRT/2,481,432 DWT; includes 5 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo,
215 cargo, 7 container, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 vehicle carrier,
80 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 chemical tanker,
5 liquefied gas, 6 specialized tanker, 1 livestock carrier, 25 bulk

Civil air: about 216 commercial transport aircraft

Airports: 470 total, 436 usable; 111 with permanent-surface
runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
63 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: interisland microwave system and HF police net;
domestic service fair, international service good; radiobroadcast
coverage good; 763,000 telephones (1986); stations--618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV;
satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station; and 1 domestic satellite
communications system

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,572,652; 29,893,127 fit for
military service; 2,149,673 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.4 billion, 1.8% of GNP (1988)



  * IRAN

IRAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,648,000 km2; land area: 1,636,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries: 5,492 km total; Afghanistan 936 km, Iraq 1,458 km,
Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, USSR 1,690 km

Coastline: 3,180 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive fishing zone: 50 nm in the Sea of Oman; continental
shelf limit, continental shelf boundaries, or median lines in the Persian
Gulf;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations on 14
October 1990 following the end of the war that began on 22 September
1980; progress had been made on the major issues of contention--troop
withdrawal, prisoner-of-war exchanges, demarcation of the border,
freedom of navigation, and sovereignty over the the Shatt al Arab
waterway--but written agreements had yet to be drawn up when frictions
reemerged in March 1991 in the wake of Shia and Kurdish revolts in
Iraq that Baghdad accused Tehran of supporting;
Kurdish question among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR;
occupies three islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by UAE (Jazireh-ye
Abu Musa or Abu Musa, Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or
Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb); periodic
disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights; Boluch question with
Afghanistan and Pakistan

Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 27%; forest and woodland 11%; other 54%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; desertification

PEOPLE
Population: 59,051,082 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 65 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Iranian(s); adjective--Iranian

Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 25%, Kurd 9%, Gilaki
and Mazandarani 8%, Lur 2%, Baloch 1%, Arab 1%, other 3%

Religion: Shia Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish,
Christian, and Bahai 1%

Language: 58% Persian and Persian dialects, 26% Turkic and Turkic
dialects, 9% Kurdish, 2% Luri, 1% Baloch, 1% Arabic, 1% Turkish, 2% other

Literacy: 54% (male 64%, female 43%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 15,400,000; agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%;
shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Islamic Republic of Iran

Type: theocratic republic

Capital: Tehran

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (ostanha,
singular--ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr,
Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars,
Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,
Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer
Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,
Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Independence: 1 April 1979, Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Legal system: the new Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
government

National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Executive branch: cleric (faqih), president, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly
(Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Cleric and functional Chief of State--Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989);

Head of Government--President Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI
(since 3 August 1989);

Political parties and leaders: there are at least 14 licensed
parties; the three most important are--Tehran Militant Clergy
Association, Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI;
Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar
MUSAVI-KHOINIHA;
Fedaiyin Islam Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI

Suffrage: universal at age 15

Elections:

President--last held NA July 1989 (next to be held April 1993);
results--Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with only token opposition;

Islamic Consultative Assembly--last held 8 April 1988
(next to be held June 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(270 seats total) number of seats by party NA

Communists: 1,000 to 2,000 est. hardcore; 15,000 to 20,000 est.
sympathizers; crackdown in 1983 crippled the party; trials of captured
leaders began in late 1983 and remain incomplete

Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally
support the Islamic Republic include Hizballah, Hojjatiyeh Society,
Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line
of the Imam; armed political groups that have been almost completely
repressed by the government include Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO),
People's Fedayeen, and Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society for the
Defense of Freedom is a group of liberal nationalists that has been
repressed by the government for accusing it of corruption

Member of: CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none; protecting power in the US is
Algeria--Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20007; telephone [phone];

US--protecting power in Iran is Switzerland

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;
the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red
is
centered
in the white band; Allah Akbar (God is Great) in white Arabic
script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and
11 times along the top edge of the red band

ECONOMY
Overview: Since the 1979 revolution, the banks, petroleum industry,
transportation, utilities, and mining have been nationalized, but the
new five-year plan--the first since the revolution--passed in January
1990, calls for the transfer of many government-controlled enterprises
to the private sector. Disruptions from the bitter war with Iraq,
massive corruption, mismanagement, demographic pressures, and ideological
rigidities have kept economic growth at depressed levels. Oil accounts
for over 90% of export revenues. A combination of war damage and low oil
prices brought a 2% drop in GNP in 1988. GNP probably rose slightly in
1989, considerably short of the 3.2% population growth rate in 1989.
Heating oil and gasoline are rationed. Agriculture has suffered from the
war, land reform, and shortages of equipment and materials. The five-year
plan seeks to reinvigorate the economy by increasing the role of the
private sector, boosting nonoil income, and securing foreign loans. The
plan is overly ambitious but probably will generate some short-term
relief.

GNP: $80.0 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 0.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-50% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1989)

Budget: revenues $63 billion; expenditures $80 billion, including
capital expenditures of $23 billion (FY90 est.)

Exports: $12.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides;

partners--Japan, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, France, FRG

Imports: $11.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,
pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products;

partners--FRG, Japan, Turkey, UK, Italy

External debt: $4-5 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 14,579,000 kW capacity; 40,000 million kWh produced,
740 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other
building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and
vegetable oil production), metal fabricating (steel and copper)

Agriculture: principal products--wheat, rice, other grains, sugar
beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not
self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and
international drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1.0
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.6 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million;
note--aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution

Currency: Iranian rial (plural--rials); 1 Iranian rial (IR) =
100 dinars; note--domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of
the toman (plural--tomans), which equals 10 rials

Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1--64.941 (January 1991),
68.096 (1990), 72.015 (1989), 68.683 (1988), 71.460 (1987), 78.760
(1986), 91.052 (1985) at the official rate; black market rate 1,400
(January 1991)

Fiscal year: 21 March-20 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,601 km total; 4,509 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km
1.676-meter gauge; 730 km under construction from Bafq to Bandar Abbas

Highways: 140,072 km total; 46,866 km gravel and crushed stone;
49,440 km improved earth; 42,566 km bituminous and bituminous-treated
surfaces; 1,200 km (est.) rural road network

Inland waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980
because of Iran-Iraq war

Pipelines: crude oil, 5,900 km; refined products, 3,900 km; natural
gas, 3,300 km

Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),
Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e
Khomeyni, Bandar-e Shahid Rajai, Khorramshahr (largely
destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war)

Merchant marine: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,634,204
GRT/8,671,769 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 33
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3
refrigerated cargo, 49 bulk, 2 combination bulk

Civil air: 42 major transport aircraft

Airports: 214 total, 186 usable; 80 with permanent-surface runways;
17 with runways over 3,659 m; 16 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 70 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: radio relay extends throughout country; system
centered in Tehran; 2,143,000 telephones; stations--62 AM, 30 FM, 250
TV; satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian
Ocean INTELSAT; HF and microwave to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and
USSR

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air
Force, Air Defense, and Revolutionary Guard Corps (includes Basij
militia and own ground, air, and naval forces);
a merger of the Komiteh, Police, and Gendarmerie has produced a new
Security Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 12,750,593; 7,588,711 fit for
military service; 576,321 reach military age (21) annually

Defense expenditures: $13 billion, 13.3% of GNP (1991 est.)



  * IRAQ

IRAQ

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 434,920 km2; land area: 433,970 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries: 3,454 km total; Iran 1,458 km, Iraq - Saudi Arabia
Neutral Zone 191 km, Jordan 134 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 495 km,
Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km

Coastline: 58 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations on 14
October 1990 following the end of the war that began on 22 September
1980; progress had been made on the major issues of
contention--troop withdrawal, prisoner-of-war exchanges, demarcation of
the border, freedom of navigation, and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab
waterway--but written agreements had yet to be drawn up when frictions
reemerged in March 1991 in the wake of Shia and Kurdish revolts in
Iraq that Baghdad accused Tehran of supporting; Kurdish question
among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR; shares Neutral Zone with
Saudi Arabia--in December 1981, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed a boundary
agreement that divides the zone between them, but the agreement must
be ratified before it becomes effective; Iraqi forces invaded and
occupied Kuwait from 2 August 1990 until 27 February 1991; in April 1991
official Iraqi acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which
demands that Iraq accept its internationally recognized border with
Kuwait, ended earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah Islands or to
all of Kuwait; periodic disputes with upstream riparian Syria over
Euphrates water rights; potential dispute over water development plans by
Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Climate: desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless
summers

Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains
along borders with Iran and Turkey

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
9%; forest and woodland 3%; other 75%; includes irrigated 4%

Environment: development of Tigris-Euphrates river systems
contingent upon agreements with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air
and water pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion;
desertification

PEOPLE
Population: 19,524,718 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Iraqi(s); adjective--Iraqi

Ethnic divisions: Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian
or other 5%

Religion: Muslim 97%, (Shia 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian
or other 3%

Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
Assyrian, Armenian

Literacy: 60% (male 70%, female 49%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,400,000 (1989); services 48%, agriculture 30%,
industry 22%, severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force about
1,600,000 (July 1990)

Organized labor: less than 10% of the labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Iraq

Type: republic

Capital: Baghdad

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna,
Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At
Tamim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala,
Karbala, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)

Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim
Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted

Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,
civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)

Executive branch: president, vice president, chairman of the
Revolutionary Command Council, vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command
Council, prime minister, first deputy prime minister, Council of
Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis Watani)

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Saddam HUSAYN (since 16 July 1979);
Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974);
Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Sadun HAMMADI (since 27 March
1991); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq AZIZ (since NA 1979);
Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 27 March 1991)

Political parties: National Progressive Front is a coalition of the
Arab Bath Socialist Party, Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Kurdistan
Revolutionary Party

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections:

National Assembly--last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA);
results--Sunni Arabs 53%, Shia Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.;
seats--(250 total) number of seats by party NA

Communists: about 1,500 hardcore members

Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity
severely restricted; possibly some opposition to regime from disaffected
members of the regime, Army officers, and religious and ethnic dissidents

Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-19,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: no Iraqi representative in Washington;
Chancery at 1801 P Street NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
483-7500;

US--no US representative in Baghdad since mid-January 1991;
Embassy in Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad
(mailing address is P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad); telephone  964  (1)
719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the
white band; the phrase Allahu Akbar (God is Great) in green Arabic
script--Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of
the middle star--was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf
crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script
and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the
flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: The Bathist regime engages in extensive central
planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while
leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to
private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector,
which has provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s
financial problems, caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year
war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the
government to implement austerity measures and to borrow heavily and
later reschedule foreign debt payments. After the end of hostilities in
1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new
pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development
remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations
caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The
industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government,
also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August
1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military actions
by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically
changed the economic picture. Oil exports were cut to near zero,
and industrial and transportation facilities severely damaged.

GNP: $35 billion, per capita $1,940; real growth rate 5%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-40% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: less than 5% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $NA billion; expenditures $35 billion,
including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $12.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur;

partners--US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, France, Italy, USSR (1989)

Imports: $10.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--manufactures, food;

partners--US, FRG, Turkey, UK, Romania, Japan, France (1989)

External debt: $40 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt to Arab
Gulf states

Industrial production: NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GDP
(1987)

Electricity: 9,902,000 kW capacity; 20,000 million kWh produced,
1,110 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials,
food processing

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP but 30% of labor
force; principal products--wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other
fruit, cotton, wool; livestock--cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in
food output

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $627 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1980-90), more than $30
billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion

Currency: Iraqi dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000
fils

Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1--0.3109 (fixed rate
since 1982)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,962 km total; 2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
505 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 25,479 km total; 8,290 km paved, 5,534 km improved earth,
11,655 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980
because of Iran-Iraq war; Tigris and Euphrates navigable by shallow-draft
steamers (of little importance); Shatt al Basrah canal navigable in
sections by shallow-draft vessels

Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, Al Basrah

Merchant marine: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 944,253
GRT/1,691,368 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 17 cargo,
1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 19 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker; note--since the 2 August 1990
invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces, Iraq has sought to register at least
part of its merchant fleet under convenience flags; none of the Iraqi
flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as of 1 January 1991

Pipelines: crude oil, 4,350 km; 725 km refined products; 1,360 km
natural gas

Civil air: 64 major transport aircraft (including 30 IL-76s
used by the Iraq Air Force)

Airports: 111 total, 102 usable; 73 with permanent-surface runways;
9 with runways over 3,659 m; 52 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good network consists of coaxial cables, radio
relay links, and radiocommunication stations; 632,000 telephones;
stations--9 AM, 1 FM, 81 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 GORIZONT Atlantic Ocean in the
Intersputnik system; coaxial cable and radio relay to Kuwait, Jordan,
Syria, and Turkey

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force,
Border Guard Force, Internal Security Forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,270,592; 2,380,439 fit for
military service; 228,277 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * IRAQ - SAUDI ARABIA NEUTRAL ZONE

IRAQ - SAUDI ARABIA NEUTRAL ZONE

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 3,520 km2; land area: 3,520 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 389 km total; 191 km Iraq, 198 km Saudi Arabia

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: harsh, dry desert

Terrain: sandy desert

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other (sandy desert) 100%

Environment: harsh, inhospitable

Note: landlocked; located west of quadripoint with Iraq, Kuwait,
and Saudi Arabia

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: joint administration by Iraq and Saudi Arabia; in December
1981, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed a boundary agreement that divides
the zone between them, but the agreement must be ratified before it
becomes effective

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: none; some secondary roads

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the joint responsibility of Iraq and Saudi Arabia



  * IRELAND

IRELAND

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 70,280 km2; land area: 68,890 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundary: 360 km with UK

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: no precise definition;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall
continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland
and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current;
mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the
time

Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by
rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, crude oil, barite,
copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

Land use: arable land 14%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 71%; forest and woodland 5%; other 10%

Environment: deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 3,489,165 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Irishman(men), Irish (collective pl.);
adjective--Irish

Ethnic divisions: Celtic, with English minority

Religion: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%,
other 1% (1981)

Language: Irish (Gaelic) and English; English is the language
generally used, with Gaelic spoken in a few areas, mostly along the
western seaboard

Literacy: 98% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

Labor force: 1,293,000; services 57.0%, manufacturing and
construction 26.1%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 15.0%,
energy and mining 1.9% (1988)

Organized labor: 36% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: republic

Capital: Dublin

Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)

Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1937

Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified
by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of
an upper house or Senate (Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of
Representatives (Dail Eireann)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November
1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Charles J. HAUGHEY (since
12 July 1989, the fourth time elected as Prime Minister)

Political parties and leaders:
Fianna Fail, Charles HAUGHEY;
Labor Party, Richard SPRING;
Fine Gael, John BRUTON;
Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN;
Workers' Party, Proinsias DEROSSA;
Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS;
Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY;
note--Prime Minister HAUGHEY heads a coalition consisting of the
Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997);
results--Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%;

Senate--last held on 17 February 1987 (next to be held February 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 16, Labor 3,
Independents 11;

House of Representatives--last held on 12 July 1989 (next to be
held NA June 1994);
results--Fianna Fail 44.0%, Fine Gael 29.4%, Labor Party 9.3%,
Progressive Democrats 5.4%, Workers' Party 4.9%, Sinn Fein 1.1%,
independents 5.9%;
seats--(166 total) Fianna Fail 77, Fine Gael 55, Labor Party 15,
Workers' Party 7, Progressive Democrats 6, independents 6

Communists: under 500

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NEA, OECD, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Padraic N. MACKERNAN;
Chancery at 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there are Irish Consulates General in Boston, Chicago,
New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Richard A. MOORE; Embassy at 42 Elgin Road,
Ballsbridge, Dublin; telephone  353  (1) 688777

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; similar to the flag of the Ivory Coast which is shorter and
has the colors reversed--orange (hoist side), white, and green; also
similar to the flag of Italy which is shorter and has colors of green
(hoist side), white, and red

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is small, open, and trade dependent.
Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry,
which accounts for 37% of GDP and about 80% of exports and employs 26%
of the labor force. The government has successfully reduced the rate of
inflation from double-digit figures in the late 1970s to 3.3% in
1990. In 1987, after years of deficits, the balance of payments was
brought into the black. Unemployment, however, is a serious problem. A
1990 unemployment rate of 16.6% placed Ireland along with Spain as the
countries with the worst jobless records in Western Europe.

GDP: $33.9 billion, per capita $9,690; real growth rate 4.1%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 16.6% (1990)

Budget: revenues $11.3 billion; expenditures $11.7 billion,
including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (1990)

Exports: $24.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial
machinery, live animals, animal products;

partners--EC 74% (UK 34%, FRG 11%, France 10%), US 8%

Imports: $20.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--food, animal feed, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum
products, machinery, textiles, clothing;

partners--EC 66% (UK 41%, FRG 9%, France 4%), US 16%

External debt: $16.0 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1990); accounts for
37% of GDP

Electricity: 4,957,000 kW capacity; 14,480 million kWh produced,
4,080 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GNP and 15% of the labor force;
principal crops--turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat;
livestock--meat and dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food
shortages include bread grain, fruits, vegetables

Economic aid: donor--ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million

Currency: Irish pound (plural--pounds); 1 Irish pound (LIr) =
100 pence

Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1--0.5656 (January
1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989), 0.6553 (1988), 0.6720 (1987), 0.7454
(1986), 0.9384 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km
1.602-meter gauge, government owned; 485 km double track; 38 km
electrified

Highways: 92,294 km total; 87,422 km surfaced, 4,872 km gravel or
crushed stone

Inland waterways: limited for commercial traffic

Pipelines: natural gas, 225 km

Ports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon Estuary, Waterford

Merchant marine: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 138,967
GRT/164,628 DWT; includes 4 short-sea passenger, 31 cargo, 2
refrigerated cargo, 3 container, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 6 bulk

Civil air: 23 major transport aircraft

Airports: 40 total, 37 usable; 18 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 6 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: small, modern system using cable and radio
relay circuits; 900,000 telephones; stations--45 AM, 16 (29 relays) FM,
18 (68 relays) TV; 5 coaxial submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National
Police (GARDA)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 871,578; 705,642 fit for
military service; 33,175 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $458 million, 1.6% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * ISRAEL

ISRAEL
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note: The Arab territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war
are not included in the data below. As stated in the 1978 Camp David
Accords and reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace
initiative, the final status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their
relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel
and Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. The Camp
David Accords further specify that these negotiations will resolve the
location of the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this
process, it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and
Gaza Strip has yet to be determined (see West Bank and Gaza Strip
entries). On 25 April 1982 Israel relinquished control of the Sinai to
Egypt. Statistics for the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are included in
the Syria entry.


GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 20,770 km2; land area: 20,330 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 1,006 km total; Egypt 255 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307, Gaza Strip 51 km

Coastline: 273 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 6 nm

Disputes: separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the
1949 Armistice Line; differences with Jordan over the location
of the 1949 Armistice Line which separates the two countries;
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with status
to be determined; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in
southern Lebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan

Climate: temperate; hot and dry in desert areas

Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand,
sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil

Land use: arable land 17%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures
40%; forest and woodland 6%; other 32%; includes irrigated 11%

Environment: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; limited
arable land and natural water resources pose serious constraints;
deforestation

Note: there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, 38 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 18 in the Gaza Strip, and 14
Israeli-built Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem

PEOPLE
Population: 4,477,105 (July 1991), growth rate 1.5% (1991);
includes 90,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 13,000 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 2,500 in the Gaza Strip, and 120,000 in
East Jerusalem (1990 est.)

Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Israeli(s); adjective--Israeli

Ethnic divisions: Jewish 83%, non-Jewish (mostly Arab) 17%

Religion: Judaism 82%, Islam (mostly Sunni Muslim) 14%,
Christian 2%, Druze and other 2%

Language: Hebrew (official); Arabic used officially for Arab
minority; English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy: 92% (male 95%, female 89%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1983)

Labor force: 1,400,000 (1984 est.); public services 29.3%;
industry, mining, and manufacturing 22.8%; commerce 12.8%; finance and
business 9.5%; transport, storage, and communications 6.8%; construction
and public works 6.5%; personal and other services 5.8%; agriculture,
forestry, and fishing 5.5%; electricity and water 1.0% (1983)

Organized labor: 90% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: State of Israel

Type: republic

Capital: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the
US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular--mehoz);
Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)

Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the
basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law

Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate
regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
legal systems; in December 1985 Israel informed the UN Secretariat that
it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 May 1989; Israel declared
independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the
holiday may occur in April or May

Executive branch: president, prime minister, vice prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral parliament (Knesset)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Chaim HERZOG (since 5 May 1983);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Yitzhak SHAMIR (since 20 October
1986)

Political parties and leaders: Israel currently has a coalition
government comprising eleven parties that hold 66 of the Knesset's
120 seats;

Members of the government--Likud bloc, Prime Minister Yitzhak
SHAMIR;
Sephardic Torah Guardians (SHAS), Minister of Interior Arieh DER'I;
National Religious Party, Minister of Education Zevulun HAMMER;
Agudat Yisrael, Moshe Zeev FELDMAN;
Degel HaTorah, Avraham RAVITZ;
Moriya, Minister of Immigrant Absorption, Yitzhak PERETZ;
Ge'vlat Yisrael, Elizer MIZRAHI;
Party for the Advancement of Zionist Ideology (PAZI), Minister of
Finance Yitzhak MODAI;
Tehiya Party, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Infrastructure
Yuval NE'EMAN;
Tzomet Party, Minister of Agriculture Rafael EITAN;
Unity for Peace and Aliyah, Efrayim GUR;
Moledet Party, Rehavam ZE'EVI;

Opposition parties--Labor Party, Shimon PERES;
Citizens' Rights Movement, Shulamit ALONI;
United Workers' Party (MAPAM), Yair TZABAN;
Center Movement-Shinui, Amnon RUBENSTEIN;
New Israeli Communist Party (MAKI), Meir WILNER;
Progressive List for Peace, Muhammad MI'ARI;
Arab Democratic Party, Abd Al Wahab DARAWSHAH;
Black Panthers, Charlie BITON

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 23 February 1988 (next to be held February 1994);
results--Chaim HERZOG reelected by Knesset;

Knesset--last held 1 November 1988 (next to be held by November 1992);
seats--(120 total) Labor Party 38, Likud bloc 37, SHAS 5, National
Religious Party 5, Citizens' Rights Movement 5, Agudat Yisrael 4,
PAZI 3, MAKI 3, Tehiya Party 3, MAPAM 3, Tzomet Party 2, Moledet Party 2,
Degel HaTorah 2, Center Movement-Shinui 2, Progressive List for Peace 1,
Arab Democratic Party 1; Black Panthers 1, Moriya 1, Ge'ulat Yisrael 1,
Unity for Peace and Aliyah 1

Communists: Hadash (predominantly Arab but with Jews in its
leadership) has some 1,500 members

Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Jewish
nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza
Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West Bank/Gaza Strip and
Lebanon policies

Member of: AG (observer), CCC, EBRD, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Zalman SHOVAL; Chancery at
3514 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
364-5500; there are Israeli Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San
Francisco;

US--Ambassador William A. BROWN; Embassy at 71 Hayarkon Street,
Tel Aviv (mailing address is APO New York 09672); telephone  972  (3)
654338; there is a US Consulate General in Jerusalem

Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as
the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal
blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government
participation. It depends on imports for crude oil, food, grains, raw
materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources,
Israel has developed its agricultural and industrial sectors on an
intensive scale over the past 20 years. Industry accounts for about 23%
of the labor force, agriculture for 5%, and services for most of the
balance. Diamonds, high-technology machinery, and agricultural products
(fruits and vegetables) are the biggest export earners. The balance of
payments has traditionally been negative, but is offset by large transfer
payments and foreign loans. About half of Israel's $18 billion external
government debt is owed to the US, which is its major source for economic
and military aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel must continue
to exploit high-technology niches in the international market, such as
medical scanning equipment. Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August dealt
a blow to Israel's economy in 1990. Higher world oil prices added an
estimated $300 million to Israel's 1990 oil import bill, and helped
keep the inflation rate at 18% for the year. Regional tensions
and continuing acts of the Palestinian uprising
(intifadah)-related violence contributed to a sharp dropoff in
tourism--a key source of foreign exchange--to the lowest level since the
1973 Arab-Israeli war. In 1991, the influx of up to 400,000 Soviet
immigrants will increase unemployment, intensify the country's
housing crisis, and contribute to a widening budget deficit.

GNP: $46.5 billion, per capita $10,500; real growth rate 3.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.8% (March 1991)

Budget: revenues $28.7 billion; expenditures $33.0 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91)

Exports: $10.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--polished diamonds, citrus and other fruits, textiles
and clothing, processed foods, fertilizer and chemical products, military
hardware, electronics;

partners--US, UK, FRG, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy

Imports: $14.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--military equipment, rough diamonds, oil, chemicals,
machinery, iron and steel, cereals, textiles, vehicles, ships, aircraft;

partners--US, FRG, UK, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

External debt: $24.5 billion, of which government debt is
$18 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.5% (1989); accounts
for about 40% of GDP

Electricity: 4,392,000 kW capacity; 17,500 million kWh produced,
4,000 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing,
textiles, clothing, chemicals, metal products, military equipment,
transport equipment, electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery,
potash mining, high-technology electronics, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP; largely self-sufficient in
food production, except for bread grains; principal products--citrus and
other fruits, vegetables, cotton; livestock products--beef, dairy, and
poultry

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.5 billion

Currency: new Israeli shekel (plural--shekels);
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--2.35
(May 1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946
(1987), 1.4878 (1986), 1.1788 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March; changing to calender year basis
starting January 1992

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 594 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated

Highways: 4,500 km; majority is bituminous surfaced

Pipelines: crude oil, 708 km; refined products, 290 km; natural
gas, 89 km

Ports: Ashdod, Haifa, Elat

Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 516,714
GRT/611,795 DWT; includes 7 cargo, 21 container, 2 refrigerated cargo;
note--Israel also maintains a significant flag of convenience fleet,
which is normally at least as large as the Israeli flag fleet; the
Israeli flag of convenience fleet typically includes all of its POL
tankers

Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft

Airports: 51 total, 44 usable; 26 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: most highly developed in the Middle East
though not the largest; good system of coaxial cable and radio relay;
1,800,000 telephones; stations--11 AM, 24 FM, 54 TV; 2 submarine cables;
satellite earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Israel Defense Forces includes ground, naval, and air
components; historically there have been no separate Israeli military
services

Manpower availability: eligible 15-49, 2,213,808; of the 1,117,733
males 15-49, 920,449 are fit for military service; of the 1,096,075
females 15-49, 899,022 are fit for military service; 44,429 males and
42,249 females reach military age (18) annually; both sexes are liable
for military service; Nahal or Pioneer Fighting Youth, Frontier Guard,
Chen

Defense expenditures: $5.3 billion, 13.9% of GNP (1991);
note--includes an estimated $1.8 billion in US military aid



  * ITALY

ITALY

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 301,230 km2; land area: 294,020 km2; includes Sardinia
and Sicily

Comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries: 1,902.2 km total; Austria 430 km, France 488 km,
San Marino 39 km, Switzerland 740 km, Vatican City 3.2 km, Yugoslavia
202 km

Coastline: 4,996 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry
in south

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal
lowlands

Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling
natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal

Land use: arable land 32%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and
pastures 17%; forest and woodland 22%; other 19%; includes irrigated 10%

Environment: regional risks include landslides, mudflows,
snowslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, pollution; land
sinkage in Venice

Note: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as
well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

PEOPLE
Population: 57,772,375 (July 1991), growth rate 0.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 82 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Italian(s); adjective--Italian

Ethnic divisions: primarily Italian but population includes small
clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and
Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south; Sicilians; Sardinians

Religion: nominally Roman Catholic almost 100%

Language: Italian; parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are
predominantly German speaking; significant French-speaking minority in
Valle d'Aosta region; Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia
area

Literacy: 97% (male 98%, female 96%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 23,988,000; services 58%, industry 32.2%,
agriculture 9.8% (1988)

Organized labor: 40-45% of labor force (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Italian Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Rome

Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular--regione);
Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia
Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia,
Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta,
Veneto

Independence: 17 March 1861, Kingdom of Italy proclaimed

Constitution: 1 January 1948

Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law
influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; judicial review under
certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)

Executive branch: president, prime minister (president of the
Council of Ministers)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlamento) consists of
an upper chamber or Senate of the Republic (Senato della Repubblica)
and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francesco COSSIGA (since 3 July 1985);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Giulio ANDREOTTI (since 22 July
1989, heads the government for the seventh time); Deputy Prime Minister
Claudio MARTELLI (since 23 July 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party (DC), Arnaldo FORLANI (general secretary),
Ciriaco De MITA (president);
Socialist Party (PSI), Bettino CRAXI (party secretary);
Social Democratic Party (PSDI), Antonio CARIGLIA (party secretary);
Liberal Party (PLI), Renato ALTISSIMO (secretary general);
Democratic Party of the Left (PDS--was Communist Party, or PCI, until
January 1991), Achille OCCHETTO (secretary general);
Italian Social Movement (MSI), Giuseppe (Pino) RAUTI (national
secretary);
Republican Party (PRI), Giorgio La MALFA (political secretary);
Lega Nord, Umberto BOSSI, president;
Italy's 50th postwar government was formed on 13 April 1991,
with Prime Minister ANDREOTTI, a Christian Democrat, presiding over a
four-party coalition consisting of the Christian Democrats, Socialists,
Social Democrats, and Liberals

Suffrage: universal at age 18 (except in senatorial elections,
where minimum age is 25)

Elections:

Senate--last held 14-15 June 1987 (next to be held by June 1992);
results--DC 33.9%, PCI 28.3%, PSI 10.7%, other 27.1%;
seats--(320 total, 315 elected) DC 125, PCI 100, PSI 36, other 54;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 14-15 June 1987
(next to be held by June 1992);
results--DC 34.3%, PCI 26.6%, PSI 14.3%, MSI 5.9%, PRI 3.7%, PSDI 3.0%,
Radicals 2.6%, Greens 2.5%, PLI 2.1%, Proletarian Democrats 1.7%,
other 3.3%;
seats--(630 total) DC 234, PCI 177, PSI 94, MSI 35, PRI 21, PSDI 17,
Radicals 13, Greens 13, PLI 11, Proletarian Democrats 8, other 7

Communists: 1.3 million (1990)

Other political or pressure groups: the Roman Catholic Church;
three major trade union confederations (CGIL--Communist dominated,
CISL--Christian Democratic, and UIL--Social Democratic, Socialist, and
Republican); Italian manufacturers association (Confindustria);
organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM,
CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IEA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS (observer),
OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Rinaldo PETRIGNANI; Chancery
at 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone];
there are Italian Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Houston, New
Orleans, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Consulates in
Detroit and Newark (New Jersey);

US--Ambassador Peter F. SECCHIA; Embassy at Via Veneto 119/A,
00187-Rome (mailing address is APO New York 09794); telephone  39  (6)
46741; there are US Consulates General in Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples,
and Palermo (Sicily)

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
red; similar to the flag of Ireland which is longer and is green (hoist
side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Ivory Coast
which has the colors reversed--orange (hoist side), white, and green

ECONOMY
Overview: Since World War II the economy has changed from one based
on agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the
same total and per capita output as France and the UK. The country is
still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by small
private companies, and an undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by
large public enterprises. Services account for 48% of GDP, industry 34%,
agriculture 4%, and public administration 13%. Most raw materials needed
by industry and over 75% of energy requirements must be imported. The
economic recovery that began in mid-1983 has continued through 1990, with
the economy growing at an annual average rate of 3%. For the 1990s, Italy
faces the problems of refurbishing a tottering communications system,
curbing pollution in major industrial centers, and adjusting to the new
competitive forces accompanying the ongoing economic integration of the
European Community.

GDP: $844.7 billion, per capita $14,600; real growth rate 2.0%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 11.0% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $355 billion; expenditures $448 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $170.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--textiles, wearing apparel, metals, transportation
equipment, chemicals;

partners--EC 57%, US 8%, OPEC 4%

Imports: $182.0 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, industrial machinery, chemicals, metals,
food, agricultural products;

partners--EC 58%, OPEC 6%, US 5%

External debt: NA

Industrial production: growth rate - 0.1% (1990); accounts for
almost 35% of GDP

Electricity: 56,800,000 kW capacity; 225,000 million kWh produced,
3,900 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,
textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Agriculture: accounts for about 4% of GDP and 10% of the
work force; self-sufficient in foods other than meat and dairy products;
principal crops--fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets,
soybeans, grain, olives; fish catch of 388,200 metric tons in 1988

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9
billion

Currency: Italian lira (plural--lire); 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100
centesimi

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,134.4 (January
1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987),
1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned
standard gauge (8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned--2,100 km
1.435-meter standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km
0.950-meter narrow gauge (380 km electrified)

Highways: 294,410 km total; autostrada 5,900 km, state highways
45,170 km, provincial highways 101,680 km, communal highways 141,660 km;
260,500 km concrete, bituminous, or stone block, 26,900 km gravel and
crushed stone,7,010 km earth

Inland waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial
traffic, although of limited overall value

Pipelines: crude oil, 1,703 km; refined products, 2,148 km; natural
gas, 19,400 km

Ports: Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples,
Palermo (Sicily), Taranto, Trieste, Venice

Merchant marine: 575 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,462,744
GRT/11,593,730 DWT; includes 11 passenger, 44 short-sea passenger,
103 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 23 container, 67 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
7 vehicle carrier, 1 multifunction large-load carrier, 2 livestock
carrier, 151 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 37 chemical
tanker, 38 liquefied gas, 10 specialized tanker, 14 combination ore/oil,
60 bulk, 2 combination bulk

Civil air: 125 major transport aircraft

Airports: 138 total, 135 usable; 90 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 36 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 38 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: well engineered, constructed, and operated;
28,000,000 telephones; stations--144 AM, 54 (over 1,800 repeaters) FM,
450 (over 1,300 repeaters) TV; 22 submarine cables; communication
satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2
Indian Ocean, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,747,224; 12,877,803 fit for
military service; 418,043 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $19.2 billion, 2.2% of GDP (1990)



  * IVORY COAST

IVORY COAST
(also known as Cote d'Ivoire)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 322,460 km2; land area: 318,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: 3,110 km total; Burkina 584 km, Ghana 668 km,
Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Coastline: 515 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons--warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May),
hot and wet (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Natural resources: crude oil, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper

Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
9%; forest and woodland 26%; other 52%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; severe
deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 12,977,909 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 97 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ivorian(s); adjective--Ivorian

Ethnic divisions: over 60 ethnic groups; most important are the
Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, and Agni; foreign
Africans, mostly Burkinabe about 2 million; non-Africans about 130,000 to
330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

Religion: indigenous 63%, Muslim 25%, Christian 12%,

Language: French (official), over 60 native dialects; Dioula most
widely spoken

Literacy: 54% (male 67%, female 40%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 5,718,000; over 85% of population engaged in
agriculture, forestry, livestock raising; about 11% of labor force are
wage earners, nearly half in agriculture and the remainder in government,
industry, commerce, and professions; 54% of population of working age
(1985)

Organized labor: 20% of wage labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of the Ivory Coast; note--the local
official name is Republique de Cote d'Ivoire

Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Capital: Abidjan (capital city changed to Yamoussoukro in March
1983 but not recognized by US)

Administrative divisions: 49 departments (departements,
singular--(departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope,
Agboville, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou,
Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane,
Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa,
Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota,
Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro,
Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tengrela,
Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula

Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution: 3 November 1960

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 7 December

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Dr. Felix
HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY (since 27 November 1960); Prime Minister Allassane
OUATTARE (since 7 November 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast (PDCI), Dr. Felix
HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY;
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO;
Ivorian Worker's Party (PIT), Francis WODIE;
Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI), Morifere BAMBA;
over 20 smaller parties

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held October 1995);
results--President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY received 81% of the vote
in his first contested election; he is currently serving his seventh
consecutive five-year term;

National Assembly--last held 25 November 1990 (next to be held November 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(175 total) PDCI 163, FPI 9, PIT 1, independents 2

Communists: no Communist party; possibly some sympathizers

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO,
FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Charles GOMIS; Chancery at
2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
797-0300;

US--Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN; Embassy at 5 Rue Jesse Owens,
Abidjan (mailing address is 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan); telephone  225
21-09-79 or 21-46-72

Flag: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and
green; similar to the flag of Ireland which is longer and has the colors
reversed--green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag
of Italy which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on
the flag of France

ECONOMY
Overview: Ivory Coast is among the world's largest producers
and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm-kernel oil. Consequently,
the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices
for coffee and cocoa and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the
government to diversify, the economy is still largely dependent on
agriculture and related industries. The agricultural sector accounts for
over one-third of GDP and about 80% of export earnings and employs about
85% of the labor force. A collapse of world cocoa and coffee prices in
1986 threw the economy into a recession, from which the country had not
recovered by 1990.

GDP: $10 billion, per capita $800; real growth rate - 2.9% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14% (1985)

Budget: revenues $2.8 billion (1989 est.); expenditures $4.1
billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Exports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--cocoa 30%, coffee 20%, tropical woods 11%, cotton,
bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton;

partners--France, FRG, Netherlands, US, Belgium, Spain (1985)

Imports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--manufactured goods and semifinished products 50%,
consumer goods 40%, raw materials and fuels 10%;

partners--France, other EC, Nigeria, US, Japan (1985)

External debt: $15.0 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 6% (1989); accounts for
17% of GDP

Electricity: 1,081,000 kW capacity; 2,440 million kWh produced,
210 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: foodstuffs, wood processing, oil refinery, automobile
assembly, textiles, fertilizer, beverage

Agriculture: most important sector, contributing one-third to GDP
and 80% to exports; cash crops include coffee, cocoa beans, timber,
bananas, palm kernels, rubber; food crops--corn, rice, manioc, sweet
potatoes; not self-sufficient in bread grain and dairy products

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis on a small scale for
the international drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $356
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.9 billion

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 660 km (Burkina border to Abidjan, 1.00-meter gauge,
single track, except 25 km Abidjan-Anyama section is double track)

Highways: 46,600 km total; 3,600 km bituminous and
bituminous-treated surface; 32,000 km gravel, crushed stone, laterite,
and improved earth; 11,000 km unimproved

Inland waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous
coastal lagoons

Ports: Abidjan, San-Pedro

Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,945 GRT/
90,684 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 1 chemical tanker

Civil air: 12 major transport aircraft, including multinationally
owned Air Afrique fleet

Airports: 48 total, 41 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: system above African average; consists of
open-wire lines and radio relay links; 87,700 telephones; stations--3 AM,
17 FM, 11 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; 2 coaxial
submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie,
Presidential Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,981,269; 1,543,412 fit for
military service; 145,693 males reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $199 million, 2.3% of GDP (1988)



  * JAMAICA

JAMAICA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 10,990 km2; land area: 10,830 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,022 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Land use: arable land 19%; permanent crops 6%; meadows and pastures
18%; forest and woodland 28%; other 29%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: subject to hurricanes (especially July to November);
deforestation; water pollution

Note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica
Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

PEOPLE
Population: 2,489,353 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Jamaican(s); adjective--Jamaican

Ethnic divisions: African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian
and Afro-East Indian 3.0%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%,
other 1.2%

Religion: predominantly Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%,
Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%, Seven-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%,
Methodist 3.1%, United Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%,
other 39.1%, including some spiritualist cults (1982)

Language: English, Creole

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 99%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,062,100; services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry
19%; unemployed 17.5% (1989)

Organized labor: 24% of labor force (1989)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Kingston

Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover,
Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine,
Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny,
Westmoreland

Independence: 6 August 1962 (from UK)

Constitution: 6 August 1962

Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day (first Monday in August),
6 August 1990

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Florizel A. GLASSPOLE (since 2 March
1973);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Michael MANLEY
(since 13 February 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
People's National Party (PNP), Michael MANLEY;
Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA;
Workers' Party of Jamaica (WPJ), Trevor MUNROE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 9 February 1989 (next to be
held by February 1994);
results--PNP 57%, JLP 43%;
seats--(60 total) PNP 45, JLP 15

Communists: Workers' Party of Jamaica (Marxist-Leninist)

Other political or pressure groups:
Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-19, G-77,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Richard BERNAL;
Chancery at Suite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington DC 20006; telephone
[phone]; there are Jamaican Consulates General in Miami and New
York;

US--Ambassador Glen A. HOLDEN; Embassy at 3rd Floor, Jamaica Mutual
Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston; telephone [phone]

Flag: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four
triangles--green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism.
In 1985 it suffered a setback with the closure of some facilities in the
bauxite and alumina industry, a major source of hard currency earnings.
Since 1986 an economic recovery has been under way. In 1987 conditions
began to improve for the bauxite and alumina industry because of
increases in world metal prices. The recovery has also been supported by
growth in the manufacturing and tourism sectors. In September 1988,
Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe damage on crops and the electric power
system, a sharp but temporary setback to the economy. By October 1989 the
economic recovery from the hurricane was largely complete and real growth
was up about 3% for 1989. In 1990, 3.5% economic growth was led by
mining and tourism.

GDP: $3.9 billion, per capita $1,580; real growth rate 3.5% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 18.2% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.0 billion; expenditures $1.1 billion, including
capital expenditures of $197 million (FY90 est.)

Exports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--bauxite, alumina, sugar, bananas;

partners--US 36%, UK, Canada, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago

Imports: $1.83 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, machinery, food, consumer goods,
construction goods;

partners--US 48%, UK, Venezuela, Canada, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago

External debt: $4.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1989 est.); accounts
for almost 25% of GDP

Electricity: 1,122,000 kW capacity; 2,508 million kWh produced,
1,030 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, bauxite mining, textiles, food processing,
light manufactures

Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GDP, 22% of work force,
and 17% of exports; commercial crops--sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus,
potatoes, and vegetables; livestock and livestock products include
poultry, goats, milk; not self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy
products

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis; transshipment point
for ships carrying cocaine and cannabis from central and South America
to North America

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.45 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $27 million;
Communist countries (1974-89), $349 million

Currency: Jamaican dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1--8.106 (January
1991), 7.184 (1990), 5.7446 (1989), 5.4886 (1988), 5.4867 (1987), 5.4778
(1986), 5.5586 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 370 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track

Highways: 18,200 km total; 12,600 km paved, 3,200 km gravel,
2,400 km improved earth

Pipelines: refined products, 10 km

Ports: Kingston, Montego Bay

Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,048
GRT/21,412 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 1 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 bulk

Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 41 total, 25 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fully automatic domestic telephone network;
127,000 telephones; stations--10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations; 3 coaxial submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Coast Guard and Air
Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 628,225; 446,229 fit for
military service; no conscription; 26,442 reach minimum volunteer
age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $20 million, less than 1% of GDP (FY91)



  * JAN MAYEN

JAN MAYEN
(territory of Norway)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 373 km2; land area: 373 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 124.1 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 10 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

Disputes: Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims beween
Greenland and Jan Mayen

Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is
the highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass;
volcanic activity resumed in 1970

Note: located north of the Arctic Circle about 590 km
north-northeast of Iceland between the Greenland Sea and the
Norwegian Sea

PEOPLE
Population: no permanent inhabitants

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: territory of Norway

Note: administered by a governor (sysselmann) resident in
Longyearbyen (Svalbard)

ECONOMY
Overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable
natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services
for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on
the island.

Electricity: 15,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced,
NA kWh per capita (1989)

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 1 with runway 1,220 to 2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Telecommunications: radio and meteorological station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway



  * JAPAN

JAPAN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 377,835 km2; land area: 374,744 km2; includes Bonin
Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima,
Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands
(Kazan-retto)

Comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 29,751 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm (3 nm in international straits--La Perouse
or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western channels of the Korea or
Tsushima Strait)

Disputes: Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan Islands and the
Habomai island group occupied by Soviet Union since 1945, claimed by
Japan; Liancourt Rocks disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto
(Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan

Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous

Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish

Land use: arable land 13%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 67%; other 18%; includes irrigated 9%

Environment: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500
seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; subject to tsunamis

Note: strategic location in northeast Asia

PEOPLE
Population: 124,017,137 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 10 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 82 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Japanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Japanese

Ethnic divisions: Japanese 99.4%, other (mostly Korean) 0.6%

Religion: most Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist rites
so the percentages add to more than 100%--Shinto 95.8%,
Buddhist 76.3%, Christian 1.4%, other 12% (1985)

Language: Japanese

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

Labor force: 63,330,000; trade and services 54%; manufacturing,
mining, and construction 33%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%;
government 3% (1988)

Organized labor: about 29% of employed workers; public service
76.4%, transportation and telecommunications 57.9%, mining 48.7%,
manufacturing 33.7%, services 18.2%, wholesale, retail, and restaurant
9.3%

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Tokyo

Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures (fuken, singular and
plural); Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima,
Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate,
Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi,
Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa,
Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima,
Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Independence: 660 BC, traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu

Constitution: 3 May 1947

Legal system: civil law system with English-American influence;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)

Executive branch: emperor, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Diet (Kokkai) consists of an upper
house or House of Councillors (Sangi-in) and a lower house or House of
Representatives (Shugi-in)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Kiichi MIYAZAWA (since 5
November 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Toshiki KAIFU, president; Keizo OBUCHI,
secretary general;
Japan Socialist Party (JSP), T. DOI, chairman;
Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Keigo OUCHI, chairman;
Japan Communist Party (JCP), K. MIYAMOTO, Presidium chairman;
Komeito (Clean Government Party, CGP), Koshiro ISHIDA, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

House of Councillors--last held on 23 July 1989
(next to be held 23 July 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(252 total, 100 elected) LDP 109, JSP 67, CGP 21, JCP 14,
other 41;

House of Representatives--last held on 18 February 1990
(next to be held by February 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(512 total) LDP 275, JSP 136, CGP 45, JCP 16, DSP 14,
other parties 5, independents 21; note--9 independents are expected
to join the LDP, 5 the JSP

Communists: about 490,000 registered Communist party members

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP,
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NEA, OAS (observer),
OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ryohei MURATA; Chancery at
2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
939-6700; there are Japanese Consulates General in Agana (Guam),
Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City
(Missouri), Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Seattle,
and Portland (Oregon), and a Consulate in Saipan (Northern Mariana
Islands);

US--Ambassador Michael H. ARMACOST; Embassy at 10-1, Akasaka
1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo (mailing address is APO San Francisco
96503); telephone  81  (3) 3224-5000; there are US Consulates General
in Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, and Sapporo and a Consulate in Fukuoka

Flag: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without
rays) in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: Although Japan has few natural resources, since 1971 it
has become the world's third-largest economy, ranking behind only the
US and the USSR. Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic,
and a comparatively small defense allocation have helped Japan advance
rapidly, notably in high-technology fields. Industry, the most important
sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and
fuels. Self-sufficent in rice, Japan must import 50% of its requirements
for other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's
largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global
catch. Overall economic growth has been spectacular: a 10% average in the
1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1990 strong investment and
consumption spending helped maintain growth at 5.6%. Inflation remains
low at 3.1% despite higher oil prices and rising wages because of a
tight labor market. Japan continues to run a huge trade surplus, $52
billion in 1990, which supports extensive investment in foreign
properties.

GNP: $2,115.2 billion, per capita $17,100; real growth rate 5.6%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.1% (1990)

Budget: revenues $499 billion; expenditures $532 billion, including
capital expenditures (public works only) of $52 billion (FY90)

Exports: $286.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--manufactures 97% (including machinery 38%, motor
vehicles 17%, consumer electronics 10%);

partners--US 31%, Southeast Asia 29%, Western Europe 21%, Communist
countries 3%, Middle East 3%

Imports: $234.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--manufactures 50%, fossil fuels 24%, foodstuffs and raw
materials 26%;

partners--Southeast Asia 23%, US 23%, Western Europe 18%,
Middle East 13%, Communist countries 7%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (1990 est.); accounts for
30% of GDP (mining and manufacturing)

Electricity: 191,000,000 kW capacity; 790,000 million kWh produced,
6,390 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: metallurgy, engineering, electrical and electronic,
textiles, chemicals, automobiles, fishing, telecommunications

Agriculture: accounts for only 2% of GNP; highly subsidized and
protected sector, with crop yields among highest in world; principal
crops--rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; animal products include
pork, poultry, dairy and eggs; about 50% self-sufficient in food
production; shortages of wheat, corn, soybeans; world's largest fish
catch of 11.9 million metric tons in 1988

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $83.2
billion; ODA outlay of $7.9 billion in 1989

Currency: yen (plural--yen); 1 yen (Y) = 100 sen

Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1--133.88 (January 1991), 144.79
(1990), 137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987), 168.52 (1986),
238.54 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 27,327 km total; 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
and 25,315 km predominantly 1.067-meter narrow gauge; 5,724 km
doubletrack and multitrack sections, 9,038 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge
electrified, 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard-gauge electrified (1987)

Highways: 1,098,900 km total; 718,700 km paved, 380,200 km gravel,
crushed stone, or unpaved; 3,900 km national expressways, 46,544 km
national highways, 43,907 km principal local roads, 86,930 km prefectural
roads, and 917,619 other (1987)

Inland waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal
inland seas

Pipelines: crude oil, 84 km; refined products, 322 km; natural gas,
1,800 km

Ports: Chiba, Muroran, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Tomakomai, Nagoya, Osaka,
Tokyo, Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Niigata, Fushiki-Toyama, Shimizu,
Himeji, Wakayama-Shimozu, Shimonoseki, Tokuyama-Shimomatsu

Merchant marine: 1,019 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
22,396,958 GRT/34,683,035 DWT; includes 9 passenger, 55 short-sea
passenger, 4 passenger cargo, 95 cargo, 40 container, 33
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 125 refrigerated cargo, 99 vehicle carrier, 231
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 14 chemical tanker, 41
liquefied gas, 11 combination ore/oil, 3 specialized tanker, 257 bulk, 2
combination bulk; note--Japan also owns a large flag of convenience
fleet, including up to 40% of the total number of ships under Panamanian
flag

Civil air: 360 major transport aircraft

Airports: 165 total, 157 usable; 129 with permanent-surface
runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 29 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
56 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international service;
64,000,000 telephones; stations--318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196
major--1 kw or greater); satellite earth stations--4 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; submarine cables to US (via Guam),
Philippines, China, and USSR

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force),
Maritime Safety Agency (Coast Guard)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 32,256,893; 27,771,374 fit for
military service; 992,255 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, 1.0% of GNP (1990 est.)



  * JARVIS ISLAND

JARVIS ISLAND
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 4.5 km2; land area: 4.5 km2

Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 8 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a  narrow fringing reef

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing
shrubs; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging
habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

Note: 2,090 km south of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, just
south of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

Note: Millersville settlement on western side of island
occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when
it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical
Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use
permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none (territory of the US)

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge System

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only--one boat landing area in the
middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the
island

Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually
by the US Coast Guard



  * JERSEY

JERSEY
(British crown dependency)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 117 km2; land area: 117 km2

Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 70 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north
coast

Natural resources: agricultural land

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; about 58% of land under
cultivation

Environment: about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; 27 km
from France

PEOPLE
Population: 84,331 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Channel Islander(s); adjective--Channel Islander

Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent

Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Language: English and French (official), with the Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
but compulsory education age 5 to 16

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Bailiwick of Jersey

Type: British crown dependency

Capital: Saint Helier

Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice

Legal system: English law and local statute

National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States

Judicial branch: Royal Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief
Air Marshal Sir John SUTTON (since NA 1990); Bailiff Peter CRILL (since
NA)

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

Assembly of the States--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents

Communists: probably none

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)

Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron
saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based largely on financial services,
agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially
flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey
breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important
export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EC countries. In 1986
the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP,
accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years the government
has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that
an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional
manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are
imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 8% (1987 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $284.4 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Exports: $NA;

commodities--light industrial and electrical goods,
foodstuffs, textiles;

partners--UK

Imports: $NA;

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals;

partners--UK

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 50,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by
France

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy

Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle
farming

Economic aid: none

Currency: Jersey pound (plural--pounds); 1 Jersey pound (LJ) =
100 pence

Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (Saint
Peter)

Telecommunications: 63,700 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1
TV; 3 submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * JOHNSTON ATOLL

JOHNSTON ATOLL
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2.8 km2; land area: 2.8 km2

Comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 10 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade
winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until about 1890)

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: some low-growing vegetation

Note: strategic location 1,328 km west-southwest of Honolulu in
the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way between Hawaii and
the Marshall Islands; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural
islands; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands
formed from coral dredging; closed to the public; former nuclear weapons
test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System
(JACADS)

PEOPLE
Population: 1,325 (December 1990); all US government personnel and
contractors

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none (territory of the US)

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US
Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the
Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of
the National Wildlife Refuge system

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: the flag of the US is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to
US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All
food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by the United States Military

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Johnston Island

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,743 m

Telecommunications: excellent system including 60-channel submarine
cable, Autodin/SRT terminal, digital telephone switch, Military
Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), commercial satellite television
system (receive only), and UHF/VHF air-ground radio, marine
VHF/FM Channel 16

Note: US Coast Guard operates a LORAN transmitting station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * JORDAN

JORDAN
(see separate West Bank entry)
Note: The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended
with Israel in control of the West Bank. As stated in the 1978 Camp David
Accords and reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace
initiative, the final status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their
relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and
Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. The Camp David
Accords further specify that these negotiations will resolve the location
of the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process, it
is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip has
yet to be determined.


GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 91,880 km2; land area: 91,540 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries: 1,586 km total; Iraq 134 km, Israel 238 km,
Saudi Arabia 742 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Coastline: 26 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: differences with Israel over the location of the
1949 Armistice Line which separates the two countries

Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to
April)

Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west;
Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops 0.5%; meadows and
pastures 1%; forest and woodland 0.5%; other 94%; includes irrigated 0.5%

Environment: lack of natural water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

PEOPLE
Population: 3,412,553 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Jordanian(s); adjective--Jordanian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Religion: Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 8%

Language: Arabic (official); English widely understood among
upper and middle classes

Literacy: 80% (male 89%, female 70%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 572,000 (1988); agriculture 20%, manufacturing and
mining 20% (1987 est.)

Organized labor: about 10% of labor force

Note: 1.5-1.7 million Palestinians live on the East Bank (55-60%
of the population), most are Jordanian citizens

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amman

Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Balqa, Al Karak, Al Mafraq,
Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa, Irbid, Maan

Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration; formerly Trans-Jordan)

Constitution: 8 January 1952

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma)
consists of an upper house or House of Notables (Majlis al-Aayan) and a
lower house or House of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab); note--the
House of Deputies was dissolved by King Hussein on 30 July 1988 as
part of Jordanian disengagement from the West Bank and in November 1989
the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held, with no seats
going to Palestinians on the West Bank

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation

Leaders:

Chief of State--King HUSSEIN Ibn Talal I (since 11 August 1952);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Tahir al-MASRI (since 17 June
1991)

Political parties and leaders: none; after the 1989 parliamentary
elections, King Hussein promised to allow the formation of political
parties; a national charter that sets forth the ground rules for
democracy in Jordan--including the creation of political parties--has
been completed but not yet approved

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1989 (next to be
held November 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(80 total) Muslim Brotherhood 22, Independent Islamic bloc
10, Democratic bloc (mostly leftist) 15, Liberal bloc (traditionalist)
7, Nationalist bloc (traditionalist) 14, independent 12

Communists: party actively repressed, membership less than 500
(est.)

Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN,
UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hussein A. HAMMAMI;
Chancery at 3504 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Roger Gram HARRISON; Embassy on Jebel Amman, Amman
(mailing address is P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO New York 09892);
telephone  962  (6) 644-371

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green
with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small
white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the
seven fundamental laws of the Koran

ECONOMY
Overview: Jordan was a secondary beneficiary of the oil boom of
the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual GNP growth averaged
10-12%. Recent years, however, have witnessed a sharp reduction in grant
aid from Arab oil-producing countries and a dropoff in worker
remittances, with national growth averaging 1-2%. Imports--mainly oil,
capital goods, consumer durables, and foodstuffs--have been outstripping
exports by roughly $2 billion annually, the difference being made up by
aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government
agreed to implement an IMF austerity program designed to tackle the
country's serious economic problems. The program sought to gradually
reduce the government's budget deficit over the next several years and
implement badly needed structural reforms in the economy. In return for
agreeing to the IMF program, Jordan was granted IMF standby loans of over
$100 million. Recognizing that it would be unable to cover its debt
obligations, the government also began debt rescheduling negotiations
with creditors in mid-1989. The onset of the Gulf crisis in August 1990
forced the government to shelve the IMF program and suspend most debt
payments and rescheduling negotiations. Economic prospects for 1991
are especially gloomy, given the unsettled conditions in the Middle
East.

GNP: $4.6 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate - 15%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (January 1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.05 billion; expenditures $1.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Exports: $0.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--fruits and vegetables, phosphates, fertilizers;

partners--Iraq, Saudi Arabia, India, Kuwait, Japan, China,
Yugoslavia, Indonesia

Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--crude oil, textiles, capital goods, motor vehicles,
foodstuffs;

partners--EC, US, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Romania, China,
Taiwan

External debt: $8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 15% (1990 est.); accounts
for 20% of GDP

Electricity: 981,000 kW capacity; 3,500 million kWh produced,
1,180 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,
light manufacturing

Agriculture: accounts for only 5% of GDP; principal products are
wheat, barley, citrus fruit, tomatoes, melons, olives; livestock--sheep,
goats, poultry; large net importer of food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.5 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $44 million

Currency: Jordanian dinar (plural--dinars);
1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1--0.6670 (January
1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988), 0.3387 (1987), 0.3499
(1986), 0.3940 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 619 km 1.050-meter gauge, single track

Highways: 7,500 km; 5,500 km asphalt, 2,000 km gravel and crushed
stone

Pipelines: crude oil, 209 km

Ports: Al Aqabah

Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,870
GRT/38,187 DWT; includes 1 bulk, 1 cargo

Civil air: 19 major transport aircraft

Airports: 19 total, 16 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate system of radio relay, cable, and
radio; 81,500 telephones; stations--4 AM, 3 FM, 24 TV; satellite earth
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT,
1 domestic TV receive-only; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, and Syria; radio relay to Lebanon is inactive; a microwave
network linking Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Jordan

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Jordan Arab Army, Royal Jordanian Air Force,
Royal Jordanian Coast Guard, Public Security Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 778,353; 555,144 fit for
military service; 39,879 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $377 million, 12.4% of GNP (1990)



  * JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND

JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND
(French possession)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 4.4 km2; land area: 4.4 km2

Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 24.1 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: undetermined

Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 90%; other 10%

Environment: subject to periodic cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Note: located in the central Mozambique Channel about halfway
between Africa and Madagascar

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the
Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: short line going to a jetty

Airports: 1 with nonpermanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * KENYA

KENYA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 582,650 km2; land area: 569,250 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries: 3,477 km total; Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km,
Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline: 536 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide
with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on
unification of ethnic Somalis

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great
Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes,
rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
7%; forest and woodland 4%; other 85%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: unique physiography supports abundant and varied
wildlife of scientific and economic value; deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; glaciers on Mt. Kenya

Note: Kenyan Highlands one of the most successful agricultural
production regions in Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 25,241,978 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 69 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 64 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Kenyan(s); adjective--Kenyan

Ethnic divisions: Kikuyu 21%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 11%,
Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%

Religion: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs
26%, Muslim 6%

Language: English and Swahili (official); numerous indigenous
languages

Literacy: 69% (male 80%, female 58%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 9.2 million (includes unemployed); the total
employed is 1.37 million (14.8% of the labor force); services
54.8%, industry 26.2%, agriculture 19.0% (1989)

Organized labor: 390,000 (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Kenya

Type: republic

Capital: Nairobi

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast,
Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North-Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK; formerly British East
Africa)

Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964;
reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, and 1988

Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic
law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations; constitutional amendment in 1982 made Kenya a de jure
one-party state

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Daniel Teroitich
arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI
(since 10 May 1989)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Kenya African National
Union (KANU), Daniel T. arap MOI, president

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 21 March 1988 (next to be held by March 1993);
results--President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected;

National Assembly--last held on 21 March 1988
(next to be held by March 1993); results--KANU is the only party;
seats--(202 total, 188 elected) KANU 200

Communists: may be a few Communists and sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; exile
opposition--Mwakenya and other groups

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Denis Daudi AFANDE; Chancery
at 2249 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone]; there
are Kenyan Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York;

US--Ambassador Smith HEMPSTONE, Jr.; Embassy at the corner of Moi
Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi (mailing address is P. O. Box
30137, Nairobi or APO New York 09675); telephone  254  (2) 334141; there
is a US Consulate in Mombasa

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green;
the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed
spears is superimposed at the center

ECONOMY
Overview: A serious underlying economic problem is Kenya's 3.6%
annual population growth rate--one of the highest in the world. In the
meantime, GDP growth in the near term has kept slightly ahead of
population--annually averaging 4.9% in the 1986-90 period. Undependable
weather conditions and a shortage of arable land hamper long-term
growth in agriculture, the leading economic sector.

GDP: $8.5 billion, per capita $360; real growth rate 4% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.9% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%, but there is a high level of unemployment
and underemployment

Budget: revenues $2.0 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA billion (FY89)

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--tea 25%, coffee 21%, petroleum products 7% (1989);

partners--EC 44%, Africa 25%, Asia 5%, US 5%, Middle East 4% (1988)

Imports: $2.4 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment 29%,
petroleum and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%,
raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989 est.);

partners--EC 45%, Asia 11%, Middle East 12%, US 5% (1988)

External debt: $5.8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1989 est.); accounts
for 17% of GDP

Electricity: 730,000 kW capacity; 2,700 million kWh produced,
110 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture,
batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing,
oil refining, cement, tourism

Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 29% of GDP,
about 80% of the work force, and over 50% of exports; cash
crops--coffee, tea, sisal, pineapple; food products--corn, wheat,
sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products; food output not keeping
pace with population growth

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis used mostly for
domestic consumption; widespread cultivation of cannabis and qat on
small plots; transit country for heroin and methaqualone en route
from Southwest Asia to West Africa, Western Europe, and the US

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $839
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $6.7 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $83 million

Currency: Kenyan shilling (plural--shillings);
1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1--24.427 (January
1991), 22.915 (1990), 20.572 (1989), 17.747 (1988), 16.454 (1987), 16.226
(1986), 16.432 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,040 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 64,590 km total; 7,000 km paved, 4,150 km gravel,
remainder improved earth

Inland waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries
of Kenya; principal inland port is at Kisumu

Pipelines: refined products, 483 km

Ports: Mombasa, Lamu

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

Airports: 249 total, 213 usable; 22 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 47 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: in top group of African systems; consists of
radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiocommunication stations;
260,000 telephones; stations--11 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV; satellite earth
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTLESAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General
Service Unit of the Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,444,247; 3,362,290 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $100 million, 1.0% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * KINGMAN REEF

KINGMAN REEF
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1 km2; land area: 1 km2

Comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 3 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds

Terrain: low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about
1 meter

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; wet or
awash most of the time

Note: located 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa; maximum
elevation of about 1 meter makes this a navigational hazard; closed to
the public

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the
US Navy

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * KIRIBATI

KIRIBATI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 717 km2; land area: 717 km2; includes three island
groups--Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,143 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
reefs

Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 51%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 3%; other 46%

Environment: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to
March; 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited

Note: Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great
phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Makatea
in French Polynesia and Nauru

PEOPLE
Population: 71,137 (July 1991), growth rate 1.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 33 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 63 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 58 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--I-Kiribati (sing., pl.); adjective--I-Kiribati

Ethnic divisions: Micronesian

Religion: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)

Language: English (official), Gilbertese

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 7,870 economically active (1985 est.)

Organized labor: Kiribati Trades Union Congress--2,500 members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Kiribati; note--pronounced Kiribas

Type: republic

Capital: Tarawa

Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands; note--a new administrative structure of 6 districts
(Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern  Gilberts, Southern
Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 20 island councils (one for
each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae,
Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei,
Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina

Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK; formerly Gilbert Islands)

Constitution: 12 July 1979

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni
Maungatabu)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Ieremia TABAI
(since 12 July 1979); Vice President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 20 July 1979)

Political parties and leaders:
Gilbertese National Party;
Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO, secretary;
essentially not organized on the basis of political parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 12 May 1987 (next to be held May 1991);
results--Ieremia TABAI 50.1%, Tebruroro TITO 42.7%, Tetao
TEANNAKI 7.2%;

House of Assembly--last held on 19 March l987 (next to be held May 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP (associate), IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant) lives in Tarawa
(Kiribati);

US--none

Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over
a yellow rising sun and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy
white stripes to represent the ocean

ECONOMY
Overview: The country has few national resources. Commercially
viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence
in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports.
The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined
about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the
level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output
rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in
economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish
catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1%
in 1989 and again in 1990.

GDP: $36.8 million, per capita $525; real growth rate 1.0% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.0% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1985); considerable underemployment

Budget: revenues $29.9 million; expenditures $16.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $14.0 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $5.8 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--fish 55%, copra 42%;

partners--EC 20%, Marshall Islands 12%, US 8%, American
Samoa 4% (1985)

Imports: $26.7 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, fuel, transportation equipment;

partners--Australia 39%, Japan 21%, NZ 6%, UK 6%, US 3% (1985)

External debt: $2.0 million (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.0% (1988 est.); accounts
for less than 4% of GDP

Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 13 million kWh produced,
190 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: fishing, handicrafts

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fishing); copra
and fish contribute about 95% to exports; subsistence farming
predominates; food crops--taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables;
not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $258 million

Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: NA

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 640 km of motorable roads

Inland waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line
Islands

Ports: Banaba and Betio (Tarawa)

Civil air: 2 Trislanders; no major transport aircraft

Airports: 22 total; 21 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 1,400 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: no military force maintained; the Police Force carries
out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small
police posts on all islands

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * KOREA, NORTH

KOREA, NORTH

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 120,540 km2; land area: 120,410 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi

Land boundaries: 1,671 km total; China 1,416 km, South Korea 238
km, USSR 17 km

Coastline: 2,495 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm;

Military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the
exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea (all foreign vessels and
aircraft without permission are banned)

Disputes: short section of boundary with China is indefinite;
Demarcation Line with South Korea

Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow
valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite,
iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower

Land use: arable land 18%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
NEGL%; forest and woodland 74%; other 7%; includes irrigated 9%

Environment: mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible,
and sparsely populated; late spring droughts often followed by severe
flooding

Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and USSR

PEOPLE
Population: 21,814,656 (July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Korean(s); adjective--Korean

Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous

Religion: Buddhism and Confucianism; religious activities now
almost nonexistent

Language: Korean

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 9,615,000; agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%;
shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

Organized labor: 1,600,000 members; single-trade union system
coordinated by the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea under the
Central Committee

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea; abbreviated
DPRK

Type: Communist state; dictatorship

Capital: P'yongyang

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and
3 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do,
Hamgyong-namdo, Hamgyong-bukto, Hwanghae-namdo, Hwanghae-bukto,
Kaesong-si*, Kangwon-do, Namp'o-si*, P'yongan-bukto,
P'yongan-namdo, P'yongyang-si*, Yanggang-do

Independence: 9 September 1948

Constitution: adopted 1948, revised 27 December 1972

Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 9 September (1948)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, premier, eleven
vice premiers, State Administration Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego
Inmin Hoeui)

Judicial branch: Central Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President KIM Il-song (since 28 December 1972);
Designated Successor KIM Chong-il (son of President, born 16 February
1942);

Head of Government--Premier YON Hyong-muk (since NA December 1988)

Political parties and leaders: major party--Korean Workers' Party
(KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary, and his son, KIM Chong-il,
secretary, Central Committee;
Korean Social Democratic Party, YI Kye-paek, chairman;
Chondoist Chongu Party, CHONG Sin-hyok, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 17

Elections:

President--last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held 1994);
results--President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition;

Supreme People's Assembly--last held on 24 May 1990
(next to be held 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(687 total) the KWP approves a single list of candidates
who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats

Communists: KWP claims membership of about 3 million

Member of: FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and
blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band
is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

ECONOMY
Overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized;
agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95%
of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually
tight even for a Communist country because of the small size and
homogeneity of the society and the strict one-man rule of Kim. Economic
growth during the period 1984-90 averaged approximately 3%. Abundant
natural resources and hydropower form the basis of industrial
development. Output of the extractive industries includes coal, iron ore,
magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals.
Manufacturing emphasis is centered on heavy industry, with light industry
lagging far behind. Despite the use of high-yielding seed varieties,
expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea
has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Four consecutive
years of poor harvests, coupled with distribution problems, have led to
chronic food shortages. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in
economic development and living standards.

GNP: $29.7 billion, per capita $1,390; real growth rate 2%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: officially none

Budget: revenues $15.6 billion; expenditures $15.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $1.95 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural
products, manufactures;

partners--USSR, China, Japan, Hong Kong, FRG, Singapore

Imports: $2.85 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--petroleum, machinery and equipment, coking coal,
grain;

partners--USSR, Japan, China, Hong Kong, FRG, Singapore

External debt: $7 billion (1991)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 6,440,000 kW capacity; 40,250 million kWh produced,
1,890 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: machine building, military products, electric power,
chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing

Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GNP and 36% of work force;
principal crops--rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock and
livestock products--cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient in
grain; fish catch estimated at 1.7 million metric tons in 1987

Economic aid: Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s

Currency: North Korean won (plural--won);
1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon

Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1--2.2 (March 1991),
2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989), 2.13 (December 1988), 0.94
(March 1987), NA (1986), NA (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,535 km total; 3,870 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge; 159 km double track;
3,175 km electrified; government owned (1989)

Highways: about 30,000 km (1989); 98.5% gravel, crushed stone, or
earth surface; 1.5% concrete or bituminous

Inland waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only

Pipelines: crude oil, 37 km

Ports: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Namp'o, Wonsan, Songnim,
Najin, Sonbong

Merchant marine: 68 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 465,801
GRT/709,442 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger,
1 passenger-cargo, 58 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 4 bulk, 1 combination bulk

Airports: 55 total, 55 usable (est.); about 30 with
permanent-surface runways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; 20
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 30 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 200,000 TV sets;
3,500,000 radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Korean People's Army (includes of the Army, Navy,
Air Force), Civil Security Forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,381,859; 3,899,606 fit for
military service; 214,690 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, 20-25% of GNP (1991 est.);
note--the officially announced but suspect figure is $1.7 billion,
6% of GNP (1991 est.)



  * KOREA, SOUTH

KOREA, SOUTH

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 98,480 km2; land area: 98,190 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana

Land boundary: 238 km with North Korea

Coastline: 2,413 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific

Territorial sea: 12 nm (3 nm in the Korea Strait)

Disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks
claimed by Japan

Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west
and south

Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
hydropower

Land use: arable land 21%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 67%; other 10%; includes irrigated 12%

Environment: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
earthquakes in southwest; air pollution in large cities

Notes: strategic location along the Korea Strait, Sea of Japan, and
Yellow Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 43,134,386 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Korean(s); adjective--Korean

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous; small Chinese minority
(about 20,000)

Religion: strong Confucian tradition; vigorous Christian minority
(28% of the total population); Buddhism; pervasive folk religion
(Shamanism); Chondokyo (religion of the heavenly way), eclectic religion
with nationalist overtones founded in 19th century, claims about 1.5
million adherents

Language: Korean; English widely taught in high school

Literacy: 96% (male 99%, female 94%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 16,900,000; 52% services and other; 27% mining and
manufacturing; 21% agriculture, fishing, forestry (1987)

Organized labor: about 10% of nonagricultural labor force in
government-sanctioned unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Korea; abbreviated ROK

Type: republic

Capital: Seoul

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and
6 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,
Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto,
Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do,
Kwangju-jikhalsi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto,
Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*,
Taegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi*

Independence: 15 August 1948

Constitution: 25 February 1988

Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1948)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
State Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Kuk Hoe)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President ROH Tae Woo (since 25 February 1988);

Head of Government--Prime Minister CHUNG Won Shik (since 24
May 1991); Deputy Prime Minister CHOI Kak Kyu (since 19 February
1991)

Political parties and leaders:

ruling party--Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), ROH Tae Woo,
president, KIM Young Sam, chairman;
note--the DLP resulted from a merger of the Democratic Justice Party
(DJP), Reunification Democratic Party (RDP), and New Democratic
Republican Party (NDRP) on 9 February 1990;

opposition--New Democratic Party (NDP, formerly Party for Peace
and Democracy or PPD), KIM Dae Jung, president; Democratic Party (DP),
YI Ki Taek; several smaller parties

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

President--last held on 16 December 1987 (next to be held December 1992);
results--ROH Tae Woo (DJP) 35.9%, KIM Young Sam (RDP) 27.5%,
KIM Dae Jung (PPD) 26.5%, other 10.1%;

National Assembly--last held on 26 April 1988 (next to be held April 1992);
results--DJP 34%, RDP 24%, PPD 19%, NDRP 15%, other 8%;
seats--(299 total) DJP 125, PPD 70, RDP 59, NDRP 35, other 10;
note--on 9 February 1990 the DJP, RDP, and NDRP merged to form the DLP;
also the PPD became the NDP; as a result the distribution
of seats changed to DLP 218, NDP 70, other 11 (June 1990)

Communists: Communist party activity banned by government

Other political or pressure groups: Korean National Council of
Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Council of
College Student Representatives; National Federation of Farmers'
Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean
Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean
Industries; Korean Traders Association

Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador HYUN Hong Joo;
Chancery at 2320 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there are Korean Consulates General in Agana (Guam),
Anchorage, Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York,
San Francisco, and Seattle;

US--Ambassador Donald P. GREGG; Embassy at 82 Sejong-Ro,
Chongro-ku, Seoul (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96301);
telephone  82  (2) 732-2601 through 2618; there is a US Consulate
in Pusan

Flag: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the
center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching
(Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

ECONOMY
Overview: The driving force behind the economy's dynamic growth
has been the planned development of an export-oriented economy in a
vigorously entrepreneurial society. Real GNP--which grew by 6.7% in 1989
after an average annual growth of over 12% between 1986-88--grew about
9% in 1990. Labor unrest--which led to substantial wage hikes in
1987-88--was noticeably calmer in 1990, unemployment averaged a low
2.5%, and investment was strong. Inflation rates, however, are beginning
to challenge South Korea's strong economic performance. Consumer prices
rose 8.6%, the highest rate in nine years. Policymakers are concerned
higher prices could lead to a resurgence of labor unrest.

GNP: $238 billion, per capita $5,600; real growth rate 9% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.5% (1990)

Budget: revenues $38 billion; expenditures $38 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Exports: $65 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--textiles, clothing, electronic and electrical
equipment, footwear, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships, fish;

partners--US 30%, Japan 19%

Imports: $70 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains;

partners--Japan 27%, US 24% (1990)

External debt: $31.7 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.6% (1990 est.); accounts for
about 45% of GDP

Electricity: 21,000,000 kW capacity; 85,000 million kWh produced,
1,970 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing,
chemicals, steel, electronics, automobile production, ship building

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP and employs 21% of work force
(including fishing and forestry); principal crops--rice, root crops,
barley, vegetables, fruit; livestock and livestock products--cattle,
hogs, chickens, milk, eggs; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat;
fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh-largest in world

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.9
billion; non-US countries (1970-89), $3.0 billion

Currency: South Korean won (plural--won);
1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chon (theoretical)

Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1--718.14 (January
1991), 707.76 (1990), 671.46 (1989), 731.47 (1988), 822.57 (1987), 881.45
(1986), 870.02 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,106 km operating in 1983; 3,059 km 1.435-meter
standard gauge, 47 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, 712 km double track,
418 km electrified; government owned

Highways: 62,936 km total (1982); 13,476 km national highway,
49,460 km provincial and local roads

Inland waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft

Pipelines: 455 km refined products

Ports: Pusan, Inchon, Kunsan, Mokpo, Ulsan

Merchant marine: 439 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,182,519
GRT/11,906,897 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 138 cargo, 45
container, 11 refrigerated cargo, 11 vehicle carrier, 48 petroleum, oils,
and lubricants (POL) tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 13 liquefied gas, 7
combination ore/oil, 146 bulk, 7 combination bulk, 1 multifunction
large-load carrier

Civil air: 93 major transport aircraft

Airports: 110 total, 102 usable; 60 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 17 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate domestic and international services;
4,800,000 telephones; stations--79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or
greater); satellite earth stations--2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian
Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 12,859,511; 8,294,624 fit for
military service; 429,088 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $10.4 billion, 4.5% of GNP (1991)



  * KUWAIT

KUWAIT

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 17,820 km2; land area: 17,820 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 462 km total; Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline: 499 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Iraqi forces invaded and occupied Kuwait from
2 August 1990 until 27 February 1991; in April 1991 official Iraqi
acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which demands that Iraq
accept its internationally recognized border with Kuwait, ended earlier
claims to Bubiyan and Warbah Islands or to all of Kuwait; ownership
of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands disputed by Saudi Arabia

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 8%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 92%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: some of world's largest and most sophisticated
desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution;
desertification

Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

PEOPLE
Population: 2,204,400 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 2 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Kuwaiti(s); adjective--Kuwaiti

Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 27.9%, other Arab 39%, South Asian 9%,
Iranian 4%, other 20.1%

Religion:
Muslim 85% (Shia 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi,
and other 15%

Language: Arabic (official); English widely spoken

Literacy: 74% (male 78%, female 69%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Labor force: 566,000 (1986); services 45.0%, construction 20.0%,
trade 12.0%, manufacturing 8.6%, finance and real estate 2.6%,
agriculture 1.9%, power and water 1.7%, mining and quarrying 1.4%; 70% of
labor force was non-Kuwaiti

Organized labor: labor unions exist in oil industry and among
government personnel

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: State of Kuwait

Type: nominal constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kuwait

Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt,
Hawalli; note--there may be a new governorate of Farwaniyyah

Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)

Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29
August 1962)

Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in
personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 25 February

Executive branch: amir, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: National Assembly (Majlis al Umma) dissolved
3 July 1986

Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Amir Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-SABAH
(since 31 December 1977);

Head of Government--Prime Minister and Crown Prince Sad
al-Abdallah al-Salim al-SABAH (since 8 February 1978); Deputy
Prime Minister Salim al-Sabah al-Salim al-SABAH

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their
male descendants at age 21; note--out of all citizens, only 8.3% are
eligible to vote and only 3.5% actually vote

Elections:

National Assembly--dissolved 3 July 1986; new elections are
scheduled for October 1992

Communists: insignificant

Other political or pressure groups: large (150,000) Palestinian
community; several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist
groups are active; prodemocracy opposition

Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO,
G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Shaykh Saud Nasir al-SABAH;
Chancery at 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Edward (Skip) GNEHM; Embassy at Bneid al-Gar
(opposite the Hilton Hotel), Kuwait City (mailing address is P. O. Box 77
Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait City); telephone  [phone] through 4159

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and
red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Up to the invasion by Iraq in August 1990, the oil
sector had dominated the economy. Kuwait has the third-largest
oil reserves in the world after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Earnings from
hydrocarbons generated over 90% of both export and government revenues
and contributed about 40% to GDP. Most of the nonoil sector has
traditionally been dependent upon oil-derived government revenues.
Iraq's destruction of Kuwait's oil industry during the Gulf war
has devastated the economy. Iraq destroyed or damaged more than 80%
of Kuwait's 950 operating oil wells, as well as sabotaging key surface
facilities. Western firefighters had brought about 140 of the 600
oil well fires and blowouts under control as of early June 1991.
It could take two to three years to restore Kuwait's oil production to
its prewar level of about 2.0 million barrels per day.

GDP: $19.8 billion, per capita $9,700; real growth rate 3.5%
(1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 0% (1989)

Budget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88)

Exports: $11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--oil 90%;

partners--Japan, Italy, FRG, US

Imports: $6.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--food, construction materials, vehicles and parts,
clothing;

partners--Japan, US, FRG, UK

External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1988); accounts for
52% of GDP

Electricity: 8,290,000 kW capacity; 10,000 million kWh produced,
5,000 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food
processing, salt, construction

Agriculture: virtually none; dependent on imports for food; about
75% of potable water must be distilled or imported

Economic aid: donor--pledged $18.3 billion in bilateral aid to less
developed countries (1979-89)

Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (plural--dinars);
1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1--0.2915 (January
1990), 0.2937 (1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987), 0.2919 (1986), 0.3007
(1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 3,000 km total; 2,500 km bituminous; 500 km earth, sand,
light gravel

Pipelines: crude oil, 877 km; refined products, 40 km; natural gas,
165 km

Ports: Ash Shuaybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina al Ahmadi

Merchant marine: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,332,159
GRT/2,099,303 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 4 livestock carrier,
20 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 liquefied gas, 1 bulk;
note--all Kuwaiti ships greater than 1,000 GRT were outside Kuwaiti
waters at the time of the Iraqi invasion; many of these ships transferred
to the Liberian flag or to the flags of other Persian Gulf states;
Kuwaiti tankers are currently managed from London and Kuwaiti cargo and
container ships are managed from Dubai

Civil air: 19 major transport aircraft

Airports: 7 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent international, adequate domestic
facilities; 258,000 telephones; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 3 TV; satellite
earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT; 1
INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq and Saudi
Arabia

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National
Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 738,812; 441,611 fit for
military service; 19,452 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 4.8% of GDP (1990)



  * LAOS

LAOS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area:  236,800 km2; land area: 230,800 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries: 5,083 km total; Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km,
China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand

Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry
season (December to April)

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold,
gemstones

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 3%; forest and woodland 58%; other 35%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 4,113,223 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 124 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 52 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Lao (sing., Lao or Laotian); adjective--Lao
or Laotian

Ethnic divisions: Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%,
Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other 15%

Religion: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15%

Language: Lao (official), French, and English

Literacy: 84% (male 92%, female 76%)
age 15 to 45 can read and write (1985 est.)

Labor force: 1-1.5 million; 85-90% in agriculture (est.)

Organized labor: Lao Federation of Trade Unions is subordinate to
the Communist party

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Lao People's Democratic Republic

Type: Communist state

Capital: Vientiane

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural);
Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang
Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet,
Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang

Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)

Constitution: draft constitution under discussion since 1976

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

National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the Lao People's
Democratic Republic), 2 December (1975)

Executive branch: president, chairman and four vice chairmen of the
Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: Supreme People's Assembly

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN (since 15
August 1991);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers General
Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN, party
chairman;
includes Lao Patriotic Front and Alliance Committee of Patriotic
Neutralist Forces;
other parties moribund

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Supreme People's Assembly--last held on 26 March 1989 (next to be
held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(79 total) number of seats by party NA

Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups
moribund; most leaders have fled the country

Member of: ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires LINTHONG PHETSAVAN;
Chancery at 2222 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 6417;

US--Charge d'Affaires Charles B. SALMON, Jr.; Embassy at Rue
Bartholonie, Vientiane (mailing address is B. P. 114, Vientiane, or
Box V, APO San Francisco 96346); telephone 2220, 2357, 2384

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and
red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

ECONOMY
Overview: One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a
Communist centrally planned economy with government ownership and control
of productive enterprises of any size. Recently, however, the government
has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise.
Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, that is,
it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and
internal telecommunications, and electricity available in only a
limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation,
accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of
total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable
future the economy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign
aid from the IMF and other international sources; foreign aid from the
USSR and Eastern Europe is being cut sharply.

GDP: $600 million, per capita $150; real growth rate 5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 21% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $83 million; expenditures $188.5 million,
including capital expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $72 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--electricity, wood products, coffee, tin;

partners--Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US

Imports: $238 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures;

partners--Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam

External debt: $1.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 8% (1989 est.); accounts
for about 20% of GDP

Electricity: 176,000 kW capacity; 1,100 million kWh produced,
270 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tin mining, timber, electric power, agricultural
processing, construction

Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the
work force; subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient
in non-drought years; principal crops--rice (80% of cultivated land),
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton;
livestock--buffaloes, hogs, cattle, chicken

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and opium poppy for the
international drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $546 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million

Currency: new kip (plural--kips); 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at

Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1--695 (April 1991),
700 (September 1990), 576 (1989), 385 (1988), 200 (1987), 108 (1986),
95 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous
treated; 7,451 km gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km
unimproved earth and often impassable during rainy season mid-May to
mid-September

Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries;
2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing
less than 0.5 m

Pipelines: 136 km, refined products

Ports: none

Airports: 65 total, 51 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: service to general public considered poor;
radio network provides generally erratic service to government users;
7,390 telephones (1986); stations--10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and
militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 991,864; 531,084 fit for
military service; 45,548 reach military age (18) annually;
conscription age NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, 3.8% of GDP (1987)



  * LEBANON

LEBANON

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 10,400 km2; land area: 10,230 km2

Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: 454 km total; Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line;
Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in
northern Lebanon since October 1976

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa (Bekaa Valley)
separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt; water-surplus state
in a water-deficit region

Land use: arable land 21%; permanent crops 9%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 8%; other 61%; includes irrigated 7%

Environment: rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect,
and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, ethnicity;
deforestation; soil erosion; air and water pollution; desertification

Note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East
not crossing an international boundary

PEOPLE
Population: 3,384,626 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Lebanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Lebanese

Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religion: Islam 75%, Christian 25%, Judaism NEGL%; 17 legally
recognized sects--4 Orthodox Christian (Armenian Orthodox, Greek
Orthodox, Nestorean, Syriac Orthodox), 7 Uniate Christian (Armenian
Catholic, Caldean, Greek Catholic, Maronite, Protestant, Roman Catholic,
Syrian Catholic), 5 Islam (Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Ismailite,
Shia, Sunni), and 1 Jewish

Language: Arabic and French (both official); Armenian, English

Literacy: 80% (male 88%, female 73%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 650,000; industry, commerce, and services 79%,
agriculture 11%, goverment 10% (1985)

Organized labor: 250,000 members (est.)

GOVERNMENT
Note: Between early 1975 and late 1976 Lebanon was torn by civil
war between its Christians--then aided by Syrian troops--and its Muslims
and their Palestinian allies. The cease-fire established in October
1976 between the domestic political groups generally held for about six
years, despite occasional fighting. Syrian troops constituted as the Arab
Deterrent Force by the Arab League have remained in Lebanon. Syria's
move toward supporting the Lebanese Muslims and the Palestinians and
Israel's growing support for Lebanese Christians brought the two sides
into rough equilibrium, but no progress was made toward national
reconciliation or political reforms--the original cause of the war.

Continuing Israeli concern about the Palestinian presence in
Lebanon led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982. Israeli
forces occupied all of the southern portion of the country and mounted a
summer-long siege of Beirut, which resulted in the evacuation of the
PLO from Beirut in September under the supervision of a multinational
force (MNF) made up of US, French, and Italian troops.

Within days of the departure of the MNF, Lebanon's newly elected
president, Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated. In the wake of his death,
Christian militiamen massacred hundreds of Palestinian refugees in two
Beirut camps. This prompted the return of the MNF to ease the security
burden on Lebanon's weak Army and security forces. In late March 1984
the last MNF units withdrew.

Lebanese Parliamentarians met in Taif, Saudi Arabia in late 1989
and concluded a national reconciliation pact that codified a new
power-sharing formula, specifiying a Christian president but giving
Muslims more authority. Rene Muawad was subsequently elected president on
4 November 1989, ending a 13-month period during which Lebanon had no
president and rival Muslim and Christian governments. Muawad was
assassinated 17 days later, on 22 November; on 24 November Ilyas Harawi
was elected to succeed Muawad.

In October 1990, the chances for ending the 16 year old civil war
and implementing Ta'if were markedly improved when Syrian and Lebanese
forces ousted renegade Christian General Awn from his stronghold in East
Beirut. Awn had defied the legitimate government and established a
separate mini-state within East Beirut after being appointed acting
Prime Minister by outgoing President Gemayel in 1988. Awn and his
supporters feared Ta'if would diminish Christian power in Lebanon
and increase the influence of Syria.

Since the removal of Awn, the Lebanese Government has reunited the
capital city and implemented a phased plan to disarm the militias
and gradually reestablish authority throughout Lebanon. The army has
deployed from Beirut north along the coast road to Tripoli, southeast
into the Shuf mountains, and south to the vicinity of Sidon. Many
militiamen from Christian and Muslim groups have evacuated Beirut
for their strongholds in the north, south, and east of the country.
Some heavy weapons possessed by the militias have been turned over to
the government, which has begun a plan to integrate some militiamen
into the military and the internal security forces.

Lebanon and Syria signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation in
May 1991. Lebanon continues to be partially occupied by Syrian troops,
which are deployed in East and West Beirut, its southern suburbs,
the Bekaa Valley, and throughout northern Lebanon.

Iran also maintains a small contingent of revolutionary guards
in the Bekaa Valley and South Lebanon to support Lebanese Islamic
fundamentalist groups.

Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces from the south in 1985,
although it still retains troops in a 10-km-deep security zone north
of its border with Lebanon. Israel arms and trains the Army of South
Lebanon (ASL), which also occupies the security zone and is Israel's
first line of defense against attacks on its northern border.

The following description is based on the present constitutional
and customary practices of the Lebanese system.

Long-form name: Republic of Lebanon; note--may be changed to
Lebanese Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Beirut

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Biqa, Al Janub, Ash Shamal,
Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan

Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate
under French administration)

Constitution: 26 May 1926 (amended)

Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code,
and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet; note--by
custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a
Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shia Muslim

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Arabic--Majlis
Alnuwab, French--Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil
and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)

Leaders:

Chief of State--Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Umar KARAMI (since 20
December 1990)

Political parties and leaders: political party activity is
organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings
exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers
motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations; most parties
have well-armed militias, which are still involved in occasional clashes

Suffrage: compulsory for all males at age 21; authorized for women
at age 21 with elementary education

Elections:

National Assembly--elections should be held every four years
but security conditions have prevented elections since May 1972

Communists: the Lebanese Communist Party was legalized in 1970;
members and sympathizers estimated at 2,000-3,000

Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Nassib S. LAHOUD;
Chancery at 2560 28th Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
939-6300; there are Lebanese Consulates General in Detroit, New York, and
Los Angeles;

US--Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER; Embassy at Antelias, Beirut
(mailing address is P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut, and FPO New York 09530);
telephone  [phone] or 415802, 415803, 402200, 403300

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width),
and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: Since 1975 civil war has seriously damaged Lebanon's
economic infrastructure, disrupted economic activity, and all but ended
Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub.
Following October 1990, however, a tentative peace has enabled the
central government to begin restoring control in Beirut, collect taxes,
and regain access to key port and government facilities. The battered
economy has also been propped up by a financially sound banking system
and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances,
foreign financial support to political factions, the narcotics trade, and
international emergency aid are main sources of foreign exchange.
Economic prospects for 1991 have brightened, particularly if the
Syrian-backed government is able to maintain law and order and
reestablish business confidence. Rebuilding war-ravaged Beirut is likely
to provide a major stimulus to the Lebanese economy in 1991.

GDP: $3.3 billion, per capita $1,000; real growth rate - 15%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 100% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 35% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $120 million; expenditures $1.0 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious
and semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products;

partners--Saudi Arabia 16%, Switzerland 8%, Jordan 6%, Kuwait 6%,
US 5%

Imports: $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--NA;

partners--Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%

External debt: $900 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 1,381,000 kW capacity; 3,870 million kWh produced,
1,170 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil
refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating

Agriculture: accounts for about one-third of GDP; principal
products--citrus fruits, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp
(hashish), sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in grain

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the
international drug trade; opium poppy production in Al Biqa
is increasing; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, Israel,
and the Middle East

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $356
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $608 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $962 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $9 million

Currency: Lebanese pound (plural--pounds);
1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters

Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1--974.22 (January
1991), 695.09 (1990), 496.69 (1989), 409.23 (1988), 224.60 (1987), 38.37
(1986), 16.42 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 378 km total; 296 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 82 km
1.050-meter gauge; all single track; system almost entirely inoperable

Highways: 7,370 km total; 6,270 km paved, 450 km gravel and crushed
stone, 650 km improved earth

Pipelines: crude oil, 72 km (none in operation)

Ports: Beirut, Tripoli, Ras Silata, Juniyah, Sidon,
Az Zahrani, Tyre, Shikka; northern ports are occupied by Syrian
forces and southern ports are occupied or partially quarantined by
Israeli forces

Merchant marine: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 257,220
GRT/379,691 DWT; includes 39 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 2 vehicle
carrier, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 container, 8 livestock carrier, 1
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
1 specialized tanker, 3 bulk, 1 combination bulk

Civil air: 15 major transport aircraft

Airports: 9 total, 8 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m; none under the direct control of the
Lebanese Government

Telecommunications: rebuilding program disrupted; had fair system
of radio relay, cable; 325,000 telephones; stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 15 TV;
1 inactive Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station; 3 submarine
coaxial cables; radio relay to Jordan and Syria, inoperable

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 725,974; 449,912 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $168 million, 7.3% of GDP (1991)



  * LESOTHO

LESOTHO

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 30,350 km2; land area: 30,350 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundary: 909 km with South Africa

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain: mostly highland with some plateaus, hills, and mountains

Natural resources: some diamonds and other minerals, water,
agricultural and grazing land

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 66%; forest and woodland 0%; other 24%

Environment: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal
areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion;
desertification

Note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa; Highlands Water
Project will control, store, and redirect water to South Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 1,801,174 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 36 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 78 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 63 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Mosotho (sing.), Basotho (pl.);
adjective--Basotho

Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%; Europeans 1,600, Asians 800

Religion: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs

Language: Sesotho (southern Sotho) and English (official); also
Zulu and Xhosa

Literacy: 59% (male 44%, female 68%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1966)

Labor force: 689,000 economically active; 86.2% of resident
population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60% of active
male labor force works in South Africa

Organized labor: there are two trade union federations; the
government favors formation of a single, umbrella trade union
confederation

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Lesotho

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Maseru

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,
Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qachas Nek, Quthing,
Thaba-Tseka

Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK; formerly Basutoland)

Constitution: 4 October 1966, suspended January 1970

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Military Council,
Military Council, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: none--the bicameral Parliament was dissolved
following the military coup in January 1986; note--a National Constituent
Assembly convened in June 1990 to rewrite the constitution and debate
issues of national importance, but it has no legislative authority

Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990 following
dismissal of his father, exiled King MOSHOESHOE II, by Maj. Gen.
LEKHANYA);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Military Council Col.
Elias Phisoana RAMAEMA (since 30 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Basotho National Party (BNP), Matete MAJARA (interim leader);
Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE;
National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI;
Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), S. H. MAPHELEBA;
United Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI;
Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob KENYA

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

National Assembly--dissolved following the military coup in
January 1986; military has pledged elections will take place in June 1992

Communists: small Lesotho Communist Party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OAU, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador W. T. VAN TONDER; Chancery at
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
797-5 534;

US--Ambassador Leonard H.O. SPEARMAN, Jr.; Embassy at address NA,
Maseru (mailing address is P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100); telephone  266
312666

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the
upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with
crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a
green triangle in the corner

ECONOMY
Overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no
important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on
agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed
in South Africa ($153 million in 1989). The great majority of households
gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor.
Manufacturing depends largely on farm products to support the milling,
canning, leather, and jute industries; other industries include textile,
clothing, and light engineering. Industry's share of GDP rose from
6% in 1982 to 15% in 1989. Political and economic instability in South
Africa raise uncertainties for Lesotho's economy, especially with respect
to migrant worker remittances--over one-third of GDP.

GDP: $420 million, per capita $240; real growth rate 4.0% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 23% (1988)

Budget: revenues $280 million; expenditures $288 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY92 est.)

Exports: $66 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--wool, mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides,
skins, baskets;

partners--South Africa 53%, EC 30%, North and South America 13%
(1989)

Imports: $499 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles,
machinery, medicines, petroleum, oil, and lubricants;

partners--South Africa 95%, EC 2% (1989)

External debt: $370 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7.8% (1989 est.); accounts
for 15% of GDP

Electricity: power supplied by South Africa

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 18% of GDP and employs 60-70% of
all households; exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and
livestock; principal crops are corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $268
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $754 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $14 million

Currency: loti (plural--maloti); 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente

Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1--2.5625 (January 1991),
2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685
(1986), 2.1911 (1985); note--the Basotho loti is at par with the South
African rand

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1.6 km; owned, operated, and included in the statistics
of South Africa

Highways: 5,167 km total; 508 km paved; 1,585 km crushed stone,
gravel, or stabilized soil; 946 km improved earth, 2,128 km unimproved
earth

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 28 total, 28 usable; 3 with permanent surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: rudimentary system consisting of a few land
lines, a small radio relay system, and minor radiocommunication stations;
5,920 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Lesotho Defense Force (RLDF; includes Army, Air
Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 394,829; 212,967 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $55 million, 8.6% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * LIBERIA

LIBERIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 111,370 km2; land area: 96,320 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries: 1,585 km total; Guinea 563 km, Ivory Coast 716 km,
Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline: 579 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool
to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast

Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
2%; forest and woodland 39%; other 55%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: West Africa's largest tropical rain forest, subject to
deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 2,730,446 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 124 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 59 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Liberian(s); adjective--Liberian

Ethnic divisions: indigenous African tribes, including Kpelle,
Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and
Bella 95%; descendants of repatriated slaves known as Americo-Liberians
5%

Religion: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%

Language: English (official); more than 20 local languages of the
Niger-Congo language group; English used by about 20%

Literacy: 40% (male 50%, female 29%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 510,000, including 220,000 in the monetary economy;
agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and commerce 4.5%, other
14.2%; non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management
and engineering jobs; 52% of population of working age

Organized labor: 2% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Liberia

Type: republic

Capital: Monrovia

Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Jide, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, Rivercess, Sino

Independence: 26 July 1847

Constitution: 6 January 1986

Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American
common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten
tribal practices for indigenous sector

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an
upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--interim President Dr.
Amos SAWYER (since 15 November 1990); interim Vice President Ronald DIGGS
(since 15 November 1990); note--this is an interim government appointed
by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that will be
replaced after elections are held under a West African-brokered
peace plan; rival rebel factions led by Prince Y. JOHNSON and Charles
TAYLOR are challenging the Sawyer government's legitimacy while
observing a tenuous cease fire; the former president, Gen. Dr. Samuel
Kanyon DOE, was ousted and killed on 9 September 1990 in a coup led by
Prince Y. JOHNSON

Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman;
Liberian Action Party (LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman;
Unity Party (UP), Carlos SMITH, chairman;
United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA);
results--Gen. Dr. Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP)
26.4%, other 22.7%; note--President Doe was killed by rebel forces
on 9 September 1990;

Senate--last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(26 total) NDPL 21, LAP 3, UP 1, LUP 1;

House of Representatives--last held on 15 October 1985
(next to be held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(64 total) NDPL 51, LAP 8, UP 3, LUP 2

Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Eugenia A.
WORDSWORTH-STEVENSON; Chancery at 5201 16th Street NW, Washington DC
20011; telephone [phone] through 0440; there is a Liberian
Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Peter J. de VOS; Embassy at 111 United Nations
Drive, Monrovia (mailing address is P. O. Box 98, Monrovia, or APO New
York 09155); telephone  [phone] through 222994

Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue
square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US
flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Civil war during 1990 destroyed much of Liberia's
economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Expatriate
businessmen fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them.
Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources,
forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a
producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing,
mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. Political instability
threatens prospects for economic reconstruction and repatriation of
some 750,000 Liberian refugees who fled to neighboring countries.

GDP: $988 million, per capita $400; real growth rate 1.5% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 43% urban (1988)

Budget: revenues $242.1 million; expenditures $435.4 million,
including capital expenditures of $29.5 million (1989)

Exports: $505 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--iron ore 61%, rubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee;

partners--US, EC, Netherlands

Imports: $394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--rice, mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery,
transportation equipment, other foodstuffs;

partners--US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS

External debt: $1.6 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% in manufacturing (1987);
accounts for 22% of GDP

Electricity: 400,000 kW capacity; 730 million kWh produced,
290 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction
materials, furniture, palm oil processing, mining (iron ore, diamonds)

Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP (including fishing and
forestry); principal products--rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa, rice,
cassava, palm oil, sugarcane, bananas, sheep, and goats; not
self-sufficient in food, imports 25% of rice consumption

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $665
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $853 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $25 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $77 million

Currency: Liberian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1--1.00 (fixed rate
since 1940); unofficial parallel exchange rate of L$2.5 = US$1, January
1989

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 480 km total; 328 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 152 km
1.067-meter narrow gauge; all lines single track; rail systems owned and
operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with
Liberian Government

Highways: 10,087 km total; 603 km bituminous treated, 2,848 km
all weather, 4,313 km dry weather; there are also 2,323 km of private,
laterite-surfaced roads open to public use, owned by rubber and timber
companies

Ports: Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, Harper (or Cape Palmas)

Merchant marine: 1,563 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
53,053,254 DWT/94,597,871 DWT; includes 18 passenger, 1 short-sea
passenger, 156 cargo, 47 refrigerated cargo, 15 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
67 vehicle carrier, 74 container, 5 barge carrier, 450 petroleum, oils,
and lubricants (POL) tanker, 104 chemical, 60 combination ore/oil, 44
liquefied gas, 6 specialized tanker, 485 bulk, 1 multifunction large-load
carrier, 30 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry; all
ships are foreign owned; the top four owning flags are US 19%, Japan 17%,
Hong Kong 12%, and Norway 10%; China owns at least 28 ships, Bulgaria
owns 3, and Poland owns 1

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 75 total, 58 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: telephone and telegraph service via radio relay
network; main center is Monrovia; 8,500 telephones; stations--3 AM, 4 FM,
5 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Armed Forces of Liberia (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
Coast Guard, National Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 648,636; 346,349 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $NA, 2.4% of GDP (1987)



  * LIBYA

LIBYA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,759,540 km2; land area: 1,759,540 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries: 4,383 km total; Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km,
Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline: 1,770 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm;

Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32o 30' N

Disputes: claims and occupies the 100,000 km2 Aozou Strip in
northern Chad; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about
19,400 km2 in northern Niger; Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in
southeastern Algeria

Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus,
depressions

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, gypsum

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
8%; forest and woodland 0%; other 91%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting
one to four days in spring and fall; desertification; sparse natural
surface-water resources

Note: the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water
development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large
aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

PEOPLE
Population: 4,350,742 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 36 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 62 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Libyan(s); adjective--Libyan

Ethnic divisions: Berber and Arab 97%; some Greeks, Maltese,
Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians

Religion: Sunni Muslim 97%

Language: Arabic; Italian and English widely understood in major
cities

Literacy: 64% (male 75%, female 50%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,000,000, includes about 280,000 resident
foreigners; industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%

Organized labor: National Trade Unions' Federation, 275,000
members; General Union for Oil and Petrochemicals; Pan-Africa Federation
of Petroleum Energy and Allied Workers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses); in theory, governed by
the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Capital: Tripoli

Administrative divisions: 46 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al Abyar, Al
Aziziyah, Al Bayda, Al Jufrah, Al Jumayl, Al Khums, Al
Kufrah, Al Marj, Al Qarabulli, Al Qubbah, Al Ujaylat, Ash
Shati, Awbari, Az Zahra, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Bani Walid, Bin Jawwad, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan,
Ghat, Jadu, Jalu, Janzur, Masallatah, Misratah,
Mizdah, Murzuq, Nalut, Qaminis, Qasr Bin Ghashir, Sabha,
Sabratah, Shahhat, Surman, Surt, Tajura,
Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Tukrah, Yafran, Zlitan,
Zuwarah; note--the number of municipalities may have been reduced to
13 named Al Jabal al-Akhdar, Al Jabal al-Gharbi, Al Jabal al-Khums, Al
Batnam, Al Kufrah, Al Marqab, Al Marzuq, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Khalij Surt, Sabha, Tripoli, Wadi al-Hayat

Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)

Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977

Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Executive branch: revolutionary leader, chairman of the General
People's Committee, General People's Committee (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969);

Head of Government--Chairman of the General People's Committee
(Premier) Abu Zayd Umar DURDA (since 7 October 1990)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
revolutionary committees

Political parties: none

Communists: no organized party, negligible membership

Other political or pressure groups: various Arab nationalist
movements and the Arab Socialist Resurrection (Ba'th) party with
almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as
well as some Islamic elements

Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the
state religion)

ECONOMY
Overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon
revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export
earnings and about one-third of GNP. Since 1980, however, the sharp
drop in oil prices and the resulting decline in export revenues have
adversely affected economic development. In 1988 per capita GNP was the
highest in Africa at $5,410, but it had been $2,000 higher in 1982.
Severe cutbacks in imports over the past five years have led to shortages
of basic goods and foodstuffs, although the reopening of the
Libyan-Tunisian border in April 1988 and the Libyan-Egyptian border in
December 1989 have somewhat eased shortages. Austerity budgets and a lack
of trained technicians have undermined the government's ability to
implement a number of planned infrastructure development projects.
Windfall profits from the hike in world oil prices in late 1990 improved
the foreign payments position and may permit Tripoli to ease austerity
measures. The nonoil industrial and construction sectors, which account
for about 22% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural
products to include petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although
agriculture accounts for less than 5% of GNP, it employs 18% of the labor
force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output,
requiring Libya to import about 75% of its food requirements.

GNP: $24 billion, per capita $5,860; real growth rate 3% (1989
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $8.1 billion; expenditures $9.8 billion, including
capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (1989 est.)

Exports: $6.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum, peanuts, hides;

partners--Italy, USSR, FRG, Spain, France, Belgium/Luxembourg,
Turkey

Imports: $6.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured
goods;

partners--Italy, USSR, FRG, UK, Japan

External debt: $3.5 billion, excluding military debt (December
1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 43% of GDP
(including oil)

Electricity: 4,705,000 kW capacity; 13,600 million kWh produced,
3,220 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,
cement

Agriculture: 5% of GNP; cash crops--wheat, barley, olives, dates,
citrus fruits, peanuts; 75% of food is imported

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-87), $242 million; no longer a recipient

Currency: Libyan dinar (plural--dinars);
1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams

Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1--0.2669 (January 1991),
0.2699 (1990), 0.2922 (1989), 0.2853 (1988), 0.2706 (1987), 0.3139
(1986), 0.2961 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 32,500 km total; 24,000 km bituminous and bituminous
treated, 8,500 km gravel, crushed stone and earth

Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; natural gas 1,947 km; refined
products 443 km (includes 256 km liquid petroleum gas)

Ports: Tobruk, Tripoli, Banghazi, Misratah, Marsa el Brega

Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 807,539
GRT/1,452,847 DWT; includes 3 short-sea passenger, 11 cargo, 4
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 11 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
1 chemical tanker

Civil air: 59 major transport aircraft

Airports: 131 total, 123 usable; 53 with permanent-surface runways;
7 with runways over 3,659 m; 31 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 44 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern telecommunications system using radio
relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and domestic satellite
stations; 370,000 telephones; stations--18 AM, 3 FM, 13 TV; satellite
earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and
14 domestic; submarine cables to France and Italy; radio relay to
Tunisia; tropospheric scatter to Greece; planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik
satellite stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahariya (includes
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command), National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,023,335; 603,886 fit for
military service; 52,059 reach military age (17) annually;
conscription now being implemented

Defense expenditures: $NA, 11.1% of GNP (1987)



  * LIECHTENSTEIN

LIECHTENSTEIN

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 160 km2; land area: 160 km2

Comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 78 km total; Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
third

Natural resources: hydroelectric potential

Land use: arable land 25%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
38%; forest and woodland 19%; other 18%

Environment: variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 28,476 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Liechtensteiner(s); adjective--Liechtenstein

Ethnic divisions: Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%,
other 2.8% (1988)

Language: German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy: 100% (male 100%, female 100%)
age 10 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force: 12,258; 5,078 foreign workers (mostly from
Switzerland and Austria); industry, trade, and building 54.4%; services
41.6%; agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 4.0%

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Principality of Liechtenstein

Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Vaduz

Administrative divisions: 11 communes (gemeinden,
singular--gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell,
Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence: 23 January 1719, Imperial Principality of
Liechtenstein established

Constitution: 5 October 1921

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Saint Joseph's Day, 19 March

Executive branch: reigning prince, hereditary prince, head
of government, deputy head of government

Legislative branch: unicameral Diet (Landtag)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal
cases and Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases

Leaders:

Chief of State--Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989;
assumed executive powers 26 August 1984);
Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968);

Head of Government--Hans BRUNHART (since 26 April 1978);
Deputy Head of Government Dr. Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986)

Political parties and leaders:
Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto HASLER;
Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Emanuel VOGT;
Free Electoral List (FW)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Diet--last held on 5 March 1989 (next to be held by March 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(25 total) VU 13, FBP 12

Communists: none

Member of: CE, CSCE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO

Diplomatic representation: in routine diplomatic matters,
Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy;

US--the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein,
but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular
accreditation at Vaduz

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a
gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

ECONOMY
Overview: The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale
light industry and tourism. Industry accounts for 54% of total
employment, the service sector 42% (mostly based on tourism), and
agriculture and forestry 4%. The sale of postage stamps to collectors is
estimated at $10 million annually. Low business taxes (the maximum tax
rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000
holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in
Liechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated solely for tax purposes,
provide 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied closely to that of
Switzerland in a customs union, and incomes and living standards parallel
those of the more prosperous Swiss groups.

GDP: $630 million, per capita $22,300; real growth rate NA% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.0% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 0.1% (December 1986)

Budget: revenues $240 million; expenditures $197 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1988)

Exports: $1.28 billion (1988);

commodities--small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps,
hardware, pottery;

partners--EC 40%, EFTA 22% (Switzerland 18%) (1988)

Imports: $NA;

commodities--machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor
vehicles;

partners--NA

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 23,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced,
5,340 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Agriculture: livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes

Economic aid: none

Currency: Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural--francs, franken,
or franchi); 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per
US$1--1.2724 (January 1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988),
1.4912 (1987), 1.7989 (1986), 2.4571 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 18.5 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, electrified; owned,
operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways

Highways: 130.66 km main roads, 192.27 km byroads

Civil air: no transport aircraft

Airports: none

Telecommunications: automatic telephone system; 25,400 telephones;
stations--no AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Police Department

Note: defense is responsibility of Switzerland



  * LUXEMBOURG

LUXEMBOURG

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,586 km2; land area: 2,586 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 359 km total; Belgium 148 km, France 73 km,
Germany 138 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys;
uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
floodplain in the southeast

Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)

Land use: arable land 24%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
20%; forest and woodland 21%; other 34%

Environment: deforestation

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 388,017 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 8 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Luxembourger(s); adjective--Luxembourg

Ethnic divisions: Celtic base, with French and German blend; also
guest and worker residents from Portugal, Italy, and European countries

Religion: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Language: Luxembourgish, German, French; many also speak English

Literacy: 100% (male 100%, female 100%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Labor force: 169,600; one-third of labor force is foreign workers,
mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and FRG; services 50%,
industry 23.2%, government 14.4%, construction 9%, agriculture 3.4%
(1987)

Organized labor: 100,000 (est.) members of four confederated
trade unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Luxembourg

Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher,
Luxembourg

Independence: 1839

Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day (public celebration of the Grand
Duke's birthday), 23 June (1921)

Executive branch: grand duke, prime minister, vice prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des
Deputes); note--the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) is an advisory
body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de
Justice)

Leaders:

Chief of State--Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964);
Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke Jean, born 16 April 1955);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Jacques SANTER (since 21 July
1984); Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Social Party (CSV), Jacques SANTER;
Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Jacques POOS;
Liberal (DP), Colette FLESCH;
Communist (KPL), Andre HOFFMANN;
Green Alternative (GAP), Jean HUSS

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

Chamber of Deputies--last held on 18 June 1989
(next to be held by June 1994);
results--CSV 31.7%, LSAP 27.2%, DP 16.2%, Greens 8.4%, PAC 7.3%,
KPL 5.1%, other 4.1%;
seats--(60 total) CSV 22, LSAP 18, DP 11, Greens 4, PAC 4, KPL 1

Communists: 500 party members (1982)

Other political or pressure groups: group of steel industries
representing iron and steel industry, Centrale Paysanne representing
agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation
of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation

Member of: ACCT, Benelux, CCC, CE, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
EMS, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OECD, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Andre PHILIPPE; Chancery at
2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
265-4171; there are Luxembourg Consulates General in New York and San
Francisco;

US--Ambassador Edward M. ROWELL; Embassy at 22 Boulevard
Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City (mailing address is APO New York
09132); telephone  [phone]

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light
blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands which uses a darker blue and
is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

ECONOMY
Overview: The stable economy features moderate growth, low
inflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small but
highly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until
recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified,
particularly toward high-technology firms. During the past decade, growth
in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in
steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion
of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union with
Belgium on trade and most financial matters and is also closely connected
economically to the Netherlands.

GDP: $6.9 billion, per capita $18,000; real growth rate 2.5%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.3% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $2.5 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of NA (1988)

Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products,
glass, aluminum, other industrial products;

partners--EC 75%, US 5%

Imports: $6.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods;

partners--Belgium 37%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%

External debt: $131.6 million (1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1% (1990 est.); accounts for
25% of GDP

Electricity: 1,500,000 kW capacity; 1,163 million kWh produced,
3,170 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals,
metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum

Agriculture: accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry);
principal products--barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes;
cattle raising widespread

Economic aid: none

Currency: Luxembourg franc (plural--francs);
1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1--31.102 (January
1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987), 44.672
(1986), 59.378 (1985); note--the Luxembourg franc is at par with the
Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 270 km
1.435-meter standard gauge; 162 km double track; 162 km electrified

Highways: 5,108 km total; 4,995 km paved, 57 km gravel, 56 km
earth; about 80 km limited access divided highway

Inland waterways: 37 km; Moselle River

Pipelines: refined products, 48 km

Ports: Mertert (river port)

Merchant marine: 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,731 GRT/2,460 DWT

Civil air: 13 major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways less than 1,220 m

Telecommunications: adequate and efficient system, mainly buried
cables; 230,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 4 FM, 6 TV; 2 communication
satellite earth stations operating in EUTELSAT and domestic systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 100,476; 83,724 fit for
military service; 2,297 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $90 million, 1.2% of GDP (1990)



  * MACAU

MACAU
(overseas territory of Portugal)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 16 km2; land area: 16 km2

Comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundary: 0.34 km with China

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: not known

Disputes: scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of
China in 1999

Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain: generally flat

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect
the two islands to the peninsula on mainland

Note: 27 km west southwest of Hong Kong on the southeast coast of
China

PEOPLE
Population: 446,262 (July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Macanese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Macau

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%

Religion: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none
45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)

Language: Portuguese (official); Cantonese is the language of
commerce

Literacy: 90% (male 93%, female 86%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force: 180,000 (1986)

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: overseas territory of Portugal; scheduled to revert to China
in 1999

Capital: Macau

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence: none (territory of Portugal); Portugal signed an
agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20
December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect
Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years
after transition

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau

Legal system: Portuguese civil law system

National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June

Executive branch: president of Portugal, governor,
Consultative Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES
(since 9 March 1986);

Head of Government--Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA
(since 20 March 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Association to Defend the Interests of Macau;
Macau Democratic Center;
Group to Study the Development of Macau;
Macau Independent Group

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held on 9 November 1988 (next to be
held November 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(17 total; 6 elected by universal suffrage, 6 by indirect
suffrage) number of seats by party NA

Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chinese
representing local interests, wealthy pro-Communist merchants
representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government
acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration

Member of: GATT, WTO (associate)

Diplomatic representation: as Chinese territory under Portuguese
administration, Macanese interests in the US are represented by Portugal;

US--the US has no offices in Macau and US interests are monitored
by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag: the flag of Portugal is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including
gambling), and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify
have spawned other small industries--toys, artificial flowers, and
electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and
the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings.
Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy
imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and
capital goods.

GDP: $2.9 billion, per capita $6,560; real growth rate 6%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $305 million; expenditures $298 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $1.7 billion (1989 est.);

commodities--textiles, clothing, toys;

partners--US 33%, Hong Kong 15%, FRG 12%, France 10% (1987)

Imports: $1.6 billion (1989 est.);

commodities--raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods;

partners--Hong Kong 39%, China 21%, Japan 10% (1987)

External debt: $91 million (1985)

Industrial production: NA

Electricity: 203,000 kW capacity; 495 million kWh produced,
1,120 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture,
tourism

Agriculture: rice, vegetables; food shortages--rice, vegetables,
meat; depends mostly on imports for food requirements

Economic aid: none

Currency: pataca (plural--patacas); 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos

Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1--8.03 (1989), 8.044 (1988),
7.993 (1987), 8.029 (1986), 8.045 (1985); note--linked to the Hong Kong
dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 42 km paved

Ports: Macau

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: none useable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station

Telecommunications: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services; 52,000 telephones;
stations--4 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 75,000 radio receivers (est.); international
high-frequency radio communication facility; access to international
communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Manpower availability: males 15-49, 167,289; 93,142 fit for
military service

Note: defense is responsibility of Portugal



  * MADAGASCAR

MADAGASCAR

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 587,040 km2; land area: 581,540 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 4,828 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands,
Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)

Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt,
quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
58%; forest and woodland 26%; other 11%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: subject to periodic cyclones; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location
along Mozambique Channel

PEOPLE
Population: 12,185,318 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 95 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 54 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Malagasy (sing. and pl.); adjective--Malagasy

Ethnic divisions: basic split between highlanders of predominantly
Malayo-Indonesian origin (Merina 1,643,000 and related Betsileo 760,000)
on the one hand and coastal tribes, collectively termed the Cotiers,
with mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry (Betsimisaraka
941,000, Tsimihety 442,000, Antaisaka 415,000, Sakalava 375,000), on the
other; there are also 11,000 European French, 5,000 Indians of French
nationality, and 5,000 Creoles

Religion: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian about 41%, Muslim 7%

Language: French and Malagasy (official)

Literacy: 80% (male 88%, female 73%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,900,000; 90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in
subsistence agriculture; 175,000 wage earners--agriculture 26%, domestic
service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%, construction 11%, services 9%,
transportation 6%, other 2%; 51% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: 4% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Democratic Republic of Madagascar

Type: republic

Capital: Antananarivo

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (plural--NA,
singular--faritanin); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France; formerly Malagasy
Republic)

Constitution: 21 December 1975

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Executive branch: president, Supreme Council of the Revolution,
prime minister, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Popular National Assembly
(Assemblee Nationale Populaire)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High
Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Adm. Didier RATSIRAKA (since 15 June
1975);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Guy RASANAMAZY (since
8 August 1991)

Political parties and leaders: a presidential decree issued early
last year, legalized the existence of political parties outside of the
Ruling Front; some thirty political parties now exist in Madagascar, the
most important of which are the
Advance Guard of the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA), Didier RATSIRAKA;
Congress Party for Malagasy Independence (AKFM), RAKOTOVAO-ANDRIATIANA;
Congress Party for Malagasy Independence-Revival (AKFM-R), Pastor Richard
ANDRIAMANJATO;
Movement for National Unity (VONJY), Dr. Marojama RAZANABAHINY;
Malagasy Christian Democratic Union (UDECMA), Norbert ANDRIAMORASATA;
Militants for the Establishment of a Proletarian Regime (MFM), Manandafy
RAKOTONIRINA;
National Movement for the Independence of Madagascar (MONIMA), Monja
JAONA;
Socialist Organization Monima (VSM, an offshoot of MONIMA), Tsihozony
MAHARANGA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 12 March 1989 (next to be held March 1996);
results--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 62%, Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA (MFM/MFT)
20%, Dr. Jerome Marojama RAZANABAHINY (VONJY) 15%, Monja JAONA (MONIMA) 3%;

Popular National Assembly--last held on 28 May 1989 (next to
be held May 1994);
results--AREMA 88.2%, MFM 5.1%, AKFM 3.7%, VONJY 2.2%, other 0.8%;
seats--(137 total) AREMA 120, MFM 7, AKFM 5, VONJY 4, MONIMA 1

Communists: Communist party of virtually no importance; small and
vocal group of Communists has gained strong position in leadership of
AKFM, the rank and file of which is non-Communist

Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn
RAJAONARIVELO; Chancery at 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC
20008; telephone [phone] or 5526; there is a Malagasy Consulate
General in New York;

US--Ambassador Howard K. WALKER; Embassy at 14 and 16 Rue
Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo (mailing address is B. P. 620,
Antananarivo); telephone 212-57, 209-56, 200-89, 207-18

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world.
During the period 1980-85 it had a population growth of 3% a year and
a - 0.4% GDP growth rate. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is
the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 40% of GDP, employing
about 80% of the labor force, and contributing to more than 70% of total
export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of
agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1990 it accounted for
only 16% of GDP and employed 3% of the labor force. In 1986 the
government introduced a five-year development plan that stresses
self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for
exports, and reduced energy imports.

GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate 3.8% (1990
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $390 million; expenditures $525 million, including
capital expenditures of $240 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $290 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--coffee 45%, vanilla 15%, cloves 11%, sugar, petroleum
products;

partners--France, Japan, Italy, FRG, US

Imports: $436 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%,
petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13%;

partners--France, FRG, UK, other EC, US

External debt: $3.6 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.2% (1990 est.); accounts
for 16% of GDP

Electricity: 119,000 kW capacity; 430 million kWh produced,
40 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap
factories, breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer
goods industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly
plant, paper, petroleum

Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; cash crops--coffee, vanilla,
sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops--rice, cassava, beans, bananas,
peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild
varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million

Currency: Malagasy franc (plural--francs);
1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--1,454.6 (December
1990), 1,494.1 (1990), 1,603.4 (1989), 1,407.1 (1988), 1,069.2 (1987),
676.3 (1986), 662.5 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 40,000 km total; 4,694 km paved, 811 km crushed stone,
gravel, or stabilized soil, 34,495 km improved and unimproved
earth (est.)

Inland waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and
small portions of Canal des Pangalanes

Ports: Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara

Merchant marine: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,416
GRT/82,869 DWT; includes 9 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum,
oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft

Airports: 148 total, 115 usable; 30 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 42 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: above average system includes open-wire lines,
coaxial cables, radio relay, and troposcatter links; submarine cable to
Bahrain; satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT; over 38,200 telephones; stations--14 AM, 1 FM, 7 (30
repeaters) TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces,
Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces--includes Navy and Air Force),
Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,637,866; 1,570,393 fit for
military service; 119,882 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * MALAWI

MALAWI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 118,480 km2; land area: 94,080 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries: 2,881 km total; Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania
475 km, Zambia 837 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa
(Lake Malawi)

Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season
(May to November)

Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded
hills, some mountains

Natural resources: limestone; unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite

Land use: arable land 25%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 20%; forest and woodland 50%; other 5%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: deforestation

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 9,438,462 (July 1991), growth rate 1.8% (1991);
note--900,000 Mozambican refugees in Malawi (1990 est.)

Birth rate: 52 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 17 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 136 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 51 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Malawian(s); adjective--Malawian

Ethnic divisions: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga,
Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

Religion: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%;
traditional indigenous beliefs are also practiced

Language: English and Chichewa (official); other languages
important regionally

Literacy: 22% (male 34%, female 12%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1966)

Labor force: 428,000 wage earners; agriculture 43%, manufacturing
16%, personal services 15%, commerce 9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous
services 4%, other permanently employed 6% (1986)

Organized labor: small minority of wage earners are unionized

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Malawi

Type: one-party state

Capital: Lilongwe

Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe,
Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ncheu,
Nkhata Bay, Nkhota Kota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK; formerly Nyasaland)

Constitution: 6 July 1964; republished as amended January 1974

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1964)

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch: High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Dr. Hastings
Kamuzu BANDA (since 6 July 1966; sworn in as President for Life 6 July
1971)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Malawi Congress Party
(MCP), Maxwell PASHANE, administrative secretary; John TEMBO, treasurer
general; top party position of secretary general vacant since 1983

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--President BANDA sworn in as President for Life on
6 July 1971;

National Assembly--last held 27-28 May 1987
(next to be held by May 1992);
results--MCP is the only party;
seats--(133 total, 112 elected) MCP 133

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Robert B. MBAYA; Chancery at
2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
797-1007;

US--Ambassador George A. TRAIL, III; Embassy in new capital city
development area, address NA (mailing address is P. O. Box 30016,
Lilongwe); telephone  [phone]

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band; similar to
the flag of Afghanistan which is longer and has the national coat of arms
superimposed on the hoist side of the black and red bands

ECONOMY
Overview: A landlocked country, Malawi ranks among the world's
least developed with a per capita GDP of $175. The economy is
predominately agricultural and operates under a relatively free
enterprise environment, with about 90% of the population living in
rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 40% of GDP and 90% of export
revenues. After two years of weak performance, economic growth improved
significantly in 1988-90 as a result of good weather and a broadly based
economic adjustment effort by the government. The economy depends on
substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank,
and individual donor nations. The closure of traditional trade routes
through Mozambique continues to be a constraint on the economy.

GDP: $1.6 billion, per capita $175; growth rate 4.8% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.7% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $398 million; expenditures $510 million, including
capital expenditures of $154 million (FY91 est.)

Exports: $390 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts;

partners--US, UK, Zambia, South Africa, FRG

Imports: $560 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--food, petroleum, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment;

partners--South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe

External debt: $1.4 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.9% (1989 est.); accounts
for about 18% of GDP (1988)

Electricity: 181,000 kW capacity; 535 million kWh produced,
60 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: agricultural processing (tea, tobacco, sugar),
sawmilling, cement, consumer goods

Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; cash crops--tobacco,
sugarcane, cotton, tea, and corn; subsistence crops--potatoes, cassava,
sorghum, pulses; livestock--cattle and goats

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $215
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.0 billion

Currency: Malawian kwacha (plural--kwacha);
1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala

Exchange rates: Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1--2.6300 (January
1991), 2.7289 (1990), 2.7595 (1989), 2.5613 (1988), 2.2087 (1987), 1.8611
(1986), 1.7191 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 789 km 1.067-meter gauge

Highways: 13,135 km total; 2,364 km paved; 251 km crushed stone,
gravel, or stabilized soil; 10,520 km earth and improved earth

Inland waterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km

Ports: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, and Nkotakota--all on Lake
Nyasa (Lake Malawi)

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 48 total, 46 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 9 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay
links, and radio communication stations; 36,800 telephones; stations--8
AM, 4 FM, no TV; satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Note: a majority of exports would normally go through Mozambique
on the Beira or Nacala railroads, but now most go through South Africa
because of insurgent activity and damage to rail lines

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),
Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit), paramilitary
Malawi Young Pioneers

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,960,082; 995,864 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $22 million, 1.6% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * MALAYSIA

MALAYSIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 329,750 km2; land area: 328,550 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: 2,669 km total; Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782,
Thailand 506 km

Coastline: 4,675 km total (2,068 km Peninsular Malaysia,
2,607 km East Malaysia)

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation,
specified boundary in the South China Sea;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands
with China, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; state of Sabah claimed by
the Philippines; Brunei may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that
divides Brunei into two parts

Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and
northeast (October to February) monsoons

Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Natural resources: tin, crude oil, timber, copper, iron ore,
natural gas, bauxite

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and pastures
NEGL%; forest and woodland 63%; other 24%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to flooding; air and water pollution

Note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern
South China Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 17,981,698 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 30 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 29 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Malaysian(s); adjective--Malaysian

Ethnic divisions: Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%,
Indian 9%

Religion: Peninsular Malaysia--Malays nearly all Muslim, Chinese
predominantly Buddhists, Indians predominantly Hindu; Sabah--Muslim 38%,
Christian 17%, other 45%; Sarawak--tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and
Confucianist 24%, Muslim 20%, Christian 16%, other 5%

Language: Peninsular Malaysia--Malay (official); English, Chinese
dialects, Tamil; Sabah--English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects,
Mandarin and Hakka dialects predominate among Chinese; Sarawak--English,
Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages

Literacy: 78% (male 86%, female 70%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 6,800,000; agriculture 30.8%, manufacturing 17%,
government 13.6%, construction 5.8%, finance 4.3%, business services,
transport and communications 3.4%, mining 0.6%, other 24.5% (1989 est.)

Organized labor: 660,000, 10% of total labor force (1988)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; constitutional
monarchy nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral
Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states--hereditary rulers in all
but Penang and Melaka, where governors are appointed by Malaysian
Government; powers of state governments are limited by federal
Constitution; Sabah--self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of
Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and
other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak--self-governing
state within Malaysia, holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with
foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated
to federal government

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri,
singular--negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah
persekutuan, singular--wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan,
Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang,
Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*

Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)

Constitution: 31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963 when
Federation of Malaya became Federation of Malaysia

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the
federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 31 August (1957)

Executive branch: paramount ruler, deputy paramount ruler, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlimen) consists of an
upper house or Senate (Dewan Negara) and a lower house or House of
Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Paramount Ruler AZLAN Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Sultan
Yusof Izzudin (since 26 April 1989); Deputy Paramount Ruler JA'AFAR ibni
Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since
16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Abdul GHAFAR Baba (since 7 May 1986)

Political parties and leaders: Peninsular Malaysia--
National Front, a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by
United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO Baru), MAHATHIR bin
Mohamad;
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING Liong Sik;
Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, Datuk LIM Keng Yaik;
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), Datuk S. Samy VELLU;

Sabah--Berjaya Party, Datuk Haji Mohammed NOOR Mansor;
Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Joseph Pairin KITINGAN;
United Sabah National Organizaton (USNO), Tun Datu Haji MUSTAPHA;

Sarawak--coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party
Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB
Mahmud;
Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar Stephen YONG Kuet Tze;
Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk James WONG Kim Min;
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE;
major opposition parties are
Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang
and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 21 October 1990 (next to be
held by August 1995);
results--National Front 52%, other 48%;
seats--(180 total) National Front 127, DAP 20, PAS 7, independents 4,
other 22; note--within the National Front, UMNO got 71 seats and MCA 18
seats

Communists: Peninsular Malaysia--about 1,000 armed insurgents on
Thailand side of international boundary and about 200 full time inside
Malaysia surrendered on 2 December 1989; about 50 Communist insurgents in
Sarawak surrendered on 17 October 1990

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdul MAJID Mohamed; Chancery
at 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
328-2700; there are Malaysian Consulates General in Los Angeles and
New York;

US--Ambassador Paul M. CLEVELAND; Embassy at 376 Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur (mailing address is P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala
Lumpur); telephone  60  (3) 248-9011

Flag: fourteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating
with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the
crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was
based on the flag of the US

ECONOMY
Overview: In 1988-90 booming exports helped Malaysia continue to
recover from the severe 1985-86 recession. Real output grew by 8.8% in
1989 and 10% in 1990, helped by vigorous growth in manufacturing
output, further increases in foreign direct investment, particularly
from Japanese and Taiwanese firms facing higher costs at home, and
increased oil production in 1990. Malaysia has become the world's
third-largest producer of semiconductor devices (after the US and Japan)
and the world's largest exporter of semiconductor devices. Inflation
remained low as unemployment stood at 6% of the labor force and as
the government followed prudent fiscal/monetary policies. The country is
not self-sufficient in food, and some of the rural population subsists at
the poverty level. Malaysia's high export dependence leaves it
vulnerable to a recession in the OECD countries or a fall in world
commodity prices.

GDP: $43.1 billion, per capita $2,460; real growth rate 10%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6% (1990)

Budget: revenues $12.6 billion; expenditures $11.8 billion,
including capital expenditures of $3.2 billion (1991 est.)

Exports: $28.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--natural rubber, palm oil, tin, timber, petroleum,
electronics, light manufactures;

partners--Singapore, US, Japan, EC

Imports: $26.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--food, crude oil, consumer goods, intermediate goods,
capital equipment, chemicals;

partners--Japan, US, Singapore, FRG, UK

External debt: $20.0 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 15.8% (1990 est.); accounts
for 27% of GDP

Electricity: 5,600,000 kW capacity; 16,500 million kWh produced,
940 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries:

Peninsular Malaysia--rubber and oil palm processing and
manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and
smelting, logging and processing timber;

Sabah--logging, petroleum production;

Sarawak--agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining,
logging

Agriculture:

Peninsular Malaysia--natural rubber, palm oil, rice;

Sabah--mainly subsistence, but also rubber, timber, coconut,
rice;

Sarawak--rubber, timber, pepper; there is a deficit
of rice in all areas; fish catch of 608,000 metric tons in 1987

Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin
going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $170
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $42 million

Currency: ringgit (plural--ringgits); 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen

Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1--2.7151 (January 1991),
1.7048 (1990), 2.7088 (1989), 2.6188 (1988), 2.5196 (1987), 2.5814
(1986), 2.4830 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads:

Peninsular Malaysia--1,665 km 1.04-meter gauge; 13 km double
track, government owned;

Sabah--136 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways:

Peninsular Malaysia--23,600 km (19,352 km hard surfaced, mostly
bituminous-surface treatment, and 4,248 km unpaved);

Sabah--3,782 km;

Sarawak--1,644 km

Inland waterways:

Peninsular Malaysia--3,209 km;

Sabah--1,569 km;

Sarawak--2,518 km

Ports: Tanjong Kidurong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Pasir Gudang,
Penang, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Tawau

Merchant marine: 157 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,530,756
GRT/2,246,358 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 65 cargo, 22
container, 2 vehicle carrier, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 livestock
carrier, 31 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 chemical
tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 1 passenger-cargo, 23 bulk

Civil air: 53 major transport aircraft

Pipelines: crude oil, 1,307 km; natural gas, 379 km

Airports: 125 total, 119 usable; 32 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 18 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good intercity service provided to peninsular
Malaysia mainly by microwave relay, adequate intercity radio relay
network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; international service good;
good coverage by radio and television broadcasts; 994,860 telephones
(1984); stations--28 AM, 3 FM, 33 TV; submarine cables extend to India
and Sarawak; SEACOM submarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore;
satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT, and 2 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal
Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police,
Sarawak Border Scouts

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,620,418; 2,815,910 fit for
military service; 180,991 reach military age (21) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.7 billion, 3.9% of GDP (1990)



  * MALDIVES

MALDIVES

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 300 km2; land area: 300 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 644 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm (defined by geographic
coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with
India);

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to
March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Terrain: flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
3%; forest and woodland 3%; other 84%

Environment: 1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls

Note: archipelago of strategic location astride and along
major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 226,200 (July 1991), growth rate 3.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 72 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 65 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Maldivian(s); adjective--Maldivian

Ethnic divisions: admixtures of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, and
black

Religion: Sunni Muslim

Language: Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic);
English spoken by most government officials

Literacy: 92% (male 92%, female 92%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Labor force: 66,000 (est.); 25% engaged in fishing industry

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Maldives

Type: republic

Capital: Male

Administrative divisions: 19 district (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu,
Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu,
Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu

Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)

Constitution: 4 June 1964

Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English
common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis)

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Maumoon Abdul
GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978)

Political parties and leaders: no organized political parties;
country governed by the Didi clan for the past eight centuries

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held 23 September 1988
(next to be held September 1994);
results--President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected;

Citizens' Council--last held on 7 December 1989
(next to be held 7 December 1994);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(48 total, 40 elected)

Communists: negligible

Member of: AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Maldives does not maintain an embassy
in the US, but does have a UN mission in New York;

US--the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and
makes periodic visits there; US Consular Agency, Midhath Hilmy,
Male; telephone 2581

Flag: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a
vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist
side of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping.
Agriculture is limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that
provide only 10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry,
employing 25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports;
it is also an important source of government revenue. During the 1980s
tourism has become one of the most important and highest growth sectors
of the economy. In 1988 industry accounted for about 5% of GDP. Real
GDP is officially estimated to have increased by about 10% annually
during the period 1974-87, and GDP estimates for 1988 show a further
growth of 9% on the strength of a record fish catch and an improved
tourist season.

GDP: $136 million, per capita $670; real growth rate 9.2% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: NEGL%

Budget: revenues $51 million; expenditures $50 million, including
capital expenditures of $25 million (1988 est.)

Exports: $39.4 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--fish 57%, clothing 39%;

partners--Thailand, Western Europe, Sri Lanka

Imports: $105.7 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--intermediate and capital goods 47%, consumer goods
42%, petroleum products 11%;

partners--Japan, Western Europe, Thailand

External debt: $70 million (December 1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 5.0% (1988); accounts
for 5% of GDP

Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 11 million kWh produced,
50 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat
building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope),
handicrafts

Agriculture: accounts for almost 30% of GDP (including fishing);
fishing more important than farming; limited production of coconuts,
corn, sweet potatoes; most staple foods must be imported; fish catch
of 63,000 tons (1988 est.)

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $105 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million

Currency: rufiyaa (plural--rufiyaa); 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laaris

Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1--9.937 (January 1991),
9.509 (1990), 9.0408 (1989), 8.7846 (1988), 9.2230 (1987), 7.1507 (1986),
7.0981 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city

Ports: Male, Gan

Merchant marine: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,131
GRT/85,770 DWT; includes 14 cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 bulk

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications: minimal domestic and international facilities;
2,804 telephones; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,788; 28,378 fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $1.8 million, NA% of GDP (1984 est.)



  * MALI

MALI

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,240,000 km2; land area: 1,220,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 7,243 km total; Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000
km, Guinea 858 km, Ivory Coast 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and
Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October
1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both
sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary
demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy,
humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand;
savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone,
uranium; bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known
but not exploited

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 25%; forest and woodland 7%; other 66%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry
seasons; desertification

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 8,338,542 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 51 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 21 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 114 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 47 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Malian(s); adjective--Malian

Ethnic divisions: Mande (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole) 50%, Peul 17%,
Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 5%, other 10%

Religion: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%

Language: French (official); Bambara spoken by about 80% of the
population; numerous African languages

Literacy: 32% (male 41%, female 24%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,666,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 80%, services 19%,
industry and commerce 1% (1981); 50% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM) is
umbrella organization for over 13 national unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Mali

Type: republic; the single-party constitutional government
was overthrown on 26 March 1991; the new ruling National
Reconciliation Council has promised a multiparty democracy

Capital: Bamako

Administrative divisions: 7 regions (regions,
singular--region); Gao, Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso,
Tombouctou; note--there may be a new capital district of Bamako

Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France; formerly French
Sudan)

Constitution: 2 June 1974, effective 19 June 1979; amended
September 1981 and March 1985; suspended following the coup of
26 March 1991

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Section of Court of
State; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic,
22 September (1960)

Executive branch: National Conciliation Council led by the
military, following the coup of 26 March 1991

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemble
Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--following the military coup of 26 March 1991
President Gen. Moussa TRAORE was deposed and the National
Reconciliation Council, led by Lt. Col. Amadou Toumani TOURE and Lt. Col.
Kafougouna KONE, was installed;

Head of Government--Interim Premier Soumana SACKO (since 2
April 1991)

Political parties and leaders: formerly the only party, the
Democratic Union of Malian People (UDPM), was disbanded after the coup of
26 March 1991, and the new regime legalized the formation of political
parties on 5 April 1991; new political parties are--Union of Democratic
Forces (UFD), Demba DIALLO;
Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa Bala COULIBALY;
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally (US-RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA;
African Party for Solidarity and Justice (ADEMA), Alpha Oumar KONARE;
Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE;
Democratic Party for Justice (PDJ), Abdul BA;
Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Almany SYLLA;
Party for the Unity of Malian People (PUPM), Nock AGATTIA;
Hisboulah al Islamiya, Hamidou DRAMERA;
Union of Progressive Forces (UFP), Yacouba SIDIBE;
National Congress of Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL;
Assembly for Justice and Progress, Kady DRAME;
other parties forming

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held on 9 June 1985 (next to be held June 1991);
results--General Moussa TRAORE was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held on 26 June 1988
(next to be held June 1991);
results--UDPM is the only party; seats--(82 total) UDPM 82;
note--following the military coup of 26 March 1991 President TRAORE
was deposed and the UDPM was disbanded; the new ruling National
Reconciliation Council, formed of 17 soldiers, has promised to
institute a multiparty democracy and is expected to hold elections
by December 1991

Communists: a few Communists and some sympathizers (no legal
Communist party)

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Mohamed Alhousseyni TOURE;
Chancery at 2130 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
332-2249 or 939-8950;

US--Ambassador Herbert D. GELBER; Embassy at Rue Rochester NY and
Rue Mohamed V., Bamako (mailing address is B. P. 34, Bamako); telephone
 223  223712

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and
red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with
about 70% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is
largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10%
of the population live as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is
engaged in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated
on processing farm commodities.

GDP: $2.0 billion, per capita $250; real growth rate 9.9% (1989
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% (1987)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $329 million; expenditures $519 million, including
capital expenditures of $178 (1989 est.)

Exports: $285 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--livestock, peanuts, dried fish, cotton, skins;

partners--mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Imports: $513 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--textiles, vehicles, petroleum products, machinery,
sugar, cereals;

partners--mostly franc zone and Western Europe

External debt: $2.2 billion (1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 19.9% (1989 est.); accounts
for 7% of GDP

Electricity: 253,000 kW capacity; 730 million kWh produced,
90 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: small local consumer goods and processing,
construction, phosphate, gold, fishing

Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on
small subsistence farms; cotton and livestock products account for over
70% of exports; other crops--millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts;
livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.65  billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $190 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 642 km 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail
system through Kayes

Highways: about 15,700 km total; 1,670 km bituminous, 3,670 km
gravel and improved earth, 10,360 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 1,815 km navigable

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 37 total, 29 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 10 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic system poor but improving; provides
only minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications
stations; expansion of radio relay in progress; 11,000 telephones;
stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Air Force; paramilitary Gendarmerie,
Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,631,445; 940,954 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $45 million, 2.4% of GDP (1988)



  * MALTA

MALTA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 320 km2; land area: 320 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 140 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers

Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal
cliffs

Natural resources: limestone, salt

Land use: arable land 38%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 59%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: numerous bays provide good harbors; fresh water very
scarce--increasing reliance on desalination

Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean, 93 km south
of Sicily, 290 km north of Libya

PEOPLE
Population: 356,427 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Maltese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Maltese

Ethnic divisions: mixture of Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish,
Italian, English

Religion: Roman Catholic 98%

Language: Maltese and English (official)

Literacy: 84% (male 86%, female 82%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Labor force: 126,135; government (excluding job corps) 37%,
services 26%, manufacturing 22%, training programs 9%, construction 4%,
agriculture 2% (1989)

Organized labor: about 40% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Malta

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Valletta

Administrative divisions: none (administration directly from
Valletta)

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)

Constitution: 26 April 1974, effective 2 June 1974

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Freedom Day, 31 March

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court and Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Vincent (Censu) TABONE (since 4 April
1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH
ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO
(since 14 May 1987)

Political parties and leaders:
Nationalist Party, Edward FENECH ADAMI;
Malta Labor Party, Karmenu MIFSUD BONNICI

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held on 9 May 1987 (next to be
held by May 1992);
results--NP 51.1%, MLP 48.9%;
seats--(usually 65 total, but additional seats are given to the party
with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current
total 69) MLP 34, NP 31 before popular vote adjustment; MLP 34, NP 35
after adjustment

Communists: fewer than 100 (est.)

Member of: C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Salvatore J. STELLINI;
Chancery at 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone] or 3612; there is a Maltese Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Sally J. NOVETZKE; Embassy at 2nd Floor, Development
House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta (mailing address is P. O.
Box 535, Valletta); telephone  [phone], 240425, 243216, 243217,
243653, 223654

Flag: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in
the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,
edged in red

ECONOMY
Overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable
geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only
about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no
domestic energy sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on
foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest
contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 27% of GDP,
with the electronics and textile industries major contributors. In 1989
inflation was held to a low 0.9%. Per capita GDP at $5,500 places Malta
in the middle-income range of the world's nations.

GDP: $1.9 billion, per capita $5,500 (1988); real growth rate 6.4%
(1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1989)

Budget: revenues $1,020 million; expenditures $1,230 million,
including capital expenditures of $380 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $866 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--clothing, textiles, footwear, ships;

partners--Italy 30%, FRG 22%, UK 11%

Imports: $1,328 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods;

partners--Italy 30%, UK 16%, FRG 13%, US 4%

External debt: $90 million, medium and long-term (December 1987)

Industrial production: growth rate 19.2% (1989); accounts
for 27% of GDP

Electricity: 328,000 kW capacity; 1,110 million kWh produced,
2,990 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction,
food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco

Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP; overall, 20% self-sufficient;
main products--potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes,
citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs; generally
adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal
or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder, fruits, other basic
foodstuffs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $333 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $48 million

Currency: Maltese lira (plural--liri); 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100
cents

Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3004 (January 1991),
0.3172 (1990), 0.3483 (1989), 0.3306 (1988), 0.3451 (1987), 0.3924
(1986), 0.4676 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,291 km total; 1,179 km paved (asphalt), 77 km crushed
stone or gravel, 35 km improved and unimproved earth

Ports: Valletta, Marsaxlokk

Merchant marine: 415 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,005,791
GRT/8,644,369 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 8 short-sea passenger, 160
cargo, 5 container, 2 passenger-cargo, 13 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3
vehicle carrier, 1 barge carrier, 6 refrigerated cargo, 9 chemical
tanker, 8 combination ore/oil, 2 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas,
79 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 104 bulk, 11 combination
bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry; China owns 1 ship, USSR owns
7, Cuba owns 7, and Vietnam owns 1

Civil air: 7 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications: modern automatic system centered in Valletta;
163,800 telephones; stations--9 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; 1 submarine cable;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 94,081; 75,222 fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $21.9 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * MAN, ISLE OF

MAN, ISLE OF
(British crown dependency)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 588 km2; land area: 588 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 113 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half
the time

Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Natural resources: lead, iron ore

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; extensive arable land
and forests

Environment: strong westerly winds prevail

Note: located in Irish Sea equidistant from England, Scotland,
and Ireland

PEOPLE
Population: 64,075 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 14 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Manxman, Manxwoman, adjective--Manx

Ethnic divisions: native Manx of Norse-Celtic descent; British

Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Language: English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
but compulsory education age 5 to 16

Labor force: 25,864 (1981)

Organized labor: 22 labor unions patterned along British lines

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: British crown dependency

Capital: Douglas

Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act

Legal system: English law and local statute

National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July

Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, prime
minister, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of an upper
house or Legislative Council and a lower house or House of Keys

Judicial branch: High Court of Justice

Leaders:

Chief of State--Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshal Sir Laurence JONES
(since NA 1990);

Head of Government--President of the Legislative Council Sir
Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990)

Political parties and leaders: there is no party system and
members sit as independents

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

House of Keys--last held in 1986 (next to be held 1991);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(24 total) independents 24

Communists: probably none

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)

Flag: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in
the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee;
in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a
two-sided emblem is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key
sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to
high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the
island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income
industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of
the economy, have declined in their shares of GNP. Banking now
contributes over 20% to GNP and manufacturing about 15%. Trade is mostly
with the UK.

GNP: $490 million, per capita $7,573; real growth rate NA% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 1.5% (1988)

Budget: revenues $130.4 million; expenditures $114.4 million,
including capital expenditures of $18.1 million (FY85 est.)

Exports: $NA;

commodities--tweeds, herring, processed shellfish meat;

partners--UK

Imports: $NA;

commodities--timber, fertilizers, fish;

partners--UK

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 61,000 kW capacity; 190 million kWh produced,
2,930 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: an important offshore financial center; financial
services, light manufacturing, tourism

Agriculture: cereals and vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Economic aid: NA

Currency: Manx pound (plural--pounds); 1 Manx pound (LM) = 100
pence

Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1--0.5171 (January 1991),
0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 36 km electric track, 24 km steam track

Highways: 640 km motorable roads

Ports: Douglas, Ramsey, Peel

Merchant marine: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,634,471
GRT/2,906,039 DWT; includes 8 cargo, 6 container, 6 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 31 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical
tanker, 2 combination ore/oil, 3 liquefied gas, 13 bulk; note--a captive
register of the United Kingdom, although not all ships on the register
are British-owned

Airports: 2 total; 1 usable with permanent-surface runways
1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 24,435 telephones; stations--1 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * MARSHALL ISLANDS

MARSHALL ISLANDS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 181.3 km2; land area: 181.3 km2; includes the atolls
of Bikini, Eniwetak, and Kwajalein

Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 370.4 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims US territory of Wake Island

Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border
typhoon belt

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed
minerals

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 60%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 40%

Environment: occasionally subject to typhoons; two archipelagic
island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands

Note: located 3,825 km southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific
Ocean, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and Papua New Guinea;
Bikini and Eniwetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the
famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

PEOPLE
Population: 48,091 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 53 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 64 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Marshallese; adjective--Marshallese

Ethnic divisions: almost entirely Micronesian

Religion: predominantly Christian, mostly Protestant

Language: English universally spoken and is the official language;
two major Marshallese dialects from Malayo-Polynesian family; Japanese

Literacy: 93% (male 100%, female 88%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 4,800 (1986)

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of the Marshall Islands

Type: constitutional government in free association with the US;
the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

Capital: Majuro

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN
trusteeship; formerly the Marshall Islands District of the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Constitution: 1 May 1979

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, 1 May (1979)

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Nitijela

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Amata KABUA
(since 1979)

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties; President KABUA
is chief political (and traditional) leader

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held NA November 1987
(next to be held November 1991);
results--President Amata KABUA was reelected;

Parliament--last held NA November 1987 (next to be held November 1991);
results--percent of vote NA; seats--(33 total)

Communists: none

Member of: ESCAP (associate), ICAO, SPC, SPF, UN

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Wilfred I. KENDALL;
Chancery at 2433 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador William BODDE, Jr.; Embassy at NA address
(mailing address is P. O. Box 680, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-4380); telephone [phone]

Flag: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side
corner--orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large
rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy.
Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most
important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and
breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market.
Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and
copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and
employs about 10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural
resources, and imports far exceed exports. In 1987 the US Government
provided grants of $40 million out of the Marshallese budget of
$55 million.

GDP: $63 million, per capita $1,500; real growth rate NA%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.6% (1981)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $55 million; expenditures NA, including capital
expenditures of NA (1987 est.)

Exports: $2.5 million (f.o.b., 1985);

commodities--copra, copra oil, agricultural products, handicrafts;

partners--NA

Imports: $29.2 million (c.i.f., 1985);

commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, building materials;

partners--NA

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 42,000 kW capacity; 80 million kWh produced, 1,840 kWh
per capita (1990)

Industries: copra, fish, tourism; craft items from shell, wood, and
pearl; offshore banking (embryonic)

Agriculture: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits, copra;
pigs, chickens

Economic aid: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association,
the US is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: macadam and concrete roads on major islands (Majuro,
Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and
tracks

Ports: Majuro

Merchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,654,871
GRT/3,236,549 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 3 container, 7 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 11 bulk carrier; note--a flag of convenience
registry

Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: telephone network--570 lines (Majuro) and 186
(Ebeye); telex services; islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used
mostly for government purposes); stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave;
2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; US Government satellite
communications system on Kwajalein

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * MARTINIQUE

MARTINIQUE
(overseas department of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,100 km2; land area: 1,060 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 290 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to
October)

Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures
30%; forest and woodland 26%; other 26%; includes irrigated 5%

Environment: subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic
activity that result in an average of one major natural disaster every
five years

Note: located 625 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 345,180 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Martiniquais (sing. and pl.);
adjective--Martiniquais

Ethnic divisions: African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture
90%, Caucasian 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African
5%

Language: French, Creole patois

Literacy: 93% (male 92%, female 93%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force: 100,000; service industry 31.7%, construction and
public works 29.4%, agriculture 13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%,
other 16.3%

Organized labor: 11% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Department of Martinique

Type: overseas department of France

Capital: Fort-de-France

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: government commissioner

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral
Regional Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since
21 May 1981);

Head of Government--Government Commissioner Jean Claude ROURE
(since 5 May 1989); President of the General Council Emile MAURICE
(since NA 1988)

Political parties:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Stephen BAGO;
Union of the Left composed of the Progressive Party of Martinique (PPM),
Aime CESAIRE;
Socialist Federation of Martinique, Michael YOYO;
and
the Communist Party of Martinique (PCM), Armand NICOLAS;
Union for French Democracy (UDF), Jean MARAN

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

General Council--last held on NA October 1988
(next to be held by March 1991); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(44 total) number of seats by party NA;

Regional Assembly--last held on 16 March 1986
(next to be held by March 1992);
results--UDF/RPR coalition 49.8%, PPM/FSM/PCM
coalition 41.3%, other 8.9%;
seats--(41 total) PPM/FSM/PCM coalition 21, UDF/RPR coalition 20;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1;

French National Assembly--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(4 total) PPM 1, FSM 1, RPR 1, UDF 1

Communists: 1,000 (est.)

Other political or pressure groups: Proletarian Action Group (GAP);
Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group (GRS), Martinique
Independence Movement (MIM), Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance (ARC),
Central Union for Martinique Workers (CSTM), Marc Pulvar; Frantz Fanon
Circle; League of Workers and Peasants

Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France,
Martiniquais interests are represented in the US by France;

US--Consul General Raymond G. ROBINSON; Consulate General at 14 Rue
Blenac, Fort-de-France (mailing address is B. P. 561, Fort-de-France
97206); telephone  [phone]

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and
light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 12% of GDP and the small
industrial sector for 10%. Sugar production has declined, with most of
the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are
increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and
grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade
deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism
has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of
foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the
service sector and in administration. In 1986 per capita GDP was
relatively high at $6,000. During 1986 the unemployment rate was 30% and
was particularly severe among younger workers.

GDP: $2.0 billion, per capita $6,000; real growth rate NA% (1986)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1986)

Budget: revenues $268 million; expenditures $268 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Exports: $196 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples;

partners--France 65%, Guadeloupe 24%, FRG (1987)

Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction
materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods;

partners--France 65%, UK, Italy, FRG, Japan, US (1987)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 113,000 kW capacity; 564 million kWh produced,
1,660 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism

Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 12%
of GDP; principal crops--pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
vegetables, and sugarcane for rum; dependent on imported food,
particularly meat and vegetables

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $9.9 billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,680 km total; 1,300 km paved, 380 km gravel and earth

Ports: Fort-de-France

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways less than 2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic facilities are adequate; 68,900
telephones; interisland radio relay links to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and
Saint Lucia; stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 95,235; NA fit for military
service

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * MAURITANIA

MAURITANIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,030,700 km2; land area: 1,030,400 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than three times the size of
New Mexico

Land boundaries: 5,074 km total; Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km,
Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

Coastline: 754 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: boundary with Senegal

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central
hills

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 38%; forest and woodland 5%; other 56%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily
in March and April; desertification; only perennial river is the Senegal

PEOPLE
Population: 1,995,755 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 49 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 94 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 44 years male, 50 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Mauritanian(s); adjective--Mauritanian

Ethnic divisions: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Religion: Muslim, nearly 100%

Language: Hasaniya Arabic (national); French (official);
Toucouleur, Fula, Sarakole, Wolof

Literacy: 34% (male 47%, female 21%)
age 10 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980);
agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%;
53% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: 30,000 members claimed by single union,
Mauritanian Workers' Union

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Type: republic; military first seized power in bloodless coup
10 July 1978; a palace coup that took place on 12 December 1984 brought
President Taya to power

Capital: Nouakchott

Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions,
singular--region); Adrar, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, El Acaba,
Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant,
Tiris Zemmour, Trarza; note--there may be a new capital district of
Nouakchott

Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

Constitution: 20 May 1961, abrogated after coup of 10 July 1978;
provisional constitution published 17 December 1980 but abandoned in
1981; new constitutional charter published 27 February 1985

Legal system: based on Islamic law

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Executive branch: president, Military Committee for National
Salvation (CMSN), Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale), dissolved after 10 July 1978 coup; legislative power
resides with the CMSN

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Col. Maaouya Ould
SidAhmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)

Political parties and leaders: suspended

Suffrage: none

Elections: last presidential election August 1976; National
Assembly dissolved 10 July 1978; no national elections are scheduled

Communists: no Communist party, but there is a scattering of Maoist
sympathizers

Member of: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU,
CAEU, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdellah OULD DADDAH;
Chancery at 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
232-5700;

US--Ambassador William H. TWADDELL; Embassy at address NA,
Nouakchott (mailing address is B. P. 222, Nouakchott); telephone  222
(2) 252-660 or 252-663

Flag: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow,
horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the
crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

ECONOMY
Overview: A majority of the population still depends on agriculture
and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many
subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in
the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore that
account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for
this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's
coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but
overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The
country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent
years, the droughts, the conflict with Senegal, rising energy costs,
and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of
foreign debt. The government now has begun the second stage of an
economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF,
and major donor countries.

GDP: $942 million, per capita $500; real growth rate 3.5% (1989
est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.2% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 21% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $280 million; expenditures $346 million, including
capital expenditures of $61 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $519 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--iron ore, processed fish, small amounts of gum arabic
and gypsum, unrecorded but numerically significant cattle exports to
Senegal;

partners--EC 57%, Japan 39%, Ivory Coast 2%

Imports: $567 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products,
capital goods;

partners--EC 79%, Africa 5%, US 4%, Japan 2%

External debt: $2.3 billion (December 1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.); accounts
for 10% of GDP

Electricity: 189,000 kW capacity; 136 million kWh produced,
70 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fishing, fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Agriculture: accounts for 29% of GDP (including fishing); largely
subsistence farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in
Senegal river valley; crops--dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish
products number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $277 million

Currency: ouguiya (plural--ouguiya); 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates: ouguiya (UM) per US$1--77.450 (January 1991),
80.609 (1990), 83.051 (1989), 75.261 (1988), 73.878 (1987), 74.375
(1986), 77.085 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 670 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track, owned
and operated by government mining company

Highways: 7,525 km total; 1,685 km paved; 1,040 km gravel, crushed
stone, or otherwise improved; 4,800 km unimproved roads, trails, tracks

Inland waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Merchant marine:  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
1,290 GRT/1,840 DWT

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 30 total, 29 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 17 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor
radio relay links, and radio communications stations; 5,200 telephones;
stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with a third planned

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National
Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard, Nomad Security Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 423,501; 206,733 fit for
military service; conscription law not implemented

Defense expenditures: $37 million, 4.2% of GDP (1987)



  * MAURITIUS

MAURITIUS

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,860 km2; land area: 1,850 km2; includes Agalega
Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

Comparative area: slightly less than 10.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 177 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island of
Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island

Climate: tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry
winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use: arable land 54%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
4%; forest and woodland 31%; other 7%; includes irrigated 9%

Environment: subject to cyclones (November to April); almost
completely surrounded by reefs

Note: located 900 km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 1,081,000 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 20 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Mauritian(s); adjective--Mauritian

Ethnic divisions: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian
3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religion: Hindu 52%, Christian (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant
2.3%) 28.3%, Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%

Language: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori

Literacy: 61% (male 72%, female 50%)
age 13 and over can read and write (1962)

Labor force: 335,000; government services 29%, agriculture and
fishing 27%, manufacturing 22%, other 22%; 43% of population of working
age (1985)

Organized labor: 35% of labor force in more than 270 unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port Louis

Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*;
Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port,
Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart,
Rodrigues*, Savanne

Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)

Constitution: 12 March 1968

Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Veerasamy RINGADOO (since 17 January
1986);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12
June 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Prem NABABSING (since 26 September
1990)

Political parties and leaders:

government coalition--Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A.
JUGNAUTH; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul BERENGER;
Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR;
Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil BAICHOO;

opposition--Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN;
Socialist Workers Front, Sylvio MICHEL;
Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), G. DUVAL

Suffrage universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held on 15 September 1991 (next to be
held by 15 September 1996);
results--MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%;
seats--(70 total, 62 elected) MSM/MMM alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26,
OPR 2, MTD 2); opposition 3

Communists: may be 2,000 sympathizers; several Communist
organizations; Mauritius Lenin Youth Organization, Mauritius Women's
Committee, Mauritius Communist Party, Mauritius People's Progressive
Party, Mauritius Young Communist League, Mauritius Liberation Front,
Chinese Middle School Friendly Association, Mauritius/USSR Friendship
Society

Other political or pressure groups: various labor unions

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING;
Chancery at Suite 134, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 1492;

US--Ambassador Penne Percy KORTH; Embassy at 4th Floor, Rogers
House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis; telephone  [phone] through
208-9767

Flag: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow,
and green

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly
textiles), and tourism. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated
land area and accounts for 32% of export earnings. The government's
development strategy is centered on industrialization (with a view to
exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance
in 1989 was impressive, with 5.0% real growth and low unemployment.

GDP: $2.1 billion, per capita $2,000; real growth rate 5.5% (FY89)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.7% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $477 million; expenditures $540 million, including
capital expenditures of $112 million (FY89)

Exports: $993 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%;

partners--EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15%

Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%,
foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%;

partners--EC, US, South Africa, Japan

External debt: $670 million (December 1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (FY87); accounts
for 25% of GDP

Electricity: 233,000 kW capacity; 420 million kWh produced,
375 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles,
wearing apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment,
nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated
land in sugarcane; other products--tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses,
cattle, goats, fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76
million; Western (non-US) countries (1970-88), $628 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $54 million

Currency: Mauritian rupee (plural--rupees);
1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1--14.295 (January
1991), 14.839 (1990), 15.250 (1989), 13.438 (1988), 12.878 (1987), 13.466
(1986), 15.442 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,800 km total; 1,640 km paved, 160 km earth

Ports: Port Louis

Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 94,619
GRT/140,345 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 2 cargo, 1 container,
1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 liquefied gas, 2 bulk

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: small system with good service; new microwave
link to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to several countries; 48,000
telephones; stations--2 AM, no FM, 4 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: paramilitary Special Mobile Force, Special Support Units,
National Police Force, National Coast Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 302,588; 155,176 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $4 million, 0.2% of GDP (1988)



  * MAYOTTE

MAYOTTE
(territorial collectivity of France)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 375 km2; land area: 375 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 185.2 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Comoros

Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November)

Terrain: generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep
ravines

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

Environment: subject to cyclones during rainy season

Note: part of Comoro Archipelago; located in the Mozambique Channel
about halfway between Africa and Madagascar

PEOPLE
Population: 75,027 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 87 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 59 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.8 chill~en born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Mahorais (sing., pl.); adjective--Mahoran

Religion: Muslim 99%; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic

Language: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte

Type: territorial collectivity of France

Capital: Dzaoudzi

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: government commissioner

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (Conseil
General)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981);

Head of Government--Prefect, Representative of the French
Government Daniel LIMODIN (since NA 1990);
President of the General Council Youssouf BAMANA (since NA 1976)

Political parties and leaders:
Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Younoussa BAMANA;
Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche MAOULIDA;
Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RMPR), Mansour KAMARDINE;
Union of the Center (UDC)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

General Council--last held NA June 1988 (next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(17 total) MPM 9, RPR 6, other 2;

French Senate--last held on 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) MPM 1;

French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to
be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) UDC 1

Communists: probably none

Member of: FZ

Diplomatic representation: as a territorial collectivity of France,
Mahoran interests are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural
sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not
self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements,
mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island is
heavily dependent on French financial assistance.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues NA; expenditures $37.3 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (1985)

Exports: $4.0 million (f.o.b., 1984);

commodities--ylang-ylang, vanilla;

partners--France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%

Imports: $21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984);

commodities--building materials, transportation equipment, rice,
clothing, flour;

partners--France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh
per capita

Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Agriculture: most important sector; provides all export earnings;
crops--vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of food
needs

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-87), $323.8 million

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 42 km total; 18 km bituminous

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: Dzaoudzi

Telecommunications: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications; includes radio relay and high-frequency
radio communications for links with Comoros and international
communications; 450 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * MEXICO

MEXICO

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,972,550 km2; land area: 1,923,040 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 4,538 km total; Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km,
US 3,326 km

Coastline: 9,330 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: natural prolongation of continental margin or
200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims Clipperton Island (French possession)

Climate: varies from tropical to desert

Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus,
and desert

Natural resources: crude oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc,
natural gas, timber

Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
39%; forest and woodland 24%; other 24%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: subject to tsunamis along the Pacific coast and
destructive earthquakes in the center and south; natural water resources
scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and
extreme southeast; deforestation; erosion widespread; desertification;
serious air pollution in Mexico City and urban centers along US-Mexico
border

Note: strategic location on southern border of US

PEOPLE
Population: 90,007,304 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 29 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Mexican(s); adjective--Mexican

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or
predominantly Amerindian 30%, white or predominantly white 9%, other 1%

Religion: nominally Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%

Language: Spanish

Literacy: 87% (male 90%, female 85%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.)

Labor force: 26,100,000 (1988); services 31.4%, agriculture,
forestry, hunting, and fishing 26%, commerce 13.9%, manufacturing 12.8%,
construction 9.5%, transportation 4.8%, mining and quarrying 1.3%,
electricity 0.3% (1986)

Organized labor: 35% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: United Mexican States

Type: federal republic operating under a centralized government

Capital: Mexico

Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular--estado) and
1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California,
Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima,
Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco,
Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla,
Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco,
Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas

Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)

Constitution: 5 February 1917

Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la
Union) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Camara de Senadores)
and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Suprema Corte de
Justicia)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Carlos SALINAS de
Gortari (since 1 December 1988)

Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties)
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Luis Donaldo COLOSIO Murrieta;
National Action Party (PAN), Luis ALVAREZ;
Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera;
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano;
Cardenist Front for the National Reconstruction Party (PFCRN), Rafael
AGUILAR Talamantes;
Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution (PARM), Carlos Enrique CANTU
Rosas

Suffrage: universal and compulsory (but not enforced) at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 6 July 1988
(next to be held September 1994);
results--Carlos SALINAS de Gortari (PRI) 50.74%,
Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (FDN) 31.06%,
Manuel CLOUTHIER (PAN) 16.81%; other 1.39%; note--several of the smaller
parties ran a common candidate under a coalition called the National
Democratic Front (FDN);

Senate--last held on 6 July 1988 (next to be held mid-year 1991);
results--PRI 94%, FDN (now PRD) 6%;
seats--(64 total) number of seats by party NA;

Chamber of Deputies--last held on 6 July 1988
(next to be held mid-year 1991);
results--PRI 53%, PAN 20%, PFCRN 10%, PPS 6%, PARM 7%,
PMS (now part of PRD) 4%;
seats--(500 total) number of seats by party NA

Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church,
Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), Confederation of Industrial
Chambers (CONCAMIN), Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce
(CONCANACO), National Peasant Confederation (CNC), UNE (no expansion),
Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT), Mexican Democratic Party (PDM),
Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants (CROC), Regional
Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM), Confederation of Employers of
the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX), National Chamber of Transformation
Industries (CANACINTRA), Business Coordination Council (CCE)

Member of: AG (observer), CCC, CDB, CG, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6,
G-11, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Gustavo PETRICIOLI Iturbide;
Chancery at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20006; telephone
[phone]; there are Mexican Consulates General in Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, San
Francisco, San Antonio, San Diego, and Consulates in Albuquerque,
Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California),
Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass
(Texas), Fresno (California), Kansas City (Missouri), Laredo, McAllen
(Texas), Miami, Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia,
Phoenix, Presidio (Texas), Sacramento, St. Louis, St. Paul (Minneapolis),
Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Seattle;

US--Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE, Jr.; Embassy at Paseo de la
Reforma 305, 06500 Mexico, D.F. (mailing address is P. O. Box 3087,
Laredo, TX 78044-3087); telephone  52  (5) 211-0042; there are US
Consulates General in Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana,
and Consulates in Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mazatlan, Merida, and Nuevo
Laredo

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake is its
beak) is centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: Mexico's economy is a mixture of state-owned industrial
plants (notably oil), private manufacturing and services, and both
large-scale and traditional agriculture. In the 1980s Mexico experienced
severe economic difficulties: the nation accumulated large external debts
as world petroleum prices fell; rapid population growth outstripped the
domestic food supply; and inflation, unemployment, and pressures to
emigrate became more acute. Growth in national output, however,
appears to be recovering, rising from 1.4% in 1988 to 3.9% in 1990.
The US is Mexico's major trading partner, accounting for two-thirds of
its exports and imports. After petroleum, border assembly plants and
tourism are the largest earners of foreign exchange. The government, in
consultation with international economic agencies, is implementing
programs to stabilize the economy and foster growth. In 1991 the
government also plans to begin negotiations with the US and Canada on a
free trade agreement.

GDP: $236 billion, per capita $2,680; real growth rate 3.9%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 15-18% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $44.3 billion; expenditures $55.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $7.8 billion (1989)

Exports: $26.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--crude oil, oil products, coffee, shrimp, engines,
cotton;

partners--US 66%, EC 16%, Japan 11%

Imports: $29.8 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--grain, metal manufactures, agricultural machinery,
electrical equipment;

partners--US 62%, EC 18%, Japan 10%

External debt: $96.0 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.3% (1989); accounts for
27% of GDP

Electricity: 27,600,000 kW capacity; 108,976 million kWh produced,
1,240 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel,
petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, transportation equipment, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 9% of GDP and over 25% of work force;
large number of small farms at subsistence level; major food crops--corn,
wheat, rice, beans; cash crops--cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; fish
catch of 1.4 million metric tons among top 20 nations (1987)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis
continues in spite of government eradication efforts; major link in
chain of countries used to smuggle cocaine from South American
dealers to US markets

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.1
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $7.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $110 million

Currency: Mexican peso (plural--pesos);
1 Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per
US$1--2,940.9 (January 1991), 2,812.6 (1990), 2,461.3 (1989),
2,273.1 (1988), 1,378.2 (1987), 611.8 (1986), 256.9 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 20,680 km total; 19,950 km 1.435-meter standard gauge;
730 km 0.914-meter narrow gauge

Highways: 210,000 km total; 65,000 km paved, 30,000 km semipaved or
cobblestone, 60,000 km rural roads (improved earth) or roads under
construction, 55,000 km unimproved earth roads

Inland waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals

Pipelines: crude oil, 28,200 km; refined products, 10,150 km;
natural gas, 13,254 km; petrochemical, 1,400 km

Ports: Acapulco, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, Manzanillo,
Mazatlan, Progreso, Puerto Vallarta, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Veracruz

Merchant marine: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 999,423
GRT/1,509,939 DWT; includes 4 short-sea passenger, 9 cargo, 2
refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 31 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 3 bulk, 3
combination bulk

Civil air: 174 major transport aircraft

Airports: 1,815 total, 1,537 usable; 195 with permanent-surface
runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 33 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
276 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: highly developed system with extensive radio
relay links; connection into Central American Microwave System; 6.41
million telephones; stations--679 AM, no FM, 238 TV, 22 shortwave; 120
domestic satellite terminals; earth stations--4 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: National Defense (includes Army and Air Force), Navy
(includes Marines)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 22,340,628; 16,360,596 fit for
military service; 1,107,163 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $1 billion, 0.6% of GDP (1988)



  * MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 702 km2; land area: 702 km2; includes Pohnpei, Truk,
Yap, and Kosrae

Comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 6,112 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the
eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasional severe
damage

Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to
low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk

Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

Environment: subject to typhoons from June to December; four major
island groups totaling 607 islands

Note: located 5,150 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and
Indonesia

PEOPLE
Population: 107,662 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Micronesian(s); adjective--Micronesian;
Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Ethnic divisions: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religion: predominantly Christian, divided between Roman Catholic
and Protestant; other churches include Assembly of God, Jehovah's
Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist, Latter Day Saints, and the Baha'i
Faith

Language: English is the official and common language; most
indigenous languages fall within the Austronesian language family, the
exceptions are the Polynesian languages; major indigenous languages are
Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, and Kosrean

Literacy: 90% (male 90%, female 85%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: NA; two-thirds are government employees; 45,000 people
are between the ages of 15 and 65

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Federated States of Micronesia (no short-form name)

Type: constitutional government in free association with the US;
the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

Capital: Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei); note--a new capital is
being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir valley

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap

Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship; formerly the Kosrae, Pohnpei, Truk, and Yap districts of the
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Constitution: 10 May 1979

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of
Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Bailey OLTER
(since 11 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA (since 11 May 1991)

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 5 March 1991 (next to be held March 1994);
results--Vice President Bailey OLTER elected president;

Congress--last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be
held March 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(14 total)

Communists: none

Member of: ESCAP (associate), ICAO, SPC, SPF, UN

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU;
Embassy at 706 G Street SE, Washington DC 20003; telephone (202)
544-2640;

US--Ambassador Aurelia BRAZEAL; Embassy at address NA, Kolonia
(mailing address is P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of
Micronesia 96941); telephone [phone]

Flag: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the
stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

ECONOMY
Overview: Financial assistance from the US is the primary source
of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the
1990s; also in December 1990 the US authorized the use of disaster
relief funds for Micronesia because of damage from Typhoon Russ.
In addition Micronesia earns about $4 million a year in fees from foreign
commercial fishing concerns. Economic activity consists primarily of
subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits
worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a
tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of
adequate facilities hinder development.

GNP: $150 million, per capita $1,500; real growth rate NA%
(1989 est.); note--GNP numbers reflect US spending

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 80% (1988)

Budget: revenues $110.8 million; expenditures NA, including
capital expenditures of NA (1987 est.)

Exports: $1.6 million (f.o.b., 1983);

commodities--copra;

partners--NA

Imports: $48.9 million (c.i.f., 1983);

commodities--NA;

partners--NA

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 18,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced,
380 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearl

Agriculture: mainly a subsistence economy; copra, black pepper;
tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs,
chickens

Economic aid: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the
US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 39 km of paved macadam and concrete roads on major
islands, otherwise 187 km stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads

Ports: Colonia (Yap), Truk (Kosrae), Okat (Kosrae)

Airports: 11 total, 10 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 6 with runways 1,220-2,439

Telecommunications: 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est.
1987); telephone network--960 telephone lines at both Kolonia and Truk;
islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government
purposes); stations--5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 4 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * MIDWAY ISLANDS

MIDWAY ISLANDS
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5.2 km2; land area: 5.2 km2; includes Eastern Island
and Sand Island

Comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 15 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain: low, nearly level

Natural resources: fish and wildlife

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: coral atoll

Note: located 2,350 km west-northwest of Honolulu at the western
end of Hawaiian Islands group, about one-third of the way between
Honolulu and Tokyo; closed to the public

PEOPLE
Population: 453 US military personnel (1991)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US
Navy, under command of the Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii and
managed cooperatively by the US Navy and the Fish and Wildlife Service of
the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
System

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: the US flag is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on providing support services for US
naval operations located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods
must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by US Military

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 32 km total

Pipelines: 7.8 km

Ports: Sand Island

Airports: 3 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * MONACO

MONACO

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1.9 km2; land area: 1.9 km2

Comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundary: 4.4 km with France

Coastline: 4.1 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: almost entirely urban

Note: second-smallest independent state in world (after
Vatican City)

PEOPLE
Population: 29,712 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 7 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Monacan(s) or Monegasque(s); adjective--Monacan
or Monegasque

Ethnic divisions: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other
21%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%

Language: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: 4,000 members in 35 unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Principality of Monaco

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Monaco

Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers,
singular--quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Independence: 1419, rule by the House of Grimaldi

Constitution: 17 December 1962

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

National holiday: National Day, 19 November

Executive branch: prince, minister of state, Council of Government
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: National Council (Conseil National)

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal (Tribunal Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--Prince RAINIER III (since November 1949); Heir
Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958);

Head of Government Minister of State Jean AUSSEIL (since 10
September 1985)

Political parties and leaders:
National and Democratic Union (UND),
Democratic Union Movement (MUD),
Monaco Action,
Monegasque Socialist Party (PSM)

Suffrage: universal adult at age 25

Elections:
National Council--last held on 24 January 1988
(next to be held 24 January 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(18 total) UND 18

Member of: ACCT, CSCE, ICAO, IMF (observer), IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation: Monaco maintains honorary consulates
general in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, and San
Francisco, and honorary consulates in Dallas, Honolulu, Palm Beach,
Philadelphia, and Washington;

US--no mission in Monaco, but the US Consul General in Marseille,
France, is accredited to Monaco; Consul General R. Susan WOOD; Consulate
General at 12 Boulevard Paul Peytral, 13286 Marseille Cedex (mailing
address APO NY 09777); telephone  33  (91) 549-200

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to
the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is
white (top) and red

ECONOMY
Overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a
popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate.
The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and
small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries. The state has no
income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for
individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that
have set up businesses and offices. About 50% of Monaco's annual revenue
comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector;
about 25% of revenue comes from tourism. Living standards are high, that
is, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan
suburbs.

GDP: $324 million, per capita $11,000; real growth rate NA%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: full employment (1989)

Budget: revenues $386 million; expenditures $426, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)

Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects
and rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EC market system
through customs union with France

Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects
and rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EC market system
through customs union with France

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 10,000 kW standby capacity (1988); power supplied by
France

Industries: tourism, pharmaceuticals, precision instruments,
glassmaking, printing, finance

Agriculture: NA

Economic aid: NA

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1.6 km 1.435-meter gauge

Highways: none; city streets

Ports: Monaco

Merchant marine: 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,268 GRT/4,959 DWT

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 usable airfield with permanent-surface runways

Telecommunications: served by the French communications system;
automatic telephone system; 38,200 telephones; stations--3 AM, 4 FM, 5
TV; no communication satellite stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * MONGOLIA

MONGOLIA

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,565,000 km2; land area: 1,565,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries: 8,114 km total; China 4,673 km, USSR 3,441 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature
ranges)

Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and
southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast

Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten,
phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
79%; forest and woodland 10%; other 10%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: harsh and rugged

Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Soviet Union

PEOPLE
Population: 2,247,068 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Mongolian(s); adjective--Mongolian

Ethnic divisions: Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%,
other 2%

Religion: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim (about 4%),
limited religious activity because of Communist regime

Language: Khalkha Mongol used by over 90% of population; minor
languages include Turkic, Russian, and Chinese

Literacy: 90% (male NA%, female NA%) (1989 est.)

Labor force: NA, but primarily herding/agricultural; over half the
adult population is in the labor force, including a large percentage
of women; shortage of skilled labor

Organized labor: 425,000 members of the Central Council of
Mongolian Trade Unions (CCMTU) controlled by the government (1984)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Mongolian People's Republic; abbreviated MPR

Type: in transition from Communist state to republic

Capital: Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular--aymag)
and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular--hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor,
Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi,
Dzavhan, Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol,
Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov,
Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence: 13 March 1921 (from China; formerly Outer Mongolia)

Constitution: 6 July 1960

Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of
law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: People's Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Executive branch: chairman and deputy chairman of the Presidium of
the People's Great Hural, premier, deputy premiers, Cabinet

Legislative branch: People's Great Hural, People's Small Hural

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3
September 1990); Vice President Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ
(since 7 September 1990);

Head of Government--Premier Dashiyn BYAMBASUREN
(since 11 September 1990);

Political parties and leaders:

ruling party--Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP),
Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, general secretary;

opposition--Social Democratic Party (SDP), Batbayar;
Mongolian Democratic Association, Sanjasuren DZORIG, chief coordinator;
Mongolian Party of National Progress, Ganbold;

other--Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), Batuul;
Free Labor Party, Maam;
note--opposition parties were legalized in May 1990

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 3 September 1990 (next to be held July 1994);
results--Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT elected by the People's Great Hural;

People's Great Hural--last held on 29 July 1990
(next to be held July 1994);
results--MPRP 84.6, MDP 3.8%, PNP 1.4%, SDP 1%, independents 9.2%;
seats--(430 total) MPRP 343;

People's Small Hural--last held on 29 July 1990 (next to be
held July 1994);
results--MPRP 62.3%, MDP 24.5%, SDP 7.5%, PNP 5.7%;
seats--(50 total) MPRP 33

Communists: MPRP membership 90,000 (1990 est.)

Member of: AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, IIB, ILO, IMF,
IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Gendengiyn NYAMDOO;
Chancery, Tel. [phone];

US--Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE; Deputy Chief of Mission
Michael J. SENKO; Embassy at Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy
Beijing; Tel. 29095 and 29639

Flag: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;
centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is a five-pointed star
above the national emblem (soyombo--a columnar arrangement of
abstract and geometric representations for fire, sun, moon, earth, water,
and the yin-yang symbol)

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity traditionally has been based on
agriculture and the breeding of livestock--Mongolia has the highest
number of livestock per person in the world. In recent years extensive
mineral resources have been developed with Soviet support. The mining and
processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold
account for a large part of industrial production. In early 1991 the
Mongolian leadership was struggling with severe economic dislocations,
mainly attributable to chaotic economic conditions in the USSR, by
far Mongolia's leading trade and development partner. For example,
the government doubled most prices in January 1991, and industrial
production dropped 10% in the first quarter of 1991. Moscow almost
certainly will be cutting aid in 1991.

GDP: $2.2 billion, per capita $1,000 (1990 est.); real
growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 10% (February 1991)

Budget: deficit of $240 million (1991 est.)

Exports: $784 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--livestock, animal products, wool, hides, fluorspar,
nonferrous metals, minerals;

partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80%
with USSR)

Imports: $1.14 billion (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--machinery and equipment, fuels, food products,
industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea;

partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)

External debt: $16.8 billion (yearend 1990); 98.6% with USSR

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 657,000 kW capacity; 2,950 million kWh produced,
1,380 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: copper, processing of animal products, building
materials, food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)

Agriculture: accounts for about 20% of GDP and provides livelihood
for about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (sheep,
goats, horses); crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, forage

Economic aid: about $300 million in trade credits and $34 million
in grant aid from USSR and other CEMA countries, plus $7.4 million
from UNDP (1990)

Currency: tughrik (plural--tughriks); 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1--7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990),
3.00 (1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,750 km 1.524-meter broad gauge (1988)

Highways: 46,700 km total; 1,000 km hard surface; 45,700 km other
surfaces (1988)

Inland waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1988)

Civil air: 25 major transport aircraft

Airports: 81 total, 31 usable; 11 with permanent-surface
runways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; fewer than 20 with
runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial
relays); relay of Soviet TV; 120,000 TVs; 186,000 radios;
at least 1 earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Border Guards),
Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 535,376; 349,548 fit for
military service; 25,275 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * MONTSERRAT

MONTSERRAT
(dependent territory of the UK)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 100 km2; land area: 100 km2

Comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
10%; forest and woodland 40%; other 30%

Environment: subject to severe hurricanes from June to November

Note: located 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

PEOPLE
Population: 12,504 (July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Montserratian(s); adjective--Montserratian

Ethnic divisions: mostly black with a few Europeans

Religion: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Language: English

Literacy: 97% (male 97%, female 97%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
Labor force: 5,100; community, social, and personal services 40.5%,
construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing
10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.)

Organized labor: 30% of labor force, three trade unions with 1,500
members (1984 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Plymouth

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges,
Saint Peter

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 1 January 1960

Legal system: English common law and statute law

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday of June)

Executive branch: monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet),
chief minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor David TAYLOR (since NA 1990);

Head of Government--Chief Minister John A. OSBORNE (since NA
1978)

Political parties and leaders:
People's Liberation Movement (PLM), John OSBORNE;
Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Howell BRAMBLE;
United National Front (UNF), Dr. George IRISH;
National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand OSBORNE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Council--last held on 25 August 1987 (next to be
held NA 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(11 total, 7 elected) PLM 4, NDP 2, PDP 1

Communists: probably none

Member of: CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp
with her arm around a black cross

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is small and open with economic activity
centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important
sector and accounted for 20% of GDP in 1986. Agriculture accounted for
about 4% of GDP and industry 10%. The economy is heavily dependent on
imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Exports
consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US.

GDP: $54.2 million, per capita $4,500; real growth rate 12% (1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 3.0% (1987)

Budget: revenues $12.1 million; expenditures $14.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1988)

Exports: $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);

commodities--electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers,
live plants, cattle;

partners--NA

Imports: $30 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs,
manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials;

partners--NA

External debt: $2.05 million (1987)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of GDP

Electricity: 5,270 kW capacity; 12.2 million kWh produced,
980 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism; light manufacturing--rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food
crops--tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food,
especially livestock products

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $75 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth

Ports: Plymouth

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,036 m

Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; stations--8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Police Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * MOROCCO

MOROCCO
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 446,550 km2; land area: 446,300 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries: 2,002 km total; Algeria 1,559 km, Western
Sahara 443 km

Coastline: 1,835 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is
unresolved; armed conflict in Western Sahara; Spain controls five
places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast
of Morocco--the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco
contests, and the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon
de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain: mostly mountains with rich coastal plains

Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead,
zinc, fish, salt

Land use: arable land 18%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
28%; forest and woodland 12%; other 41%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject
to earthquakes; desertification

Note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

PEOPLE
Population: 26,181,889 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 30 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 76 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 66 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Moroccan(s); adjective--Moroccan

Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99.1%, non-Moroccan 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religion: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Language: Arabic (official); several Berber dialects; French is
language of business, government, diplomacy, and postprimary education

Literacy: 50% (male 61%, female 38%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 7,400,000; agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry
15%, other 9% (1985)

Organized labor: about 5% of the labor force, mainly in the Union
of Moroccan Workers (UMT) and the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Morocco

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Rabat

Administrative divisions: 37 provinces (aqalim,
singular--iqlim) and 5 municipalities* (wilayat,
singular--wilayah); Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben
Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des
Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane,
Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech,
Marrakech*, Meknes, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*,
Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata,
Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit

Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)

Constitution: 10 March 1972

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court

National holiday: National Day (anniversary of King Hassan II's
accession to the throne), 3 March (1961)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (Majlis Nawab)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Azzedine LARAKI (since
30 September 1986)

Political parties and leaders: Morocco has 15 political parties;
the major ones are
Istiqlal Party, M'Hamed BOUCETTA;
Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Abderrahim BOUABID;
Popular Movement (MP), Secretariat General;
National Assembly of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN;
National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI;
Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA;
Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

Chamber of Representatives--last held on 14 September 1984 (were
scheduled for September 1990, but postponed until NA 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(306 total, 206 elected) CU 83, RNI 61, MP 47, Istiqlal 41,
USFP 36, PND 24, other 14

Communists: about 2,000

Member of: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC,
EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IIB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
OAS (observer), NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Mohamed BELKHAYAT;
Chancery at 1601 21st Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202)
462-7979; there is a Moroccan Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador E. Michael USSERY; Embassy at 2 Avenue de Marrakech,
Rabat (mailing address is P. O. Box 120, Rabat, or APO New York 09284);
telephone  212  (7) 76-22-65; there are US Consulates General in
Casablanca

Flag: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star)
known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag;
green is the traditional color of Islam

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy recovered moderately in 1990 because
of the resolution of a trade dispute with India over phosphoric
acid sales, a rebound in textile sales to the EC, and lower prices for
food imports. In addition, a dramatic increase in worker remittances,
increased Arab donor aid, and generous debt rescheduling agreements
helped ease foreign payments pressures. On the down side, higher oil
import costs fueled inflation. Servicing the $21 billion foreign debt,
high unemployment, and Morocco's vulnerability to external forces
remain severe problems for the 1990s.

GDP: $25.4 billion, per capita $990; real growth rate 2.5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.6% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 16% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $6.6 billion; expenditures $7.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (1990 est.)

Exports: $4.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%,
consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17%;

partners--EC 58%, India 7%, Japan 5%, USSR 3%, US 2%

Imports: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw
materials 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%,
consumer goods 9%;

partners--EC 53%, US 11%, Canada 4%, Iraq 3%, USSR 3%, Japan 2%

External debt: $21 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1989 est.); accounts
for an estimated 20% of GDP

Electricity: 2,262,000 kW capacity; 8,140 million kWh produced,
320 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing,
leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Agriculture: 50% of employment and 30% of export value; not
self-sufficient in food; cereal farming and livestock raising
predominate; barley, wheat, citrus fruit, wine, vegetables, olives;
fishing catch of 491,000 metric tons in 1987

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis; trafficking on
the increase for both domestic and international drug markets;
shipments of cannabis mostly directed to Western Europe;
occasional transit point for cocaine from South America
destined for Western Europe.

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.3
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $7.0 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4.8 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.5 billion

Currency: Moroccan dirham (plural--dirhams);
1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1--8.071 (January 1991),
8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988), 8.359 (1987), 9.104 (1986),
10.062 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,893 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (246 km double
track, 974 km electrified)

Highways: 59,198 km total; 27,740 km bituminous treated, 31,458 km
gravel, crushed stone, improved earth, and unimproved earth

Pipelines: 362 km crude oil; 491 km (abandoned) refined products;
241 km natural gas

Ports: Agadir, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia,
Nador, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla

Merchant marine: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 315,169
GRT/487,490 DWT; includes 10 cargo, 2 container, 12 refrigerated cargo,
6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
11 chemical tanker, 4 bulk, 3 short-sea passenger

Civil air: 23 major transport aircraft

Airports: 75 total, 67 usable; 26 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 27 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good system composed of wire lines, cables, and
radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat, secondary
centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan; 280,000
telephones; stations--14 AM, 6 FM, 47 TV; 5 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT; radio relay to
Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable to Algeria; microwave
network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan
Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,437,152; 4,092,027 fit for
military service; 299,535 reach military age (18) annually; limited
conscription

Defense expenditures: $1.4 billion, 5.2% of GDP



  * MOZAMBIQUE

MOZAMBIQUE
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 801,590 km2; land area: 784,090 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: 4,571 km total; Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa
491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe
1,231 km

Coastline: 2,470 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical to subtropical

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center,
high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Natural resources: coal, titanium

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 56%;
forest and woodland 20%; other 20%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: severe drought and floods occur in south; desertification

PEOPLE
Population: 15,113,282 (July 1991), growth rate 4.6% (1991);
note--900,000 Mozambican refugees in Malawi (1990 est.)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 17 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 134 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 46 years male, 49 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Mozambican(s); adjective--Mozambican

Ethnic divisions: majority from indigenous tribal groups; Europeans
about 10,000, Euro-Africans 35,000, Indians 15,000

Religion: indigenous beliefs 60%, Christian 30%, Muslim 10%

Language: Portuguese (official); many indigenous dialects

Literacy: 33% (male 45%, female 21%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: NA, but 90% engaged in agriculture

Organized labor: 225,000 workers belong to a single union,
the Mozambique Workers' Organization (OTM)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Mozambique

Type: republic

Capital: Maputo

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo,
Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Constitution: 30 November 1990

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
law

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic
(Assembleia da Republica)

Judicial branch: People's Courts at all levels

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Mario da Graca MACHUNGO
(since 17 July 1986)

Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO)--formerly a Marxist
organization with close ties to the USSR--was the only legal party before
30 November 1990 when the new Constitution went into effect establishing
a multiparty system; note--the government has announced that multiparty
elections will be held in 1991; parties such as
the Liberal Democratic Party of Mozambique (PALMO),
the Mozambique National Union (UNAMO),
and the Mozambique National Movement (MONAMO) have already emerged

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections: electoral law--to be ratified in 1991--will provide
for periodic, direct presidential and Assembly elections

Communists: about 200,000 FRELIMO members; note--FRELIMO no
longer considers itself a Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hipolito PATRICIO; Chancery
at Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
293-7146;

US--Ambassador Townsend B. FRIEDMAN, Jr.; Embassy at Avenida
Kenneth Kuanda, 193 Maputo (mailing address is P. O. Box 783, Maputo);
telephone  258  (1) 49-27-97, 49-01-67, 49-03-50

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and
yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black
band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed
star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open
white book

ECONOMY
Overview: One of Africa's poorest countries, with a per capita GDP
of little more than $100, Mozambique has failed to exploit the economic
potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and transportation
resources. Indeed, national output, consumption, and investment declined
throughout the first half of the 1980s because of internal disorders,
lack of government administrative control, and a growing foreign debt.
A sharp increase in foreign aid, attracted by an economic reform policy,
has resulted in successive years of economic growth since 1985.
Agricultural output, nevertheless, is at about only 75% of its 1981 level,
and grain has to be imported. Industry operates at only 20-40% of capacity.
The economy depends heavily on foreign assistance to keep afloat.

GDP: $1.6 billion, per capita $110; real growth rate 5.0% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.9% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 50% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $186 million; expenditures $239 million,
including capital expenditures of $208 million (1988 est.)

Exports: $90 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--shrimp 48%, cashews 21%, sugar 10%, copra 3%, citrus 3%;

partners--US, Western Europe, GDR, Japan

Imports: $764 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.), including aid;

commodities--food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum;

partners--US, Western Europe, USSR

External debt: $5.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1989 est.)

Electricity: 2,265,000 kW capacity; 1,740 million kWh produced,
120 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints),
petroleum products, textiles, nonmetallic mineral products (cement,
glass, asbestos), tobacco

Agriculture: accounts for 90% of the labor force, 50% of GDP,
and about 90% of exports; cash crops--cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane,
tea, shrimp; other crops--cassava, corn, rice, tropical fruits; not
self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $350 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $37 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $890 million

Currency: metical (plural--meticais); 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1--1,700 (November 1990),
800.00 (1989), 528.60 (1988), 289.44 (1987), 40.43 (1986), 43.18 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,288 km total; 3,140 km 1.067-meter gauge; 148 km
0.762-meter narrow gauge; Malawi-Nacala, Malawi-Beira, and
Zimbabwe-Maputo lines are subject to closure because of insurgency

Highways: 26,498 km total; 4,593 km paved; 829 km gravel, crushed
stone, stabilized soil; 21,076 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes

Pipelines: 306 km crude oil (not operating); 289 km refined
products

Ports: Maputo, Beira, Nacala

Merchant marine: 5 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 7,806 GRT/12,873 DWT

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft

Airports: 197 total, 145 usable; 27 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 27 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of troposcatter, open-wire lines,
and radio relay; 57,400 telephones; stations--15 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV;
earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Mozambique Armed Forces (including Army, Naval
Command, Air Defense Forces, Border Guards), Militia

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 3,407,234; 1,957,123 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 8.4% of GDP (1987)



  * NAMIBIA

NAMIBIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 824,290 km2; land area: 823,290 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries: 3,935 km total; Angola 1,376 km, Botswana
1,360 km, South Africa 966 km, Zambia 233 km

Coastline: 1,489 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite;
quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;
claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands administered
by South Africa

Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari
Desert in east

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin,
zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil,
natural gas, coal, and iron ore

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 64%;
forest and woodland 22%; other 13%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: inhospitable with very limited natural water resources;
desertification

Note: Walvis Bay area is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia

PEOPLE
Population: 1,520,504 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 69 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 58 years male, 63 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Namibian(s); adjective--Namibian

Ethnic divisions: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%; about 50% of the
population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% from the Kavangos tribe

Religion: predominantly Christian

Language: English is official language; Afrikaans is common language
of most of population and about 60% of white population, German 32%,
English 7%; several indigenous languages

Literacy: 38% (male 45%, female 31%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1960)

Labor force: 500,000; agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%,
services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)

Organized labor: 20 trade unions representing about 90,000 workers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Namibia

Type: republic

Capital: Windhoek

Administrative divisions: the former administrative structure of
26 districts has been abolished and 14 temporary regions are still in
the process of being determined; note--the 26 districts were Bethanien,
Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland
Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop,
Luderitz, Maltahohe, Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo,
Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek

Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March 1990

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral; House of Review (upper house, to be
established with elections in 1992 by planned new regional authorities);
National Assembly (lower house elected by universal suffrage)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Sam NUJOMA
(since 21 March 1990)

Political parties and leaders: South-West Africa People's
Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA;
Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Dirk MUDGE;
United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB;
Action Christian National (ACN), Kosie PRETORIUS;
National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses KATJIUONGUA;
Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans DIERGAARDT;
Namibia National Front (NNF), Vekuii RUKORO

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 16 February 1990 (next to be
held March 1995); Sam NUJOMA was elected president by the Constituent
Assembly (now the National Assembly);

National Assembly--last held on 7-11 November 1989
(next to be held by November 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(72 total) SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4, ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1

Communists: no Communist party

Other political or pressure groups: NA

Member of: C, ECA (associate), FAO, FLS, IAEA, IBRD,
ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, WCL, WFTU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH;
Chancery at 1413 K Street NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20005
(mailing address is PO Box 34738, Washington DC 20043);
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES; Embassy at Ausplan Building,
14 Lossen St., Windhoek (mailing address is P. O. Box 9890, Windhoek
9000, Namibia); telephone  264  (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680

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

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry
to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost
30% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in
Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial
diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a
primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large
quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten, and it has
substantial resources of coal. More than half the population depends
on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood.

GNP: $1.8 billion, per capita $1,240; real growth rate - 2.0%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.1% (1989)

Unemployment rate: over 30% (1990)

Budget: revenues $794.1 million; expenditures $999.6 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)

Exports: $1,021 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--uranium, diamonds, zinc, copper, cattle, processed fish,
karakul skins;

partners--Switzerland, South Africa, FRG, Japan

Imports: $894 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment;

partners--South Africa, FRG, US, Switzerland

External debt: about $27 million at independence; under a 1971
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, Namibia may not be
liable for debt incurred during its colonial period

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 486,000 kW capacity; 1,280 million kWh produced,
930 kWh per capita (1989)

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

Agriculture: mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising major
source of cash income; crops--millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch
potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled, 1987 catch
reaching only 520,000 metric tons; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million

Currency: South African rand (plural--rand);
1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1--2.625 (January
1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685
(1986), 2.1911 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track

Highways: 54,500 km; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 km gravel, 47,881 km
earth roads and tracks

Ports: Luderitz; primary maritime outlet is Walvis Bay (South Africa)

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 143 total, 123 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 67 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good urban, fair rural services; radio relay
connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers; 62,800
telephones; stations--2 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 309,978; 183,730 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 4.9% of GNP (1986)



  * NAURU

NAURU
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 21 km2; land area: 21 km2

Comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 30 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

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

Natural resources: phosphates

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: only 53 km south of Equator

Note: Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in
the Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Makatea in French Polynesia

PEOPLE
Population: 9,333 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 41 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 69 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Nauruan(s); adjective--Nauruan

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

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

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

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Nauru

Type: republic

Capital: no capital city as such; government offices in Yaren
District

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

Independence: 31 January 1968 (from UN trusteeship under Australia,
New Zealand, and UK); formerly Pleasant Island

Constitution: 29 January 1968

Legal system: own Acts of Parliament and British common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Bernard DOWIYOGO
(since 12 December 1989)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 20

Elections:

President--last held 9 December 1989
(next to be held December 1992);
results--Bernard DOWIYOGO elected by Parliament;

Parliament--last held on 9 December 1989
(next to be held December 1992);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(18 total) independents 18

Member of: C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTERPOL, ITU, SPC, SPF, UPU

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Theodore
Conrad MOSES resident in Melbourne (Australia); there is a Nauruan
Consulate in Agana (Guam);

US--the US Ambassador to Australia is accredited to Nauru

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

ECONOMY
Overview: Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves
of which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have
given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third
World--$10,000 annually. Few other resources exist so
most necessities must be imported, including fresh water from
Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income
from phosphates constitute serious long-term problems. Substantial
investment in trust funds, out of phosphate income, will help cushion the
transition.

GNP: over $90 million, per capita $10,000; real growth rate NA%
(1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget: revenues $69.7 million; expenditures $51.5 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY86 est.)

Exports: $93 million (f.o.b., 1984);

commodities--phosphates;

partners--Australia, NZ

Imports: $73 million (c.i.f., 1984);

commodities--food, fuel, manufactures, building materials,
machinery;

partners--Australia, UK, NZ, Japan

External debt: $33.3 million

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 14,000 kW capacity; 50 million kWh produced,
5,430 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconuts

Agriculture: negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for
food and water

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries (1970-1988), $2 million

Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3.9 km; used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

Highways: about 27 km total; 21 km paved, 6 km improved earth

Ports: Nauru

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,261
GRT/39,838 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 2 bulk

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft, one on order

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate intraisland and international radio
communications provided via Australian facilities; 1,600 telephones;
4,000 radios; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru
Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service

Defense expenditures: no formal defense structure



  * NAVASSA ISLAND

NAVASSA ISLAND
(territory of the US)

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5.2 km2; land area: 5.2 km2

Comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 8 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Haiti

Climate: marine, tropical

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

Natural resources: guano

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
10%; forest and woodland 0%; other 90%

Environment: mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support
goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

Note: strategic location between Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica in the
Caribbean Sea; 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo, Cuba

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited; transient Haitian fishermen and others
camp on the island

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none (territory of the US)

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US
Coast Guard

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * NEPAL

NEPAL
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 140,800 km2; land area: 136,800 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas

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

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

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

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

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

Land use: arable land 17%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 13%; forest and woodland 33%; other 37%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks;
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India

PEOPLE
Population: 19,611,900 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 39 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 98 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 50 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Nepalese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Nepalese

Ethnic divisions: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,
Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas, as well as many smaller groups

Religion: only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp
distinction between many Hindu (about 90% of population) and Buddhist
groups (about 5% of population); Muslims 3%, other 2% (1981)

Language: Nepali (official); 20 languages divided into numerous
dialects

Literacy: 26% (male 38%, female 13%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,100,000; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%;
severe lack of skilled labor

Organized labor: Teachers' Union and many other nonofficially
recognized unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Nepal

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kathmandu

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

Independence: 1768, unified by Prithyi Narayan Shah

Constitution: 9 November 1990

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

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December
(1945)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of
an upper house or National Council and a lower house or House of
Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)

Leaders:

Chief of State--King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January
1972, crowned King 24 February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA
Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA
(since 29 May 1991)

Political parties and leaders:

ruling party--Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Girija Prasad KOIRALA,
Ganesh Man SINGH, Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI;

center--the NDP has two factions: National Democratic
Party/Chand (NDP/Chand), Lokinra Bahadur CHAND, and
National Democratic Party/Thapa (NDP/Thapa), Surya Bahadur THAPA;
Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, G. N. Naryan SINGH;

Communist--Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and
Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADIKHARY;
United People's Front (UPF), N. K. PRASAI;
Rohit Party, N. M. BIJUKCHHE;
Democratic Party, leader NA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held on 12 May 1991 (next to be
held May 1996);
results--NCP 38%, CPN/UML 28%, NDP/Chand 6%, UPF 5%, NDP/Thapa
5%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 4%, Rohit 2%, CPN (Democratic) 1%,
independent 4%, other 7%;
seats--(205 total) NCP 110, CPN/UML 69, UPF 9, Terai Rights
Sadbhavana Party 6, NDP/Chand 3, Rohit 2, CPN (Democratic) 2,
NDP/Thapa 1, independent 3;

note--the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gives Nepal a multiparty
democracy system for the first time in 32 years

Communists: Communist Party of Nepal (CPN)

Other political or pressure groups: numerous small, left-leaning
student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese
antimonarchist groups

Member of: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Mohan Man SAINJU; Chancery at
2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone]; there
is a Nepalese Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Julia Chang BLOCH; Embassy at Pani Pokhari,
Kathmandu; telephone  977  (1) 411179 or 412718, 411601, 411613, 413890

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

ECONOMY
Overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries
in the world with a per capita income of less than $200. Real growth
averaged 4% in the 1980s until FY89, when it plunged to 1.5% because of
a trade/transit dispute with India. Though the impasse is over,
political turmoil and inflated energy costs will probably constrain
growth to under 4%. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy,
providing a livelihood for over 90% of the population and
accounting for 60% of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly
involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane,
tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has expanded
recently and accounted for 87% of foreign exchange earnings in FY89.
Apart from agricultural land and forests, the only other exploitable
natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural
production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, compared
with a population growth of 2.6%. Forty percent or more of the
population is undernourished partly because of poor distribution.
Economic prospects for the 1990s are poor, with economic growth
probably outpacing population growth only slightly.

GDP: $3.0 billion, per capita $160; real growth rate 2.1% (FY90)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.0% (FY90 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5%; underemployment estimated at 25-40% (1987)

Budget: revenues $316.5 million; expenditures $618.5 million,
including capital expenditures of $398 (FY91 est.)

Exports: $125 million (f.o.b., FY90), but does not include
unrecorded border trade with India;

commodities--clothing, carpets, leather goods, grain;

partners--India 38%, US 23%, UK 6%, other Europe 9% (FY88)

Imports: $454.3illion (c.i.f., FY90 est.);

commodities--petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%;

partners--India 36%, Japan 13%, Europe 4%, US 1% (FY88)

External debt: $2.5 billion (April 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 6% (FY90 est.);
accounts for 7% of GDP

Electricity: 280,000 kW capacity; 540 million kWh produced,
30 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette,
textiles, carpets, cement, brick; tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and 90% of work force; farm
products--rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat;
not self-sufficient in food, particularly in drought years

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and
international drug markets

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $304
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1980-88), $2.0 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $286 million

Currency: Nepalese rupee (plural--rupees);
1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1--30.805 (January
1991), 29.370 (1990), 27.189 (1989), 23.289 (1988), 21.819 (1987), 21.230
(1986), 18.246 (1985)

Fiscal year: 16 July-15 July

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 52 km (1990), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge; all in
Terai close to Indian border; 10 km from Raxaul to Birganj is
government owned

Highways: 7,080 km total (1990); 2,898 km paved, 1,660  km gravel
or crushed stone; also 2,522 km of seasonally motorable tracks

Civil air: 5 major and 11 minor transport aircraft

Airports: 37 total, 37 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 8 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
radio communication and broadcast service; international radio
communication service is poor; 50,000 telephones (1990); stations--88
AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service,
Nepalese Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,669,421; 2,420,398 fit for
military service; 233,404 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $38 million, 2% of GDP (FY91)



  * NETHERLANDS

NETHERLANDS
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 37,290 km2; land area: 33,940 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

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

Coastline: 451 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

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

Natural resources: natural gas, crude oil, fertile soil

Land use: arable land 25%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
34%; forest and woodland 9%; other 31%; includes irrigated 15%

Environment: 27% of the land area is below sea level and protected
from the North Sea by dikes

Note: located at mouths of three major European rivers
(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, Schelde)

PEOPLE
Population: 15,022,393 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

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

Ethnic divisions: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)

Religion: Roman Catholic 36%, Protestant 27%, other 6%,
unaffiliated 31% (1988)

Language: Dutch

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)

Labor force: 5,300,000; services 50.1%, manufacturing and
construction 28.2%, government 15.9%, agriculture 5.8% (1986)

Organized labor: 29% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of the Netherlands

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amsterdam, but government resides at The Hague

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

Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

Constitution: 17 February 1983

Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather
than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, vice prime minister,
Cabinet, Cabinet of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal)
consists of an upper chamber or First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) and a lower
chamber or Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad)

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen
Beatrix (born 27 April 1967);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Ruud (Rudolph) F. M. LUBBERS
(since 4 November 1982); Vice Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 2 November
1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Willem van VELZEN;
Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK;
Liberal (VVD), Joris VOORHOEVE;
Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans van MIERIO;
Communist (CPN), Henk HOEKSTRA;
a host of minor parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

First Chamber--last held on 9 June l987 (next to be held 9 June 1991);
results--elected by the country's 12 provincial councils;
seats--(75 total) percent of seats by party NA;

Second Chamber--last held on 6 September 1989
(next to be held by September 1993);
results--CDA 35.3%, PvdA 31.9%, VVD 14.6%, D'66 7.9%, other 10.3%;
seats--(150 total) CDA 54, PvdA 49, VVD 22, D'66 12, other 13

Communists: about 6,000

Other political or pressure groups: large multinational firms;
Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and
Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of
Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational
Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and IKV--Interchurch Peace Council

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,
COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMS, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA,
OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UPU,
WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Johan Hendrick MEESMAN;
Chancery at 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
244-5300; there are Dutch Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador C. Howard WILKINS, Jr.; Embassy at Lange Voorhout
102, The Hague (mailing address APO New York 09159); telephone
31 (70) 362-4911; there is a US Consulate General in Amsterdam

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue;
similar to the flag of Luxembourg which uses a lighter blue and is longer

ECONOMY
Overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is based on
private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however,
through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs
affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial
services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity
provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing,
oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanized
agricultural sector employs only 5% of the labor force, but provides
large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry.
An unemployment rate of 6.8% and a sizable budget deficit are
currently the most serious economic problems.

GDP: $218.0 billion, per capita $14,600; real growth rate 3.1% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6.8% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $68 billion; expenditures $76 billion, including
capital expenditures of $7 billion (1990)

Exports: $107.8 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--agricultural products, processed foods and tobacco,
natural gas, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing;

partners--EC 74.9% (FRG 28.3%, Belgium-Luxembourg
14.2%, France 10.7%, UK 10.2%), US 4.7% (1988)

Imports: $104.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--raw materials and semifinished products, consumer
goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products;

partners--EC 63.8% (FRG 26.5%, Belgium-Luxembourg 23.1%,
UK 8.1%), US 7.9% (1988)

External debt: none

Industrial production: growth rate 4.8% (1990 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP

Electricity: 22,216,000 kW capacity; 63,570 million kWh produced,
4,300 kWh per capita (1989)

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

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; animal production
predominates; crops--grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables;
shortages of grain, fats, and oils

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4
billion

Currency: Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (plural--guilders, gulden,
or florins); 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per
US$1--1.7018 (January 1991), 1.8209 (1990), 2.1207 (1989), 1.9766 (1988),
2.0257 (1987), 2.4500 (1986), 3.3214 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,037 km track (includes 1,871 km electrified and
1,800 km double track); 2,871 km 1.435-meter standard gauge operated by
Netherlands Railways (NS); 166 km privately owned

Highways: 108,360 km total; 92,525 km paved (including 2,185 km
of limited access, divided highways); 15,835 km gravel, crushed stone

Inland waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of
1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Pipelines: 418 km crude oil; 965 km refined products;
10,230 km natural gas

Ports: maritime--Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Den Helder, Dordrecht,
Eemshaven, Ijmuiden, Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Terneuzen, Vlissingen;
inland--29 ports

Merchant marine: 344 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,722,838
GRT/3,822,230 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 187 cargo, 32
refrigerated cargo, 23 container, 12 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 livestock
carrier, 12 multifunction large-load carrier, 17 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 29 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 2
specialized tanker, 3 combination ore/oil, 9 bulk, 3 combination bulk;
note--many Dutch-owned ships are also registered in the captive
Netherlands Antilles register

Civil air: 98 major transport aircraft

Airports: 28 total, 28 usable; 18 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: highly developed, well maintained, and
integrated; extensive system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by
radio relay links; 9,418,000 telephones; stations--6 AM, 20 (33
repeaters) FM, 22 (8 repeaters) TV; 5 submarine cables; communication
satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and
2 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy
(including Naval Air Service and Marine Corp),
Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,141,910; 3,658,056 fit for
military service; 105,829 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $6.8 billion, 2.7% of GDP (1990)



  * NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
(part of the Dutch realm)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 960 km2; land area: 960 km2; includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba,
Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)

Comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 364 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by northeast trade winds

Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors

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

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 92%

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

Note: consists of two island groups--Curacao and Bonaire
are located off the coast of Venezuela, and Sint Maarten, Saba,
and Sint Eustatius lie 800 km to the north

PEOPLE
Population: 183,872 (July 1991), growth rate 0.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Netherlands Antillean(s); adjective--Netherlands Antillean

Ethnic divisions: mixed African 85%; remainder Carib Indian,
European, Latin, and Oriental

Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic; Protestant, Jewish,
Seventh-Day Adventist

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

Literacy: 94% (male 94%, female 93%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force: 89,000; government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

Organized labor: 60-70% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs
granted in 1954

Capital: Willemstad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Dutch realm)

Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm)

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

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

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Executive branch: Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, vice
prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: legislature (Staten)

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since October 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS (since 17
May 1988, previously served from September 1984 to November 1985)

Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous
to each island:

Curacao--National People's Party (PNP), Maria
LIBERIA-PETERS;
New Antilles Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip MARTINA;
Workers' Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT;
Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and Nelson MONTE;
Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ;
Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA;

Bonaire--Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), C. V. Winklaar;
Democratic Party of Bonaire (PDB), John Evert (Jopie) ABRAHAM;
New Force, Rudy ELLIS;

Sint Maarten--Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M),
Claude WATHEY;
Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPM), Romeo PAPLOPHLET;

Sint Eustatius--Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E),
Albert K. Van PUTTEN; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM), Eric HENRIQUEZ;

Saba--Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Will JOHNSTON;
Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Vernon HASSELL;
Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Staten--last held on 16 March 1990 (next to be held March 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(22 total) PNP 7, FOL-SI-Curacao 3, UPB 3, MAN 2,
Democratic Party of Sint Maarten 2, Democratic Party of Curacao 1,
SPM-Sint Maarten 1, WIPM 1, Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius 1,
Nos Patria-Curacao 1; note--the government of Prime
Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS is a coalition of several parties

Communists: small leftist groups

Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL,
IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WTO (associate)

Diplomatic representation: as an autonomous part of the
Netherlands, Netherlands Antillean interests in the US are represented by
the Netherlands;

US--Consul General Sharon P. WILKINSON; Consulate General at
Sint Anna Boulevard 19, Willemstad, Curacao (mailing address P. O.
Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao); telephone  599  (9) 613066

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

ECONOMY
Overview: Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the
mainstays of the economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and
a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the
region. Unlike many Latin American countries, the Netherlands Antilles
has avoided large international debt. Almost all consumer and capital
goods are imported, with the US being the major supplier.

GDP: $1.0 billion, per capita $5,500; real growth rate 3% (1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1988)

Budget: revenues $454 million; expenditures $525 million,
including capital expenditures of $42 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $959 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--petroleum products 98%;

partners--US 55%, UK 7%, Jamaica 5%

Imports: $935 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures;

partners--Venezuela 52%, Nigeria 15%, US 12%

External debt: $701.2 million (December 1987)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 125,000 kW capacity; 365 million kWh produced,
1,990 kWh per capita (1990)

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

Agriculture: hampered by poor soils and scarcity of water; chief
products--aloes, sorghum, peanuts, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit; not
self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $428 million

Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin
(plural--guilders, gulden, or florins);
1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins
(NAf.) per US$1--1.79 (fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate 1971-88)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth

Ports: Willemstad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk

Merchant marine: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 431,958
GRT/441,056 DWT; includes 4 passenger, 19 cargo, 8 refrigerated cargo,
6 container, 6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 7 multifunction large-load
carrier, 1 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 2 bulk; note--all but a few
are foreign owned, mostly in the Netherlands

Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft

Airports: 7 total, 7 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: generally adequate facilities; extensive
interisland radio relay links; stations--9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 2 submarine
cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal
Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49 49,249; 27,803 fit for military
service; 1,634 reach military age (20) annually

Note: defense is responsibility of the Netherlands



  * NEW CALEDONIA

NEW CALEDONIA
(overseas territory of France)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 19,060 km2; land area: 18,760 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 2,254 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains

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

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 14%; forest and woodland 51%; other 35%

Environment: typhoons most frequent from November to March

Note: located 1,750 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 171,559 (July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--New Caledonian(s); adjective--New Caledonian

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,
Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3.0%

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

Language: French; 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy: 91% (male 91%, female 90%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)

Labor force: 50,469; foreign workers for plantations and mines from
Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

Type: overseas territory of France since 1956

Capital: Noumea

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

Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note--a referendum on
independence will be held in 1998, with a review of the issue in 1992

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

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

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);

Head of Government High Commissioner and President of the Council
of Government Bernard GRASSET (since 15 July 1988)

Political parties:
white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique
(RPCR), conservative, Jacques LAFLEUR--affiliated to France's
Rassemblement pour la Republique (RPR);
Melanesian proindependence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
(FLNKS), Paul NEAOUTYINE;
Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS), Nidoish
NAISSELINE;
National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE;
Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT;
Union Oceanienne (UO), conservative, Michel HEMA;
Front Uni de Liberation Kanak (FULK), proindependence, Yann CELENE

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections:

Territorial Assembly--last held 11 June 1989
(next to be held NA 1993);
results--percent of vote by party--RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS 28.5%, FN 7%, CD
5%, UO 4%, other 11%;
seats--(54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, other 5;
note--election boycotted by FULK;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) RPCR 1;

French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party--RPR 83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%;
seats--(2 total) RPCR 2

Communists: number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some
politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of
North Vietnamese

Member of: FZ, SPC, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France,
New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known
nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of
depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export
earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for
cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.

GNP: $973 million, per capita $5,790; real growth rate 2.4%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 16.0% (1989)

Budget: revenues $224.0 million; expenditures $211.0 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Exports: $344 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--nickel metal 87%, nickel ore;

partners--France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4%

Imports: $389 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment;

partners--France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced,
12,790 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: nickel mining

Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn,
wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef

Illicit drugs: illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal
source of income for some families

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $3.9 billion

Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs);
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF)
per US$1--93.28 (January 1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
(1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the
rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 6,340 km total; only about 10% paved (1987)

Ports: Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 29 total, 27 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 32,578 telephones (1987); stations--5 AM, 3 FM,
7 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Gendarmerie, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 46,388; NA fit for military service

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 268,680 km2; land area: 268,670 km2; includes
Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island,
Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Comparative area: about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 15,134 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

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

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
53%; forest and woodland 38%; other 7%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe

PEOPLE
Population: 3,308,973 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991)

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

Ethnic divisions: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander
2.9%, other 0.2%

Religion: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%,
Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986)

Language: English (official), Maori

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970)

Labor force: 1,591,900; services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%,
primary production 9.3% (1987)

Organized labor: 681,000 members; 43% of labor force (1986)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none; abbreviated NZ

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Wellington

Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and
3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,
Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,
Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden
Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay,
Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt,
Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,
Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton,
Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea,
Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan,
Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda,
Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki,
Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent,
Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate,
Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South,
Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui,
Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville

Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)

Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various
documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments;
Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has
not been enacted

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

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

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly
called Parliament)

Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II ( since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dame Catherine TIZARD (since 12
December 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister James BOLGER (since
29 October 1990); Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2
November 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
National Party (NP; government), James BOLGER;
New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP; opposition), Michael MOORE;
New Labor Party (NLP), Jim ANDERTON;
Democratic Party, Neil MORRISON;
Green Party, no official leader;
Socialist Unity Party (SUP; pro-Soviet), Kenneth DOUGLAS

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held on 27 October 1990 (next to be
held October 1993);
results--NP 49%, LP 35%, Green Party 7%, New Labor 5%;
seats--(97 total) NP 67, LP 29, NLP 1

Communists: SUP about 140, other groups, about 200

Member of: ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986),
APEC, AsDB, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Denis Bazely
Gordon McLEAN; Chancery at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone]; there are New Zealand Consulates General in
Los Angeles and New York;

US--Ambassador Della M. NEWMAN; Embassy at 29 Fitzherbert Terrace,
Thorndon, Wellington (mailing address is P. O. Box 1190, Wellington, or
FPO San Francisco 96690-0001); telephone  64  (4) 722-068; there is a US
Consulate General in Auckland

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

ECONOMY
Overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an
agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to an open
free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government
has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, reduce
inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The
results have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels
but growth has been sluggish and unemployment, always a highly sensitive
issue, has been at a record high 7.4%. In 1988 GDP fell by 1%, in
1989 grew by a moderate 2.4%, and was flat in 1990.

GDP: $40.2 billion, per capita $12,200; real growth rate 0.7%
(1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (FY90)

Unemployment rate: 7.4% (March 1990)

Budget: revenues $17.6 billion; expenditures $18.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)

Exports: $8.8 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese,
manufactures, chemicals, forestry products;

partners--EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%,
China 3.6%, South Korea 3.1%

Imports: $8.1 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment;

partners--Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0%

External debt: $17.4 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of GDP

Electricity: 7,800,000 kW capacity; 28,000 million kWh produced,
8,500 kWh per capita (1990)

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

Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GNP and 10% of the
work force; livestock predominates--wool, meat, dairy products all export
earners; crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, and
vegetables; surplus producer of farm products; fish catch reached a
record 503,000 metric tons in 1988

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million

Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars);
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6798 (January
1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088
(1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double
track; 113 km electrified; over 99% government owned

Highways: 92,648 km total; 49,547 km paved, 43,101 km gravel or
crushed stone

Inland waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation

Pipelines: 1,000 km natural gas; 160 km refined products; 150 km condensate

Ports: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga

Merchant marine: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 204,269
GRT/281,375 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
1 railcar carrier, 4 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk

Civil air: about 40 major transport aircraft

Airports: 157 total, 157 usable; 33 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
46 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent international and domestic systems;
2,110,000 telephones; stations 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables
extend to Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New
Zealand Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 874,443; 740,831 fit for
military service; 28,814 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $832 million, 1-2% of GDP (FY90)



  * NICARAGUA

NICARAGUA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 129,494 km2; land area: 120,254 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New York State

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

Coastline: 910 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain);

Continental shelf: not specified;

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Disputes: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago
de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; unresolved maritime
boundary in Golfo de Fonseca

Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

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

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

Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
43%; forest and woodland 35%; other 12%; including irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes,
landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil
erosion; water pollution

PEOPLE
Population: 3,751,884 (July 1991), growth rate 2.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 65 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Nicaraguan(s); adjective--Nicaraguan

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

Language: Spanish (official); English- and Indian-speaking
minorities on Atlantic coast

Literacy: 57% (male 57%, female 57%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1971)

Labor force: 1,086,000; service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

Organized labor: 35% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Nicaragua

Type: republic

Capital: Managua

Administrative divisions: 9 administrative regions encompassing 16
departments (departamentos, singular--departamento); Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas,
Zelaya; note--Zelaya may have been replaced by 2 autonomous regions
(regiones autonomistas, singular--region autonomista)
named North Atlantic Coast and South Atlantic Coast

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: January 1987

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Violeta
Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990);
Vice President Virgilio GODOY (since 25 April 1990)

Political parties and leaders:

ruling coalition--National Opposition Union (UNO) is a
14-party alliance--National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS;
Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO;
National Conservative Action Party (PANC), Hernaldo ZUNIGA;
National Democratic Confidence Party (PDCN), Augustin JARQUIN;
Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO;
Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Andres ZUNIGA;
Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA;
National Action Party (PAN), Eduardo RIVAS;
Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo TABLADA;
Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO;
Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Luis HUMBERTO;
Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY;
Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), Alejandro PEREZ;

opposition parties--Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA;
Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS;
Democratic Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES;
Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo CORONADO;
Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER;
Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ;
Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA;
Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando AGUERRO;
Popular Action Movement--Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ;
Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ

Suffrage: universal at age 16

Elections:

President--last held on 25 February 1990
(next to be held February 1996);
results--Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra
(FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5%;

National Assembly--last held on 25 February 1990
(next to be held February 1996);
results--UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%;
seats--(92 total) UNO 51, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR 1

Communists: 15,000-20,000

Other political or pressure groups: Permanent Congress of Workers
(CPT), Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS), Autonomous Nicaraguan
Workers' Central (CTN-A), Independent General Confederation of Workers
(CTG-I), Communist Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS), Nicaraguan
Workers' Central (CST); Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is
an umbrella group of 11 different business groups, including the Chamber
of Commerce, the Chamber of Industry, and the Nicaraguan Development
Institute (INDE)

Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ernesto PALAZIO;
Chancery at 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone
[phone] or 4372;

US--Ambassador Harry W. SHLAUDEMAN; Embassy at Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur.,
Managua (mailing address is APO Miami 34021); telephone [phone]
or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 34

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

ECONOMY
Overview: Government control of the economy historically has been
extensive, although the Chamorro government has pledged to reduce it.
The financial system is directly controlled by the state, which also
regulates wholesale purchasing, production, sales, foreign trade, and
distribution of most goods. Over 50% of the agricultural and industrial
firms are state owned. Sandinista economic policies and the war
have produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economy
continues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffee
and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989, the fifth
successive year of decline. The agricultural sector employs 44%
of the work force and accounts for 23% of GDP and 86% of export earnings.
Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and contributes about
25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989 and remains below
pre-1979 levels. External debt is one of the highest in the world on a
per capita basis. In 1990 the annual inflation rate was 11,800%, sharply
up from 1,800% in 1989.

GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $470; real growth rate - 1.0% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11,800% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 35% (1990)

Budget: revenues $244 million; expenditures $550 million, including
capital expenditures of $73 million (1988)

Exports: $298 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat,
chemicals;

partners--OECD 75%, USSR and Eastern Europe 15%, other 10%

Imports: $710 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing;

partners--Latin America 30%, US 25%, EC 20%, USSR and
Eastern Europe 10%, other 15% (1990 est.)

External debt: $9 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 7% (1989); accounts
for about 25% of GDP

Electricity: 415,000 kW capacity; 1,342 million kWh produced,
360 kWh per capita (1990)

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

Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash
crops--coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops--rice, corn,
cassava, citrus fruit, beans; variety of animal products--beef, veal,
pork, poultry, dairy; normally self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1,186 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.5 billion

Currency: cordoba (plural--cordobas); 1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: cordobas (C$) per US$1--13,300,000 (January 1991),
15,655 (1989), 270 (1988), 102.60 (1987), 97.48 (1986), 38.90 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 373 km 1.067-meter gauge, government owned; majority of
system not operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does
not connect with mainline)

Highways: 25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved, 2,170 km
gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km earth or graded earth, 14,335 km
unimproved; Pan-American highway 368.5 km

Inland waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Pipelines: crude oil, 56 km

Ports: Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama

Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161
GRT/2,500 DWT

Civil air: 12 major transport aircraft

Airports: 251 total, 162 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: low-capacity radio relay and wire system being
expanded; connection into Central American Microwave System; 60,000
telephones; stations--45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; earth
stations--1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 845,961; 521,425 fit for
military service; 44,222 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $70 million, 3.8% of GDP (1991)



  * NIGER

NIGER
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,267,000 km2; land area: 1,266,700 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

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

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger;
demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which
has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting
ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina and Mali are
proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

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

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

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

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
7%; forest and woodland 2%; other 88%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: recurrent drought and desertification severely
affecting marginal agricultural activities; overgrazing; soil erosion

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 8,154,145 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 129 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 53 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Nigerien(s) adjective--Nigerien

Ethnic divisions: Hausa 56%; Djerma 22%; Fula 8.5%; Tuareg 8%; Beri
Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%; Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%; about 4,000
French expatriates

Religion: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

Language: French (official); Hausa, Djerma

Literacy: 28% (male 40%, female 17%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,500,000 wage earners (1982); agriculture 90%,
industry and commerce 6%, government 4%; 51% of population of working age
(1985)

Organized labor: negligible

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Niger

Type: republic; presidential system in which military officers
hold key offices

Capital: Niamey

Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular--departement);
Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder

Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution: adopted NA December 1989 after 15 years of military rule

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

National holidays: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour d'Apel)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Brig. Gen. Ali SAIBOU (since 14 November 1987);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Aliou MAHAMIDOU (since 2 March
1990)

Political parties and leaders: National Movement for the
Development Society (MNSD), leader NA; other political parties now forming

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections:

President--last held December 1989 (next to be held NA 1996);
results--President Ali SAIBOU was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 10 December 1989 (next to be
held NA); results--MNSD was the only party;
seats--(150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected);
note--Niger is to hold a national conference to decide upon a
transitional government and an agenda for multiparty elections

Communists: no Communist party; some sympathizers in outlawed Sawaba party

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO,
FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE;
Chancery at 2204 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
483-4224 through 4227;

US--Ambassador Carl C. CUNDIFF; Embassy at Avenue des
Ambassades, Niamey (mailing address is B. P. 11201, Niamey);
telephone  [phone] through 64

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

ECONOMY
Overview: About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and
stock rearing, activities which generate almost half the national
income. The economy also depends heavily on exploitation of large uranium
deposits. Uranium production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but tapered
off in the early 1980s, when world prices declined. France is a major
customer, while Germany, Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases.
The depressed demand for uranium has contributed to an overall sluggishness
in the economy, a severe trade imbalance, and a mounting external debt.

GDP: $2.0 billion, per capita $270; real growth rate - 3.3% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 2.8% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $220 million; expenditures $446 million, including
capital expenditures of $190 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $308 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--uranium 75%, livestock products, cowpeas, onions;

partners--France 65%, Nigeria 11%, Ivory Coast, Italy

Imports: $386 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum products, primary materials, machinery,
vehicles and parts, electronic equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemical
products, cereals, foodstuffs;

partners--France 32%, Ivory Coast 11%, Germany 5%, Italy 4%, Nigeria 4%

External debt: $1.8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.0% (1989 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP

Electricity: 102,000 kW capacity; 225 million kWh produced,
30 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals,
slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium
production began in 1971

Agriculture: accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force;
cash crops--cowpeas, cotton, peanuts; food crops--millet, sorghum,
cassava, rice; livestock--cattle, sheep, goats; self-sufficient in food
except in drought years

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $3.0 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $61 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989),
297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel
and laterite, 3,470 km earthen, 23,000 km tracks

Inland waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to
Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 31 total, 29 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: small system of wire, radiocommunications, and
radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area; 11,900 telephones;
stations--15 AM, 5 FM, 16 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 4 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, paramilitary
Republican Guard, paramilitary Presidential Guard, paramilitary National
Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,713,566; 923,634 fit for
military service; 90,801 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $20.6 million, 0.9% of GDP (1988)



  * NIGERIA

NIGERIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 923,770 km2; land area: 910,770 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California

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

Coastline: 853 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 30 nm

Disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in Lake
Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is
completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
Nigeria; Nigerian proposals to reopen maritime boundary negotiations and
redemarcate the entire land boundary have been rejected by Cameroon

Climate: varies--equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in
north

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

Natural resources: crude oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas

Land use: arable land 31%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
23%; forest and woodland 15%; other 28%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal
agricultural activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid
deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 122,470,574 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 118 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 50 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Nigerian(s); adjective--Nigerian

Ethnic divisions: more than 250 tribal groups; Hausa and Fulani
of the north, Yoruba of the southwest, and Ibos of the southeast make
up 65% of the population; about 27,000 non-Africans

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

Language: English (official); Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and
several other languages also widely used

Literacy: 51% (male 62%, female 40%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 42,844,000; agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and
services 19%, government 15%; 49% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: 3,520,000 wage earners belong to 42 recognized
trade unions, which come under a single national labor federation--the
Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Federal Republic of Nigeria

Type: military government since 31 December 1983

Capital: Lagos; note--some government departments have relocated
to the designated new capital in Abuja

Administrative divisions: 21 states and 1 territory*;
Abuja Capital Territory*, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bendel, Benue,
Borno, Cross River, Gongola, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos,
Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto

Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)

Constitution: 1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989

Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic, and tribal law

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Executive branch: president of the Armed Forces Ruling Council,
Armed Forces Ruling Council, National Council of State, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: National Assembly was dissolved after the
military coup of 31 December 1983

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President and Commander in
Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA (since 27 August 1985)

Political parties and leaders: two political parties established by
the government in 1989--Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National
Republican Convention (NRC)

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--scheduled for 1 October 1992;

National Assembly--scheduled for early 1992

Communists: the pro-Communist underground consists of a small
fraction of the Nigerian left; leftist leaders are prominent in the
country's central labor organization but have little influence on the
government

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hamzat AHMADU; Chancery at
2201 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone [phone];
there are Nigerian Consulates General in Atlanta, New York and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Lannon WALKER; Embassy at 2 Eleke Crescent,
Victoria Island, Lagos (mailing address is P. O. Box 554, Lagos);
telephone  234  (1) 610097; there is a US Consulate General in Kaduna

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

ECONOMY
Overview: Although Nigeria is Africa's leading oil-producing
country, it remains poor with a $280 per capita GDP. In 1990, despite
rising oil prices and a sharp drop in inflation, performance remained
slack with continuing underutilization of industrial capacity and a
second year of relatively weak agricultural performance. Agricultural
production was up only 4.2% in 1990, still below the 1987 level.
Industrial output showed a 7.2% increase, but remained below the 1985
level. Government efforts to reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil exports
and to sustain noninflationary growth have fallen short due to inadequate
new investment funds. Living standards continue to deteriorate from the
higher level of the early 1980s oil boom.

GDP: $27.2 billion, per capita $230; real growth rate 2.7% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $8.0 billion; expenditures $8.0 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $13.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--oil 95%, cocoa, rubber;

partners--EC 51%, US 32%

Imports: $9.5 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--consumer goods, capital equipment, chemicals, raw materials;

partners--EC, US

External debt: $35 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7.2% (1990 est.); accounts
for 23% of GDP, including petroleum

Electricity: 4,737,000 kW capacity; 11,270 million kWh produced,
100 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: crude oil and mining--coal, tin, columbite;
primary processing industries--palm oil, peanut, cotton, rubber,
wood, hides and skins; manufacturing industries--textiles,
cement, building materials, food products, footwear, chemical, printing,
ceramics, steel

Agriculture: accounts for 28% of GNP and half of labor force;
inefficient small-scale farming dominates; once a large net exporter of
food and now an importer; cash crops--cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber;
food crops--corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams;
livestock--cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; fishing and forestry resources
extensively exploited

Illicit drugs: illicit heroin and some cocaine trafficking;
marijuana cultivation for domestic consumption and export; major transit
country for heroin en route from Southwest Asia via Africa to Western
Europe and the US; growing transit route for cocaine from South America
via West Africa to Western Europe and the US

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $705
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $2.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.2 billion

Currency: naira (plural--naira); 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo

Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1--8.707 (December 1990),
8.038 (1990), 7.3647 (1989), 4.5370 (1988), 4.0160 (1987),
1.7545 (1986), 0.8938 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,505 km 1.067-meter gauge

Highways: 107,990 km total 30,019 km paved (mostly
bituminous-surface treatment); 25,411 km laterite, gravel, crushed stone,
improved earth; 52,560 km unimproved

Inland waterways: 8,575 km consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and
smaller rivers and creeks

Pipelines: 2,042 km crude oil; 500 km natural gas; 3,000 km refined products

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

Merchant marine: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 420,658
GRT/668,951 DWT; includes 18 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 6 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
1 chemical tanker, 1 bulk

Civil air: 76 major transport aircraft

Airports: 81 total, 68 usable; 32 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
21 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: above-average system limited by poor
maintenance; major expansion in progress; radio relay and cable routes;
155,000 telephones; stations--37 AM, 19 FM, 38 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT,
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, domestic, with 19 stations; 1 coaxial submarine cable

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 28,070,431; 16,040,870 fit for
military service; 1,302,970 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $300 million, 1% of GNP (1990 est.)



  * NIUE

NIUE
(free association with New Zealand)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 64 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Natural resources: fish, arable land

Land use: arable land 61%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 4%;
forest and woodland 19%; other 12%

Environment: subject to typhoons

Note: one of world's largest coral islands; located about 460 km east of Tonga

PEOPLE
Population: 1,908 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Niuean(s); adjective--Niuean

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian, with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans

Religion: Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church)--a Protestant church
closely related to the London Missionary Society 75%, Mormon 10%,
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%

Language: Polynesian tongue closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
but compulsory education age 5 to 14

Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.); most work on family plantations;
paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue
Development Board

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand;
Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand
retains responsibility for external affairs

Capital: Alofi

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: became a self-governing territory in free
association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974

Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system: English common law

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

Executive branch: British monarch, premier, Cabinet

Legislative branch: Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by New Zealand Representative John SPRINGFORD (since 1974);

Head of Government--Premier Sir Robert R. REX (since NA October 1974)

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Political parties and leaders:
Niue Island Party (NIP), Young VIVIAN

Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held on 8 April 1990
(next to be held March 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(20 total, 6 elected) independents 5, NIP 1

Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in free
association with New Zealand)

Flag: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars--a large one on a
blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New
Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the
shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand--the grants are used to pay
wages to public employees. The agricultural sector consists mainly of
subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export.
Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit,
lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign
collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years
has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans
to New Zealand.

GNP: $2.1 million, per capita $1,000; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (1984)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY85 est.)

Exports: $175,274 (f.o.b., 1985);

commodities--canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit
products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts;

partners--NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia

Imports: $3.8 million (c.i.f., 1985);

commodities--food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery,
fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs;

partners--NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced,
1,490 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourist, handicrafts

Agriculture: copra, coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes;
subsistence crops--taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs,
poultry, beef cattle

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $62 million

Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars);
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6798 (January
1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088
(1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway of 1,650 m

Telecommunications: single-line telephone system connects all
villages on island; 383 telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.);
stations--1 AM, 1 FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Police Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand



  * NORFOLK ISLAND

NORFOLK ISLAND
(territory of Australia)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 34.6 km2; land area: 34.6 km2

Comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 32 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
25%; forest and woodland 0%; other 75%

Environment: subject to typhoons (especially May to July)

Note: located 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 2,576 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Norfolk Islander(s);
adjective--Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutiny; more recently,
Australian and New Zealand settlers

Religion: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in
Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%,
other 2.4% (1986)

Language: English (official) and Norfolk--a mixture of 18th century
English and ancient Tahitian

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Norfolk Island

Type: territory of Australia

Capital: Kingston (administrative center), Burnt Pine (commercial
center)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1957

Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under
the Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court

National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June
(1856)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia,
administrator, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Administrator H. B. MACDONALD (since NA 1989), who is
appointed by the Governor General of Australia;

Head of Government--Assembly President and Chief Minister John
Terence BROWN (since NA)

Political parties and leaders: NA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held 1989 (held every three years);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) percent of seats by party NA

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Flag: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly
wider white band

ECONOMY
Overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has
brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific
Islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and
reached 29,000 in FY89. Revenues from tourism have given the
island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to
become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $4.2 million, including
capital expenditures of $400,000 (FY89)

Exports: $1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86);

commodities--postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine
and Kentia Palm, small quantities of avocados;

partners--Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports: $15.6 million (c.i.f., FY86);

commodities--NA;

partners--Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

External debt: NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced,
3,160 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism

Agriculture: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals,
vegetables, fruit, cattle, poultry

Economic aid: none

Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987),
1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 80 km of roads, including 53 km of sealed roads;
remainder are earth formed or coral surfaced

Ports: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
(Australian owned)

Telecommunications: 1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link
service with Sydney; 987 telephones (1983); stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia



  * NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
(commonwealth associated with the US)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 477 km2; land area: 477 km2; includes Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,482 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds,
little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to July, rainy
season July to October

Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and
fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is
471 meters (Mt. Tagpochu on Saipan)

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures
19%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

Environment: Mt. Pagan is an active volcano (last erupted in
October 1988); subject to typhoons during the rainy season

Note: strategic location 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the
North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and
the Philippines

PEOPLE
Population: 23,494 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: undetermined

Ethnic divisions: Chamorro majority; Carolinians and other
Micronesians; Spanish, German, Japanese admixtures

Religion: Christian with a Roman Catholic majority, although
traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found

Language: English, but Chamorro and Carolinian are also spoken in
the home and taught in school

Literacy: 96% (male 97%, female 96%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 12,788 local; 18,799 foreign workers (1990 est.)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Type: commonwealth associated with the US and administered by the
Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Capital: Saipan

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Executive branch: governor, lieutenant governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of an upper
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);

Head of Government--Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since NA 1990);
Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since NA 1990)

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Alonzo IGISOMAR;
Democratic Party, Felicidad OGUMORO

Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Elections:

Governor--last held on NA November 1989
(next to be held November 1993);
results--Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party,
was elected governor;

Senate--last held on NA November 1989
(next to be held November 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) number of seats by party NA;

House of Representatives--last held on NA November 1989 (next to
be held November 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA;

US House of Representatives--last held NA November 1989 (next to
be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) party of nonvoting delegate NA

Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in
building) in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial
assistance from the US. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitles
the islands to $228 million for capital development, government
operations, and special programs. Another major source of income is the
tourist industry, which employs about 10% of the work force. The
agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms
producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small
scale in nature--mostly handicrafts and fish processing.

GNP: $165 million, per capita $9,170; real growth rate NA% (1982)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $70.6 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1987)

Exports: $153.9 million (1989);

commodities--manufactured goods, garments;

partners--NA

Imports: $313.7 million, a 43% increase over previous year (1989);

commodities--NA;

partners--NA

External debt: none

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced,
1,540 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts

Agriculture: coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle

Economic aid: none

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 300 km total (53 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local)

Ports: Saipan, Rota, Tinian

Airports: 6 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * NORWAY

NORWAY
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 324,220 km2; land area: 307,860 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: 2,544 km total; Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km,
USSR 196 km

Coastline: 21,925 km (3,419 km mainland; 2,413 km large islands;
16,093 km long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations)

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 10 nm;

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with USSR; territorial claim in
Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime
claims beween Greenland and Jan Mayen

Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current;
colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast

Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains
broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply
indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Natural resources: crude oil, copper, natural gas, pyrites,
nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
NEGL%; forest and woodland 27%; other 70%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: air and water pollution; acid rain

Note: strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in
North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world;
Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with the USSR

PEOPLE
Population: 4,273,442 (July 1991), growth rate 0.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Norwegian(s); adjective--Norwegian

Ethnic divisions: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic) and
racial-cultural minority of 20,000 Lapps

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran (state church) 87.8%, other
Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)

Language: Norwegian (official); small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking
minorities

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)

Labor force: 2,167,000 (September 1990); services 34.7%, commerce
18%, mining and manufacturing 16.6%, banking and financial services 7.5%,
transportation and communications 7.2%, construction 7.2%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6.4% (1989)

Organized labor: 66% of labor force (1985)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Norway

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Oslo

Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular--fylke);
Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More
og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold,
Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms,
Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)

Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884

Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and
common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to
legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, State Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Stortinget)
with an Upper Chamber (Lagting) and a Lower Chamber (Odelsting)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hoiesterett)

Leaders:

Chief of State--King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND
(since 3 November 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Labor, Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND;
Conservative, Kaci Kullmann FIVE;
Center Party, Anne Enger LAHNSTEIN;
Christian People's, Kjell Magne BONDEVIK;
Socialist Left, Eric SOLHEIM;
Norwegian Communist, Kare Andre NILSEN;
Progress, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Arne FJORTOFT;
Finnmark List, leader NA

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Storting--last held on 11 September 1989
(next to be held 6 September 1993);
results--Labor 34.3%, Conservative 22.2%, Progress 13.0%, Socialist Left
10.1%, Christian People's 8.5%, Center Party 6.6%, Finnmark List 0.3%,
other 5%;
seats--(165 total) Labor 63, Conservative 37, Progress 22, Socialist
Left 17, Christian People's 14, Center Party 11, Finnmark List 1

Communists: 15,500 est.; 5,500 Norwegian Communist Party (NKP);
10,000 Workers Communist Party Marxist-Leninist (AKP-ML, pro-Chinese)

Member of: AfDB, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE; Chancery at
2720 34th Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];
there are Norwegian Consulates General in Houston, Los Angeles,
Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco, and Consulates in Miami and New
Orleans;

US--Ambassador Loret Miller RUPPE; Embassy at Drammensveien 18,
0244 Oslo 2 (mailing address is APO New York 09085); telephone
47 (2) 44-85-50

Flag: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

ECONOMY
Overview: Norway is a prosperous capitalist nation with the
resources to finance extensive welfare measures. Since 1975 exploitation
of large crude oil and natural gas reserves has helped maintain high
growth; for the past five years growth has averaged 4.1%, the
fourth-highest among OECD countries. Growth slackened in 1987-88
partially because of the sharp drop in world oil prices, but picked
up again in 1989. The Brundtland government plans to push hard on
environmental issues, as well as cutting unemployment, improving
child care, upgrading major industries, and negotiating an
EC - European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agreement on an Economic
European Area.

GDP: $74.2 billion, per capita $17,400; real growth rate 3.1% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 5.2% (1990, excluding people in job-training programs)

Budget: revenues $47.9 billion; expenditures $48.7 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Exports: $33.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--petroleum and petroleum products 25%, natural gas
11%, fish 7%, aluminum 6%, ships 3.5%, pulp and paper;

partners--EC 64.9%, Nordic countries 19.5%, developing countries 6.9%,
US 6.2%, Japan 1.7% (1990)

Imports: $26.8 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery, fuels and lubricants,
transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, clothing, ships;

partners--EC 46.3%, Nordic countries 25.7%, developing countries 14.3%,
US 8.1%, Japan 4.7% (1990)

External debt: $15 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.6% (1990)

Electricity: 26,735,000 kW capacity; 121,685 million kWh produced,
28,950 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp
and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Agriculture: accounts for 2.8% of GNP and 6.4% of labor force;
among world's top 10 fishing nations; livestock output exceeds value
of crops; over half of food needs imported; fish catch of 1.76 million
metric tons in 1989

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion

Currency: Norwegian krone (plural--kroner);
1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--5.9060 (January
1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987), 7.3947
(1986), 8.5972 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,223 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Norwegian State
Railways (NSB) operates 4,219 km (2,450 km electrified and 96 km double
track); 4 km other

Highways: 79,540 km total; 18,600 km concrete, bituminous, stone
block; 19,980 km bituminous treated; 40,960 km gravel, crushed stone, and
earth

Inland waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; 1.5-2.4 m draft
vessels maximum

Pipelines: refined products, 53 km

Ports: Oslo, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Trondheim

Merchant marine: 867 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,270,845
GRT/41,199,182 DWT; includes 11 passenger, 23 short-sea passenger,
121 cargo, 3 passenger-cargo, 24 refrigerated cargo, 14 container, 50
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 18 vehicle carrier, 1 railcar carrier, 186
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 98 chemical tanker, 69
liquefied gas, 1 specialized tanker, 35 combination ore/oil, 204 bulk, 9
combination bulk; note--the government has created a captive register,
the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the
Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of
convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians; the majority of
ships (777) under the Norwegian flag are now registered with the NIS

Civil air: 76 major transport aircraft

Airports: 104 total, 103 usable; 64 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
16 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: high-quality domestic and international
telephone, telegraph, and telex services; 3,102,000 telephones;
stations--8 AM, 46 (1,400 relays) FM, 55 (2,100 relays) TV; 4 coaxial
submarine cables; communications satellite earth stations operating in
the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and domestic systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air
Force, Home Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,124,201; 942,158 fit for
military service; 31,813 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $3.3 billion, 3.3% of GDP (1990)



  * OMAN

OMAN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 212,460 km2; land area: 212,460 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries: 1,374 km total; Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km,
Yemen 288 km

Coastline: 2,092 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: to be defined;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Administrative Line with Yemen; no defined boundary with
most of UAE, Administrative Line in far north

Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;
strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Natural resources: crude oil, copper, asbestos, some marble,
limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 0%; other 95%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and
duststorms in interior; sparse natural freshwater resources

Note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam
Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production
transits this point going from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)

PEOPLE
Population: 1,534,011 (July 1991), growth rate 3.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 41 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Omani(s); adjective--Omani

Ethnic divisions: mostly Arab, with small Balochi,
Zanzibari, and South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) groups

Religion: Ibadhi Muslim 75%; remainder Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, some Hindu

Language: Arabic (official); English, Balochi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 430,000; agriculture (est.) 60%; 58% are non-Omani

Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Sultanate of Oman

Type: absolute monarchy; independent, with residual UK influence

Capital: Muscat

Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 7 planning
regions (manatiq takhtitiyah, singular--mintaqah
takhtitiyah) that include 1 governorate* (muhafazah)
and 50 districts (wilayat, singular--wilayah);

al-Batinah--Awabi, Barka, Khabura, Liwa, Musanaa, Nakhl, Rustaq,
Saham, Shinas, Sohar, Suwaiq, Wadi al-Maawil;

al-Dakhiliah--Adam, al-Hamra, Bahla, Bidbid, Haima, Izki, Manah,
Nizwa, Sumail;

al-Dhahirah--al-Buraimi, Dhank, Ibri, Mhadha, Yanqul;

al-Janubiah--Dhalqut, Mirbat, Rokhyut, Sadah, Salalah, Shalim,
Taqa, Thamrait;

al-Sharqiya--al Kamil and al-Wafi, al-Mudhaiby, al-Qabil,
Bidiya, Dimaa and Tayin, Ibra, Jaalan Bani Bu Ali,
Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan, Masirah, Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid;

Musandam--Daba al-Biya, Bukha, Khasab, Madha;

Muscat--Muscat*, Quriyat

Independence: 1650, expulsion of the Portuguese

Constitution: none

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate
appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch: sultan, Cabinet

Legislative branch: State Consultative Assembly (advisory
function only)

Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent
civil court system

National holiday: National Day, 18 November

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Sultan and Prime Minister
QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)

Political parties: none

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Other political or pressure groups: outlawed Popular Front for the
Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen

Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Awadh Bader AL-SHANFARI;
Chancery at 2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] through 1982;

US--Ambassador Richard W. BOEHM; Embassy at address NA, Muscat
(mailing address is P. O. Box 50200 Madinat Qaboos, Muscat); telephone 698-989

Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red,
and green (double width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist
side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath
superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at
the top of the vertical band

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of
the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for nearly all export earnings,
about 80% of government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has
proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years'
supply at the current rate of extraction.  Although agriculture employs a
majority of the population, urban centers depend on imported food.

GDP: $9.2 billion, per capita $5,870 (1990);
real growth rate - 3.0% (1987 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $3.5 billion; expenditures $4.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $675 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--petroleum, reexports, processed copper, dates, nuts, fish;

partners--Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods, food, livestock, lubricants;

partners--UK, UAE, Japan, US

External debt: $3.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1989), including
petroleum sector

Electricity: 1,136,000 kW capacity; 3,650 million kWh produced,
2,500 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas
production, construction, cement, copper

Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP and 60% of the labor force
(including fishing); less than 2% of land cultivated; largely subsistence
farming (dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle); not
self-sufficient in food; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $122 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million

Currency: Omani rial (plural--rials); 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza

Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1--0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 22,800 km total; 3,800 km bituminous surface,
19,000 km motorable track

Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km

Ports: Mina Qabus, Mina Raysut

Merchant marine: 1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 122 total, 114 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
64 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of open-wire, radio relay, and radio
communications stations; 50,000 telephones; stations--3 AM, 3 FM, 11 TV;
satellite earth stations--2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, and 8 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 348,849; 197,870 fit for
military service; 20,715 reach military age (14) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.0 billion, 12% of GDP (1991)



  * PACIFIC ISLANDS, TRUST TERRITORY OF

PACIFIC ISLANDS, TRUST TERRITORY OF THE
(Palau)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 458 km2; land area: 458 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,519 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid

Terrain: islands vary geologically from the high mountainous main island of
Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold),
marine products; deep-seabed minerals

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

Environment: subject to typhoons from June to December; archipelago
of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

Note: important location 850 km southeast of the Philippines;
includes World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands

PEOPLE
Population: 14,411 (July 1991), growth rate 0.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 25 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 12 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Palauan(s); adjective--Palauan

Ethnic divisions: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan,
and Melanesian races

Religion: predominantly Christian, mainly Roman Catholic

Language: Palauan is the official language, though English is
commonplace; inhabitants of the isolated southwestern islands speak a
dialect of Trukese

Literacy: 92% (male 93%, female 91%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
(no short-form name); may change to Republic of Palau after independence;
note--Belau, the native form of Palau, is sometimes used

Type: UN trusteeship administered by the US; constitutional
government signed a Compact of Free Association with the US on
10 January 1986, after approval in a series of UN-observed plebiscites;
until the UN trusteeship is terminated with entry into force of the
Compact, Palau remains under US administration as the Palau District of
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

Capital: Koror; a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast
in eastern Babelthuap

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: still part of the US-administered UN trusteeship
(the last polity remaining under the trusteeship; the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Commonwealth of the
Northern Marianas have left); administered by the Office of Territorial
and International Affairs, US Department of Interior

Constitution: 11 January 1981

Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Executive branch: US president, US vice president, national president,
national vice president

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)
consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Delegates

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January
1989); represented by the Assistant Secretary for Territorial Affairs,
US Department of the Interior, Stella GUERRA (since NA July 1989);

Head of Government--President Ngiratkel ETPISON (since 2 November 1988)

Political parties: no formal parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 2 November 1988
(next to be held November 1992);
Ngiratkel ETPISON 26.3%, Roman TMETUCHL 25.9%,
Thomas REMENGESAU 19.5%, other 28.3%;

Senate--last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(18 total);

House of Delegates--last held 2 November 1988
(next to be held November 1992);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(16 total)

Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer)

Diplomatic representation: none;

US--US Liaison Officer Lloyd MOSS; US Liaison Office at Top
Side, Neeriyas, Koror (mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Koror, Republic
of Palau 96940); telephone [phone] or 990

Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon)
shifted slightly to the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture
and fishing. Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote
location of Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered
development. The government is the major employer of the work force,
relying heavily on financial assistance from the US.

GDP: $31.6 million, per capita $2,260; real growth rate NA% (1986)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 20% (1986)

Budget: revenues $6.0 million; expenditures NA, including capital
expenditures of NA (1986)

Exports: $0.5 million (f.o.b., 1986);

commodities--NA;

partners--US, Japan

Imports: $27.2 million (c.i.f., 1986);

commodities--NA;

partners--US

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 16,000 kW capacity; 22 million kWh produced,
1,540 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some
commercial fishing and agriculture

Agriculture: subsistence-level production of coconut, copra,
cassava, sweet potatoes

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $2
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $62.6 million

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 25.7 km paved macadam and concrete roads, otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads (1986)

Ports: Koror

Airports: 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US and that will not
change when the UN trusteeship terminates



  * PACIFIC OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 165,384,000 km2; includes Arafura Sea, Banda Sea,
Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea,
Gulf of Alaska, Makassar Strait, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Sea of Japan,
Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other tributary water
bodies

Comparative area: slightly less than 18 times the size of the US;
the largest ocean (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and
Arctic Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger than
the total land area of the world

Coastline: 135,663 km

Climate: the western Pacific is monsoonal--a rainy season occurs
during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean
over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds
blow from the Asian land mass back to the ocean

Terrain: surface in the northern Pacific dominated by a clockwise,
warm water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) and in the southern
Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool water gyre; sea ice occurs in the
Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk during winter and reaches maximum northern
extent from Antarctica in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is
dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected
by deep trenches; the world's greatest depth is 10,924 meters in the
Marianas Trench

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand
and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish

Environment: endangered marine species include the dugong, sea
lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine
Sea and South China Sea; dotted with low coral islands and rugged
volcanic islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean; subject to tropical
cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most
frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form
south of Mexico and strike Central America and Mexico from June to
October (most common in August and September); southern shipping lanes
subject to icebergs from Antarctica; occasional El Nino phenomenon
occurs off the coast of Peru when the trade winds slacken and the warm
Equatorial Countercurrent moves south, which kills the plankton that is
the primary food source for anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move
to better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds to starve by the
thousands because of their lost food source

Note: the major choke points are the Bering Strait, Panama
Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the
Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean;
ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to
May and in extreme south from May to October; persistent fog in the
northern Pacific from June to December is a hazard to shipping;
surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity
sometimes referred to as the Pacific Ring of Fire

ECONOMY
Overview: The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world
economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch.
It provides cheap sea transportation between East and West, extensive
fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and
gravel for the construction industry. In 1985 over half (54%) of the
world's total fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean, which is the only
ocean where the fish catch has increased every year since 1978.
Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an
ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of Australia, New Zealand,
China, US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas,
combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has
slowed but not stopped new drillings.

Industries: fishing, oil and gas production

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Los Angeles (US),
Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle
(US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok
(USSR), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

Telecommunications: several submarine cables with network focused
on Guam and Hawaii



  * PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 803,940 km2; land area: 778,720 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: 6,774 km total; Afghanistan 2,430 km,
China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

Coastline: 1,046 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: boundary with India; Pashtun question with Afghanistan;
Baloch question with Afghanistan and Iran; water sharing problems with
upstream riparian India over the Indus

Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and
northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
crude oil, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Land use: arable land 26%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 6%;
forest and woodland 4%; other 64%; includes irrigated 19%

Environment: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially
in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and
August); deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water logging

Note: controls Khyber Pass and Malakand Pass, traditional
invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

PEOPLE
Population: 117,490,278 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 109 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 56 years male, 57 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Pakistani(s); adjective--Pakistani

Ethnic divisions: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch,
Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendents)

Religion: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shia 20%), Christian, Hindu, and
other 3%

Language: Urdu and English (both official); total spoken languages--
Punjabi 64%, Sindhi 12%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu 7%, Balochi and other 9%;
English is lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries,
but official policies are promoting its gradual replacement by Urdu

Literacy: 35% (male 47%, female 21%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 28,900,000; agriculture 54%, mining and manufacturing 13%,
services 33%; extensive export of labor (1987 est.)

Organized labor: about 10% of industrial work force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Type: parliamentary with strong executive, federal republic

Capital: Islamabad

Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1
capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal
Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier,
Punjab, Sindh; note--the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed
Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK; formerly West Pakistan)

Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977,
restored with amendments, 30 December 1985

Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to
accommodate Pakistan's stature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Pakistan Day (proclamation of the republic),
23 March (1956)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Mijlis-e-Shoora)
consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or National
Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Islamic (Shariat) Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President GHULAM ISHAQ Khan (since 13 December 1988);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Mian Nawaz SHARIF (since 6 November 1990);

Political parties and leaders: Islamic Democratic Alliance
(Islami Jamuri Ittehad or IJI)--the Pakistan Muslim League
(PML) led by Mohammed Khan JUNEJO is the main party in the IJI;
Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; note--in September 1990
the PPP announced the formation of the People's Democratic Alliance
(PDA), an electoral alliance including the following four
parties--PPP, Solidarity Movement (Tehrik Istiqlal), Movement for the
Implementation of Shia Jurisprudence (Tehrik-i-Nifaz Fiqh Jafariya
or TNFJ), and the PML (Malik faction);
Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf HUSSAIN;
Awami National Party (ANP), Khan Abdul Wali KHAN;
Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI), Fazlur RAHMAN;
Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Mohammad Akbar Khan BUGTI;
Pakistan National Party (PNP), Mir Ghaus Bakhsh BIZENJO;
Pakistan Khawa Milli Party (PKMP), leader NA;
Assembly of Pakistani Clergy (Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Pakistan or JUP),
Maulana Shah Ahmed NOORANI;
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain AHMED

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held on 12 December 1988
(next to be held December 1993);
results--Ghulam Ishaq KHAN was elected by Parliament
and the four provincial assemblies;

Senate--last held March 1991 (next to be held March 1994);
results--elected by provincial assemblies;
seats--(87 total) IJI 57, Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8,
PPP 5, ANP 5, JWP 4, MQM 3, PNP 2, PKMP 1, JUI 1, independent 1;

National Assembly--last held on 24 October 1990
(next to be held by October 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(217 total) IJI 107, PDA 45, MQM 15, ANP 6, JUI 6, JWP 2, PNP 2,
PKMP 1, independent 14, religious minorities 10, Tribal Area
Representatives (nonparty) 8, vacant 1

Communists: the Communist party is officially banned but is
allowed to operate openly

Other political or pressure groups: military remains dominant political force;
ulema (clergy), industrialists, and small merchants also influential

Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Najmuddin SHAIKH; Chancery
at 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
939-6200; there is a Pakistani Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Robert B. OAKLEY; Embassy at Diplomatic Enclave,
Ramna 5, Islamabad (mailing address is P. O. Box 1048,
Islamabad or APO New York 09614); telephone  92  (51) 826161
through 79; there are US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, and a
Consulate in Peshawar

Flag: green with a vertical white band on the hoist side; a large
white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

ECONOMY
Overview: Pakistan is a poor Third World country faced with the
usual problems of rapidly increasing population, sizable government
deficits, and heavy dependence on foreign aid. In addition, the economy
must support a large military establishment and provide for the needs of
4 million Afghan refugees. A real economic growth rate averaging 5-6% in
recent years has enabled the country to cope with these problems. Almost
all agriculture and small-scale industry is in private hands, and the
government seeks to privatize a portion of the large-scale industrial
enterprises now publicly owned. In December 1988, Pakistan signed a
three-year economic reform agreement with the IMF, which provides for a
reduction in the government deficit and a liberalization of trade in
return for further IMF financial support. Late in 1990, the IMF
suspended assistance to Pakistan because the government failed to
follow through on deficit reforms. Pakistan almost certainly will make
little headway on raising living standards for its rapidly expanding
population; at the current rate of growth, population would double in
29 years.

GNP: $43.3 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 5.0%
(FY90 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.7% (FY90)

Unemployment rate: 10% (FY91 est.)

Budget: revenues $5.6 billion; expenditures $10.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (FY91 est.)

Exports: $4.8 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--rice, cotton, textiles, clothing;

partners--EC 31%, Japan 11.6%, US 11.5% (FY89)

Imports: $6.5 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities--petroleum, petroleum products, machinery,
transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals;

partners--EC 26%, US 16%, Japan 14% (FY89)

External debt: $20.1 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7.5% (FY91 est.); accounts for
almost 20% of GNP

Electricity: 7,575,000 kW capacity; 29,300 million kWh produced,
270 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, petroleum
products, construction materials, clothing, paper products,
international finance, shrimp

Agriculture: 25% of GDP, over 50% of labor force; world's largest
contiguous irrigation system; major crops--cotton, wheat, rice,
sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables; livestock products--milk, beef,
mutton, eggs; self-sufficient in food grain

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for
the international drug trade; government eradication efforts on poppy
cultivation of limited success

Economic aid: (including Bangladesh before 1972) US commitments,
including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.5 billion authorized (excluding what is now
Bangladesh); Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1980-88), $8.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89),
$2.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.2 billion

Currency: Pakistani rupee (plural--rupees);
1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1--22.072 (January
1991), 21.707 (1990), 20.541 (1989), 18.003 (1988), 17.399 (1987), 16.648
(1986), 15.928 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 8,773 km total; 7,718 km broad gauge, 445 km meter
gauge, and 610 km narrow gauge; 1,037 km broad-gauge double track; 286 km
electrified; all government owned (1985)

Highways: 101,315 km total (1987); 40,155 km paved, 23,000 km
gravel, 29,000 km improved earth, and 9,160 km unimproved earth or sand
tracks (1985)

Pipelines: 250 km crude oil; 4,044 km natural gas; 885 km refined
products (1987)

Ports: Gwadar, Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant marine: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 339,855
GRT/500,627 DWT; includes 4 passenger-cargo, 24 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils,
and lubricants (POL) tanker

Civil air: 30 major transport aircraft

Airports: 115 total, 105 usable; 75 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 31 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good international radiocommunication service
over microwave and INTELSAT satellite; domestic radio communications
poor; broadcast service good; 813,000 telephones (1990); stations--19 AM,
8 FM, 29 TV; earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2
Indian Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces,
National Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 26,840,840; 16,466,334 fit for
military service; 1,322,883 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $2.9 billion, 6% of GNP (FY91)



  * PALMYRA ATOLL

PALMYRA ATOLL
(territory of the US)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 11.9 km2; land area: 11.9 km2

Comparative area: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 14.5 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain: low, with maximum elevations of about 2 meters

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 100%; other 0%

Environment: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation,
coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

Note: located 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, almost halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but
administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs,
US Department of the Interior

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage in West Lagoon

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * PANAMA

PANAMA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 78,200 km2; land area: 75,990 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries: 555 km total; Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Coastline: 2,490 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May
to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected,
upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 15%;
forest and woodland 54%; other 23%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: dense tropical forest in east and northwest

Note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge
connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links
North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 2,476,281 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Panamanian(s); adjective--Panamanian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%,
West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%

Religion: Roman Catholic over 93%, Protestant 6%

Language: Spanish (official); English as native tongue 14%;
many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy: 88% (male 88%, female 88%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 770,472 (1987); government and community services
27.9%; agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.2%; commerce, restaurants,
and hotels 16%; manufacturing and mining 10.5%; construction 5.3%;
transportation and communications 5.3%; finance, insurance, and real
estate 4.2%; Canal Zone 2.4%; shortage of skilled labor, but an
oversupply of unskilled labor

Organized labor: 17% of labor force (1986)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Panama

Type: centralized republic

Capital: Panama

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro,
Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama,
San Blas*, Veraguas

Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent
from Spain 28 November 1821)

Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
currently being reorganized

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Guillermo ENDARA
(since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989);
First Vice President Ricardo ARIAS Calderon
(since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989);
Second Vice President Guillermo FORD
(since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989)

Political parties and leaders:

government alliance--Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement
(MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ;
Authentic Liberal Party (PLA);
Arnulfista Party (PA), Francisco ARTOLA;

opposition parties--Christian Democratic Party (PDC),
Ricardo ARIAS Calderon;
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD, ex-official government party),
Gerardo GONZALEZ;
Agrarian Labor Party (PALA), Carlos ELETA Almaran;
Liberal Party (PL);
People's Party (PdP, Soviet-oriented Communist party), Ruben DARIO
Sousa Batista;
Democratic Workers Party (PDT, leftist), Eduardo RIOS;
National Action Party (PAN, rightist);
Popular Action Party (PAPO), Carlos Ivan ZUNIGA;
Socialist Workers Party (PST, leftist), Jose CAMBRA;
Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT, leftist), Graciela DIXON

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 7 May 1989, annulled but later upheld
(next to be held May 1994);
results--anti-NORIEGA coalition believed to have won about
75% of the total votes cast;

Legislative Assembly--last held on 27 January 1991
(next to be held May 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(67 total) progovernment parties--PDC 28, MOLIRENA 16,
PA 6, PLA 5;

opposition parties--PRD 10, PALA 1, PL 1;
note--the PDC went into opposition after President Guillermo ENDARA
ousted the PDC from the coalition government in April 1991

Communists: People's Party (PdP), pro-Soviet mainline Communist
party, did not obtain the necessary 3% of the total vote in the
1984 election to retain its legal status; about 3,000 members

Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Organized
Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP);
Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National Civic
Crusade; National Committee for the Right to Life

Member of: AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jaime FORD;
Chancery at 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; the status of the Consulates General and Consulates has
not yet been determined;

US--Ambassador Deane R. HINTON; Embassy at Avenida Balboa and
Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 (mailing address is Box E,
APO Miami 34002); telephone  [phone]

Flag: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are
white with a blue five-pointed star in the center (hoist side) and plain
red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a
red five-pointed star in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: GDP expanded by an estimated 5% in 1990, after
contracting 1% in 1988 and 14% in 1989. Political stability prompted
greater business confidence and consumer demand, leading to increased
production by the agricultural, commercial, manufacturing, construction,
and utilities sectors. The transportation sector and government services
declined slightly due to slack early-1990 transits through the Panama
Canal, lower oil pipeline flowthrough, and Panama City's budget cuts.
Imports and exports posted gains during the year, and government revenues
were up sharply over 1989's levels.

GDP: $4.8 billion, per capita $1,980; real growth rate 5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.8 billion,
including capital expenditures of $70 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $355 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--bananas 27%, shrimp 21%, clothing 6%, coffee 4%, sugar 4%;

partners--US 90%, Central America and Caribbean, EC (1989 est.)

Imports: $1,250 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--foodstuffs 13%, capital goods 12%, crude oil 12%,
consumer goods, chemicals;

partners--US 35%, Central America and Caribbean, EC,
Mexico, Venezuela (1989 est.)

External debt: $5 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.8% (1990 est.)

Electricity: 1,113,000 kW capacity; 3,264 million kWh produced,
1,350 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: manufacturing and construction activities, petroleum refining,
brewing, cement and other construction material, sugar mills, paper products

Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP (1990 est.), 25% of labor force (1989);
crops--bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane; livestock;
fishing; importer of food grain, vegetables, milk products

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $575 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million

Currency: balboa (plural--balboas); 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1--1.000 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 238 km total; 78 km 1.524-meter gauge, 160 km
0.914-meter gauge

Highways: 8,530 km total; 2,745 km paved, 3,270 km gravel or
crushed stone, 2,515 km improved and unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal

Pipelines: crude oil, 130 km

Ports: Cristobal, Balboa, Puerto de La Bahia de Las Minas

Merchant marine: 2,932 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
41,314,623 GRT/66,226,104 DWT; includes 22 passenger, 22 short-sea
passenger, 5 passenger-cargo, 1,060 cargo, 188 refrigerated cargo,
165 container, 62 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 105 vehicle carrier,
8 livestock carrier, 5 multifunction large-load carrier,
301 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 175 chemical tanker,
27 combination ore/oil, 91 liquefied gas, 8 specialized tanker, 651 bulk,
37 combination bulk; note--all but 5 are foreign owned and operated;
the top 4 foreign owners are Japan 36%, Greece 9%, Hong Kong 9%, and the
US 8%; (China owns at least 127 ships, Vietnam 10, Yugoslavia 10, Cuba 5,
Cyprus 3, and USSR 2)

Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft

Airports: 113 total, 101 usable; 41 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: domestic and international facilities well
developed; connection into Central American Microwave System; 2 Atlantic
Ocean satellite antennas; 220,000 telephones; stations--91 AM, no FM,
23 TV; 1 coaxial submarine cable

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: note--the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist
as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama
on 20 December 1989; President Endara is attempting to restructure the
forces into a civilian police service under the new name of Panamanian
Public Forces (PPF); a Council of Public Security and National Defense
under Menalco Solis in the office of the president coordinates the
activities of the security forces; the Institutional Protection Service
under Carlos Bares is attached to the presidency

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 644,895;
444,522 fit for military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $75.5 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990)



  * PAPUA NEW GUINEA

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 461,690 km2; land area: 451,710 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundary: 820 km with Indonesia

Coastline: 5,152 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast
monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures NEGL%;
forest and woodland 71%; other 28%

Environment: one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast;
some active volcanos; frequent earthquakes

Note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia

PEOPLE
Population: 3,913,186 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Papua New Guinean(s); adjective--Papua New
Guinean

Ethnic divisions: predominantly Melanesian and Papuan;
some Negrito, Micronesian, and Polynesian

Religion: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%,
other Protestant sects 10%; indigenous beliefs 34%

Language: 715 indigenous languages; English spoken by 1-2%,
pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region

Literacy: 52% (male 65%, female 38%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,660,000; 732,806 in salaried employment; agriculture
54%, government 25%, industry and commerce 9%, services 8% (1980)

Organized labor: more than 50 trade unions, some with fewer than 20
members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port Moresby

Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern
Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne
Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons,
Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence: 16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under
Australian administration)

Constitution: 16 September 1975

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, National Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (sometimes
referred to as the House of Assembly)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Vincent ERI (since 18 January 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Rabbie NAMALIU (since 4 July
1988); Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO (since 29 April 1990);
note--Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO has the title only since he has
been suspended pending trial for alleged corruption charges

Political parties:
Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Rabbie NAMALIU;
People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN;
United Party (UP), Paul TORATO;
Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA;
National Party (NP), Paul PORA;
Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

National Parliament--last held 13 June-4 July 1987
(next to be held 4 July 1992);
results--PP 14.7%, PDM 10.8%, PPP 6.1%, MA 5.6%, NP 5.1%, PAP 3.2%,
independents 42.9%, other 11.6%;
seats--(109 total) PP 26, PDM 17, NP 12, MA 7, PAP 6, PPP 5,
independents 22, other 14

Communists: no significant strength

Member of: ACP, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret TAYLOR; Chancery at
Suite 350, 1330 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Robert W. FERRAND; Embassy at Armit Street, Port
Moresby (mailing address is P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby);
telephone [phone] or 594, 654

Flag: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper
triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the
lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered

ECONOMY
Overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and
the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a
subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mining of numerous
deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of
export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid
under World Bank auspices help sustain the economy.

GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $725; real growth rate - 3.0% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 5% (1988)

Budget: revenues $867 million; expenditures $873 million,
including capital expenditures of $119 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--gold, copper ore, coffee, cocoa, copra, palm oil, timber, lobster;

partners--FRG, Japan, Australia, UK, Spain, US

Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--machinery and transport equipment, fuels, food,
chemicals, consumer goods;

partners--Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand, UK

External debt: $2.76 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 25% of GDP

Electricity: 397,000 kW capacity; 1,510 million kWh produced,
400 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: copra crushing, oil palm processing, plywood processing,
wood chip production, gold, silver, copper, construction, tourism

Agriculture: one-third of GDP; livelihood for 85% of population;
fertile soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a wide variety of
crops; cash crops--coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels; other
products--tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork;
net importer of food for urban centers

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $6.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million

Currency: kina (plural--kina); 1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1--1.0549 (January 1991), 1.0467
(1990), 1.1685 (1989), 1.1538 (1988), 1.1012 (1987), 1.0296 (1986),
1.0000 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 19,200 km total; 640 km paved, 10,960 km gravel, crushed
stone, or stabilized-soil surface, 7,600 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 10,940 km

Ports: Anewa Bay, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,711
GRT/34,682 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 combination
ore/oil, 2 bulk

Civil air: about 15 major transport aircraft

Airports: 567 total, 479 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
40 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: services are adequate and being improved;
facilities provide radiobroadcast, radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal
radio, aeronautical radio, and international radiocommunication services;
submarine cables extend to Australia and Guam; 51,700 telephones (1985);
stations--31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987); 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 983,175; 546,824 fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $42 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * PARACEL ISLANDS

PARACEL ISLANDS
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: undetermined

Comparative area: undetermined

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 518 km

Maritime claims: undetermined

Disputes: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

Climate: tropical

Terrain: undetermined

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: subject to typhoons

Note: located 400 km east of Vietnam in the South China Sea
about one-third of the way between Vietnam and the Philippines

PEOPLE
Population: no permanent inhabitants

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and
Duncan Island currently under expansion

Airports: 1 on Woody Island

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: occupied by China



  * PARAGUAY

PARAGUAY
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 406,750 km2; land area: 397,300 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries: 3,920 km total;
Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of
Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined

Climate: varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west

Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay;
Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near
the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Natural resources: iron ore, manganese, limestone, hydropower, timber

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 39%;
forest and woodland 35%; other 5%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: local flooding in southeast (early September to June);
poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

PEOPLE
Population: 4,798,739 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Paraguayan(s); adjective--Paraguayan

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%

Religion: Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite and other Protestant denominations

Language: Spanish (official) and Guarani

Literacy: 90% (male 92%, female 88%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,300,000; agriculture 44%, industry and commerce
34%, services 18%, government 4% (1986)

Organized labor: about 2% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Paraguay

Type: republic

Capital: Asuncion

Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco,
Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu,
Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Constitution 25 August 1967

Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French
codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice;
does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet),
Council of State

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)
and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. Andres
RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, acting president;
Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Juan Manuel BENITEZ Florentin;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge Dario CRISTALDO;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO;
Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60

Elections:

President--last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held February 1993);
results--Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%;

Chamber of Senators--last held 1 May 1989
(next to be held by May 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1;

Chamber of Deputies--last held on 1 May 1989
(next to be held by May 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, PL 1, PLR 1

Communists: Oscar Creydt faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction
(both illegal); 3,000 to 4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in
Paraguay, very few are hard core; party beginning to return from exile is
small and deeply divided

Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers (CUT);
Roman Catholic Church

Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Marcos MARTINEZ MENDIETA;
Chancery at 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone] through 6962; there are Paraguayan Consulates General in
New Orleans and New York, and a Consulate in Houston;

US--Ambassador Jon GLASSMAN; Embassy at 1776 Avenida Mariscal
Lopez, Asuncion (mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO Miami
34036-0001); telephone  595  (21) 213-715

Flag: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the
emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)
bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a
green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within
two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the
treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y
Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL
PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is predominantly agricultural. Agriculture,
including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GNP, employs about 45% of
the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay has no known
significant mineral or petroleum resources but does have a large
hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined
compared with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an
average annual rate of nearly 11%.  During 1982-86 real GDP fell in three
of five years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and
foreign debt rose. Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the
economy were the completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather
for crops, and weak international commodity prices for agricultural
exports. In 1987 the economy experienced a minor recovery because of
improved weather conditions and stronger international prices for key
agricultural exports. The recovery continued through 1990, on the
strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. The government, however, must
follow through on promises of reforms needed to deal with escalating
inflation, large fiscal deficits, growing debt arrearages, and falling
reserves.

GDP: $4.6 billion, per capita $1,000; real growth rate 3.5%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 44% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991)

Exports: $980 million (registered f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee,
tung oil, meat products;

partners--EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%

Imports: $1.4 billion (registered c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and
lubricants 19%, raw materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco
10%;

partners--Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%

External debt: $1.7 billion (1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts
for 16% of GDP

Electricity: 5,169,000 kW capacity; 15,144 million kWh produced,
3,250 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash
crops--cotton, sugarcane; other crops--corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans,
cassava, fruits, and vegetables; animal products--beef, pork, eggs,
milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed
for the US and Europe

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.05 billion

Currency: guarani (plural--guaranies);
1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$1--1,204.5 (October 1989),
1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989), 339.17 (1986),
306.67 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km
1.000-meter gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)

Highways: 21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and
19,698 km earth

Inland waterways: 3,100 km

Ports: Asuncion

Merchant marine: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,743
GRT/22,954 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
(POL) tanker; note--1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 851 total, 738 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 60 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity
microwave net; 78,300 telephones; stations--40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7
shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,130,690; 823,136 fit for
military service; 51,415 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)



  * PERU

PERU
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,285,220 km2; land area: 1,280,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries: 6,940 km total; Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km,
Chile 160 km, Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline: 2,414 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Disputes: two sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute

Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west

Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in
center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber,
fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 21%; forest and woodland 55%; other 21%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides,
mild volcanic activity; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima

Note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,
with Bolivia

PEOPLE
Population: 22,361,785 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Peruvian(s); adjective--Peruvian

Ethnic divisions: Indian 45%; mestizo (mixed Indian and European
ancestry) 37%; white 15%; black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic

Language: Spanish and Quechua (both official), Aymara

Literacy: 85% (male 92%, female 29%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 6,800,000 (1986); government and other services 44%,
agriculture 37%, industry 19% (1988 est.)

Organized labor: about 40% of salaried workers (1983 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Peru

Type: republic

Capital: Lima

Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) and 1 constitutional province*
(provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa,
Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica,
Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios,
Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali;
note--the 1979 Constitution and legislation enacted from 1987 to
1990 mandate the creation of regions (regiones, singular--region)
intended to function eventually as autonomous economic and
administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted
from 23 existing departments--Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres
Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from
Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca
(from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad),
Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui
(from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from
Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin),
Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed by
the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge with the
department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the central
government, the regions have yet to assume their reponsibilities and at
the moment co-exist with the departmental structure

Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 28 July 1980 (often referred to as the 1979
Constitution because the Constituent Assembly met in 1979, but the
Constitution actually took effect the following year); reestablished
civilian government with a popularly elected president and bicameral
legislature

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an
upper chamber or Senate (Senado)
and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Alberto FUJIMORI (since 28 July 1990);
Vice President Maximo SAN ROMAN (since 28 July 1990);
Vice President Carlos GARCIA (since 28 July 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Carlos TORRES Y TORRES Lara
(since 15 February 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Change 90 (Cambio 90), Alberto FUJIMORI;
Democratic Front (FREDEMO), a loosely organized three-party
coalition--Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes;
Popular Action Party (AP), Fernando BELAUNDE Terry;
and Liberty Movement;
American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Luis ALVA Castro;
National Front of Workers and Peasants (FRENATRACA), Roger CACERES;
United Left (IU), run by committee; Socialist Left (IS), Enrique BERNALES

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held on 10 June 1990 (next to be held April 1995);
results--Alberto FUJIMORI 56.53%, Mario VARGAS Llosa 33.92%,
other 9.55%;

Senate--last held on 8 April 1990 (next to be held April 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(60 total) FREDEMO 20, APRA 16, Change 90 14, IU 6, IS 3,
FRENATRACA 1;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 8 April 1990
(next to be held April 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(180 total) FREDEMO 62, APRA 53, Change 90 32, IU 16, IS 4,
FRENATRACA 3, other 10

Communists: Peruvian Communist Party-Unity (PCP-U), pro-Soviet,
2,000; other minor Communist parties

Other political or pressure groups:

leftist guerrilla groups--Shining Path, leader Abimael GUZMAN;
Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor CERPA and Victor POLLAY

Member of: AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Roberto G. MACLEAN; Chancery
at 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
833-9860 through 9869); Peruvian Consulates General are located in
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey),
San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico);

US--Ambassador Anthony C.E. QUAINTON; Embassy at the corner of
Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Avenida Espana, Lima
(mailing address is P. O. Box 1995, Lima 100, or APO Miami 34031);
telephone [phone]

Flag: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red
with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
a shield bearing a llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a
yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

ECONOMY
Overview: The Peruvian economy is basically capitalistic, with a
large dose of government welfare programs and government management of
credit. In the 1980s the economy suffered from hyperinflation,
declining per capita output, and mounting external debt. Peru was shut
off from IMF and World Bank support in the mid-1980s because of its
huge debt arrears. An austerity program implemented shortly after the
Fujimori government took office in July 1990 contributed to a third
consecutive yearly contraction of economic activity, but was able to
generate a small recovery in the last quarter. After a burst of
inflation as the program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly
price increases eased to the single-digit level for the first time
since mid-1988. Lima has restarted current payments to multilateral
lenders and, although it faces $14 billion in arrears on its external
debt, is working toward an accommodation with its creditors.

GDP: $19.3 billion, per capita $898; real growth rate - 3.9% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7,650% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 20.0%; underemployment estimated at 60% (1989)

Budget: revenues $1.3 billion; expenditures $2.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $3.01 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--fishmeal, cotton, sugar, coffee, copper, iron ore,
refined silver, lead, zinc, crude petroleum and byproducts;

partners--EC 22%, US 20%, Japan 11%, Latin America 8%, USSR 4%

Imports: $2.78 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, machinery, transport equipment, iron and
steel semimanufactures, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;

partners--US 23%, Latin America 16%, EC 12%, Japan 7%, Switzerland 3%

External debt: $20.0 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 21% (1989);
accounts for almost 25% of GDP

Electricity: 4,867,000 kW capacity; 15,540 million kWh produced,
710 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles,
clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding,
metal fabrication

Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP, 37% of labor force;
commercial crops--coffee, cotton, sugarcane; other crops--rice, wheat,
potatoes, plantains, coca; animal products--poultry, red meats, dairy,
wool; not self-sufficient in grain or vegetable oil; fish catch of
4.6 million metric tons (1987), world's fifth-largest

Illicit drugs: world's largest coca leaf producer with about
121,000 hectares under cultivation; source of supply for most of the
world's coca paste and cocaine base; about 85% of cultivation is for
illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug
dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $3.95 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $577 million

Currency: inti (plural--intis); 1 inti (I/) = 1,000 soles

Exchange rates: intis (I/) per US$1--530,000 (January 1991),
187,886 (1990), 2,666 (1989), 128.83 (1988), 16.84 (1987),
13.95 (1986), 10.97 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,884 km total; 1,584 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
300 km 0.914-meter gauge

Highways: 56,645 km total; 6,030 km paved, 11,865 km gravel,
14,610 km improved earth, 24,140 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon
system and 208 km Lago Titicaca

Pipelines: crude oil, 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids, 64 km

Ports: Callao, Ilo, Iquitos, Matarani, Talara

Merchant marine: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 321,541
GRT/516,859 DWT; includes 16 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
8 bulk; note--in addition, 8 naval tankers and 1 naval cargo are
sometimes used commercially

Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft

Airports: 222 total, 205 usable; 36 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 24 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
42 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fairly adequate for most requirements;
nationwide radio relay system; 544,000 telephones; stations--273 AM, no
FM, 140 TV, 144 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations,
12 domestic antennas

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del
Peru), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), Peruvian National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,704,684; 3,859,123 fit for
military service; 241,792 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $430 million, 2.4% of GDP (1991)



  * PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINES
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 300,000 km2; land area: 298,170 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 36,289 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed
polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth

Disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; claims Malaysian state of Sabah

Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October)

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Natural resources: timber, crude oil, nickel, cobalt, silver,
gold, salt, copper

Land use: arable land 26%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and pastures 4%;
forest and woodland 40%; other 19%; includes irrigated 5%

Environment: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and
struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; subject to landslides,
active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes, tsunami; deforestation; soil
erosion; water pollution

PEOPLE
Population: 65,758,788 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 54 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Filipino(s); adjective--Philippine

Ethnic divisions: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%,
other 3%

Religion: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%,
Buddhist and other 3%

Language: Pilipino (based on Tagalog) and English; both official

Literacy: 90% (male 90%, female 90%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 24,120,000; agriculture 46%, industry and commerce
16%, services 18.5%, government 10%, other 9.5% (1989)

Organized labor:  3,945 registered unions; total membership
5.7 million (includes 2.8 million members of the
National Congress of Farmers Organizations)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of the Philippines

Type: republic

Capital: Manila

Administrative divisions: 73 provinces and 61 chartered cities*;
Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique,
Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan,
Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan,
Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*,
Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz,
Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*,
Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental,
Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao,
Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela,
Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur,
Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*,
Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro
Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental,
Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato,
Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*,
Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan,
Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon,
Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South
Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del
Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*,
Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*,
Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)

Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day (from Spain), 12 June (1898)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Kongreso) consists of
an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or House of
Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Corazon C. AQUINO
(since 25 February 1986); Vice President Salvador H. LAUREL (since
25 February 1986)

Political parties and leaders:
PDP-Laban, Aquilino PIMENTEL;
Struggle of Philippine Democrats (LDP), Neptali GONZALES;
Nacionalista Party, Salvador LAUREL, Juan Ponce ENRILE;
Liberal Party, Jovito SALONGA

Suffrage: universal at age 15

Elections:

President--last held 7 February 1986 (next election to be
held May 1992); results--Corazon C. AQUINO elected,
precipitating the fall of the MARCOS regime;

Senate--last held 11 May 1987 (next to be held May 1992);
results--pro-Aquino LDP 63%,
liberal LDP and PDP-Laban (Pimentel wing) 25%,
opposition Nationalista Party 4%,
independent 8%;
seats--(24 total) pro-Aquino LDP 15, liberal
LDP-Laban (Pimentel wing) 6, opposition Nationalista Party 1, independent 2;

House of Representatives--last held on 11 May 1987
(next to be held May 1992);
results--pro-Aquino LDP 73%, liberal LDP and PDP-Laban
(Pimentel wing) 10%, opposition Nationalista Party 17%;
seats--(250 total, 180 elected) number of seats by party NA

Communists: the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) controls
about 18,000-23,000 full-time insurgents and is not recognized as a legal
party; a second Communist party, the pro-Soviet Philippine Communist
Party (PKP), has quasi-legal status

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Emmanuel PELAEZ; Chancery at
1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
483-1414; there are Philippine Consulates General in Agana (Guam), Chicago,
Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle;

US--Ambassador Nicholas PLATT; Embassy at 1201 Roxas Boulevard,
Manila (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96528); telephone
63 (32) 211-101 through 3; there is a US Consulate in Cebu

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white
equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the
triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three
individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow
five-pointed star

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy continues to recover from the political
turmoil following the ouster of former President Marcos and several coup
attempts. After two consecutive years of economic contraction (1984 and
1985), the economy has since 1986 had positive growth, although in 1990
the economy slowed considerably from 1989. The agricultural sector
together with forestry and fishing, plays an important role in the
economy, employing about 45% of the work force and providing almost
30% of GDP. The Philippines is the world's largest exporter of coconuts
and coconut products. Manufacturing contributes about 25% of GDP. Major
industries include food processing, chemicals, and textiles.

GNP: $45.2 billion, per capita $700; real growth rate 2.5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.7% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9.3% (1990 est.)

Budget: $7.2 billion; expenditures $8.12 billion,
including capital expenditures of $0.97 billion (1989 est.)

Exports: revenues $8.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--electrical equipment 19%, textiles 16%,
minerals and ores 11%, farm products 10%, coconut 10%,
chemicals 5%, fish 5%, forest products 4%;

partners--US 36%, EC 19%, Japan 18%, ESCAP 9%, ASEAN 7%

Imports: $12.1 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--raw materials 53%, capital goods 17%, petroleum products 17%;

partners--US 25%, Japan 17%, ESCAP 13%, EC 11%, ASEAN 10%, Middle East 10%

External debt: $28.4 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1990 est.); accounts for 30-35% of GNP

Electricity: 6,755,000 kW capacity; 28,000 million kWh produced,
420 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products,
food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing

Agriculture: accounts for about one-third of GNP and 45% of labor
force; major crops--rice, coconut, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple,
mango; animal products--pork, eggs, beef; net exporter of farm products;
fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; growers are producing more and better quality cannabis
despite government eradication efforts

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $6.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million;
Communist countries (1975-89), $123 million

Currency: Philippine peso (plural--pesos);
1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1--28.055 (January
1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989), 21.095 (1988), 20.568 (1987),
20.386 (1986), 18.607 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 378 km operable on Luzon, 34% government owned (1982)

Highways: 156,000 km total (1984); 29,000 km paved; 77,000 km gravel,
crushed-stone, or stabilized-soil surface; 50,000 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft
(less than 1.5 m) vessels

Pipelines: refined products, 357 km

Ports: Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iloilo, Legaspi,
Manila, Subic Bay

Merchant marine: 569 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,429,829
GRT/15,171,692 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 9 short-sea passenger,
17 passenger-cargo, 163 cargo, 18 refrigerated cargo, 24 vehicle carrier,
8 livestock carrier, 10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 container, 41
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 7
liquefied gas, 3 combination ore/oil, 252 bulk, 7 combination bulk;
note--many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the
register for the purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their
original owners who are principally in Japan and Germany

Civil air: 53 major transport aircraft

Airports: 280 total, 235 usable; 71 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 9 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
50 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good international radio and submarine cable
services; domestic and interisland service adequate; 872,900 telephones;
stations--267 AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US);
submarine cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and
Japan; satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT, and 11 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Coast Guard), Marine Corps, Air
Force, Constabulary

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 16,254,775; 11,491,155 fit for
military service; 715,462 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 2% of GNP (1990)



  * PITCAIRN ISLANDS

PITCAIRN ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 47 km2; land area: 47 km2

Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 51 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds;
rainy season (November to March)

Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish

Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and
pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

Environment: subject to typhoons (especially November to March)

Note: located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between
Peru and New Zealand

PEOPLE
Population: 56 (July 1991), growth rate 0.0% (1991)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Pitcairn Islander(s); adjective--Pitcairn Islander

Ethnic divisions: descendants of Bounty mutineers

Religion: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Language: English (official); also a Tahitian/English dialect

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA; no business community in the usual sense;
some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Adamstown

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Legal system: local island by-laws

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday in June), 10 June 1989

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, island magistrate

Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council

Judicial branch: Island Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Governor and UK High Commissioner to New Zealand
David Joseph MOSS (since NA 1990);

Head of Government--Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island
Council Brian YOUNG (since NA 1985)

Political parties and leaders: NA

Suffrage: universal at age 18 with three years residency

Elections:

Island Council--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA

Communists: none

Other political or pressure groups: NA

Member of: SPC

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield
featuring a yellow anchor

ECONOMY
Overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming.
The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and
vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and
beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources
of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of
handicrafts to passing ships.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $430,440; expenditures $429,983, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY87 est.)

Exports: $NA;

commodities--fruits, vegetables, curios;

partners--NA

Imports: $NA;

commodities--fuel oil, machinery, building materials,
flour, sugar, other foodstuffs;

partners--NA

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 110 kW capacity; 0.30 million kWh produced,
5,360 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: postage stamp sales, handicrafts

Agriculture: based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety
of fruits and vegetables grown; must import grain products

Economic aid: none

Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars);
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6798
(January 1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6866
(1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: none

Highways: 6.4 km dirt roads

Ports: Bounty Bay

Airports: none

Telecommunications: 24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; stations--1 AM, no
FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * POLAND

POLAND
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 312,680 km2; land area: 304,510 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries: 2,980 km total; Czechoslovakia 1,309 km,
Germany 456 km, USSR 1,215 km

Coastline: 491 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with
frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

Terrain: mostly flat plain, mountains along southern border

Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt

Land use: arable land 46%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 13%;
forest and woodland 28%; other 12%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: plain crossed by a few north-flowing, meandering
streams; severe air and water pollution in south

Note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain
and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

PEOPLE
Population: 37,799,638 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Pole(s); adjective--Polish

Ethnic divisions: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%,
Belorussian (Byelorussian) 0.5% (1990 est.)

Religion: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing),
Russian Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%

Language: Polish

Literacy: 98% (male 99%, female 98%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1978)

Labor force: 17,104,000; industry and construction 36.1%;
agriculture 27.3%; trade, transport, and communications 14.8%;
government and other 21.8% (1989)

Organized labor: trade union pluralism

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Poland

Type: democratic state

Capital: Warsaw

Administrative divisions: 49 provinces (wojewodztwa,
singular--wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko,
Bydgoszcz, Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk,
Gorzow, Jelenia Gora, Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin,
Krakow, Krosno, Legnica, Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin,
Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka, Pila, Piotrkow,
Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce, Sieradz,
Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg, Tarnow,
Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc,
Zielona Gora

Independence: 11 November 1918, independent republic proclaimed

Constitution: the Communist-imposed Constitution of 22 July 1952
will probably be replaced by a democratic Constitution in 1992

Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1794)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie
Narodowe) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house
or Diet (Sejm)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Lech WALESA (since 22 December 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Jan Krzysztof BIELECKI
(since 4 January 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
center-right agrarian parties--Polish Peasant Party (PSL), Roman BARTOSZCZE,
chairman; Polish Peasant Party-Solidarity, Gabriel JANOWSKI, chairman;

other center-right parties--Center Alliance, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman;
Christian National Union, Wieslaw CHRZANOWSKI, chairman;
Christian Democratic Labor Party, Wladyslaw SILA-NOWICKI, chairman;
Democratic Party, Jerzy JOZWIAK, chairman;

center-left parties--Polish Socialist Party, Jan Jozef LIPSKI, chairman;
Democratic Union, Tadeusz MAZOWIECKI, chairman;
ROAD, Wladyslaw FRASYNIUK and Zbigniew BUJAK, chairmen;

left-wing parties--Polish Socialist Party-Democratic Revolution, Piotr IKONOWICZ;

other--Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland
(formerly the Communist party or Polish United Workers' Party/PZPR),
Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI, chairman;
Union of the Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland (breakaway
faction of the PZPR), Tadeusz FISZBACH, chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--first round held 25 November 1990, second round
held 9 December 1990 (next to be held November 1995);
results--second round Lech WALESA 74.7%, Stanislaw TYMINSKI 25.3%;

Senate--last held 4 and 18 June 1989
(next to be held late 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(100 total) Solidarity 99, independent 1;

Diet--last held 4 and 18 June 1989 (next to be held late 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(460 total) Communists 173, Solidarity 161, Polish Peasant
Party 76, Democratic Party 27, Christian National Union 23; note--rules
governing the election limited Solidarity's share of the vote to 35%
of the seats; future elections, which will probably be held before
late 1991, are to be freely contested

Communists: 70,000 members in the Communist successor parties (1990)

Other political or pressure groups: powerful Roman Catholic Church;
Confederation for an Independent Poland (KPN), a nationalist group;
Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ),
populist program; Clubs of Catholic Intellectuals (KIKs); Freedom and
Peace (WiP), a pacifist group; Independent Student Union (NZS)

Member of: BIS, CCC, CERN (observer, but scheduled to become
a member l July 1991), CSCE, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IIB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNDOF, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Kazimierz DZIEWANOWSKI;
Chancery at 2640 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20009;
telephone [phone] through 3802; there are Polish Consulates
General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York;

US--Ambassador Thomas W. SIMONS, Jr.; Embassy at Aleje
Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw (mailing address is American Embassy Warsaw,
c/o American Consulate General (WAW) or APO New York 09213-5010);
telephone  48  (22) 283041 through 283049; there is a US Consulate
General in Krakow and a Consulate in Poznan

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red--a crowned
eagle is to be added; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which
are red (top) and white

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy, except for the agricultural sector, had
followed the Soviet model of state ownership and control of
productive assets. About 75% of agricultural production had come from the
private sector and the rest from state farms. The economy has presented a
picture of moderate but slowing growth against a background of underlying
weaknesses in technology and worker motivation. GNP dropped by 2.0% in
1989 and by a further 8.9% in 1990. The inflation rate, after falling
sharply from the 1982 peak of 100% to 22% in 1986, rose to a galloping
rate of 640% in 1989 and dropped back to 250% in 1990. Shortages of
consumer goods and some food items worsened in 1988-89. Agricultural
products and coal are among the biggest hard currency earners, but
manufactures are increasing in importance. Poland, with its hard currency
debt of $48.5 billion, is severely limited in its ability to import
much-needed hard currency goods. The sweeping political changes of 1989
disrupted normal economic channels and exacerbated shortages. In January
1990, the new Solidarity-led government adopted a cold turkey program for
transforming Poland to a market economy. The government moved to
eliminate subsidies, free prices, make the zloty convertible, and,
in general, halt the hyperinflation. These financial measures were
accompanied by plans to privatize the economy in stages. While inflation
fell to an annual rate of 77.5% by November of 1990, the rise in
unemployment and the drop in living standards have led to growing popular
discontent and to a change of government in January 1991. The new
government is continuing the previous government's economic
program, while trying to speed privatization and to better cushion the
populace from the dislocations associated with reform. Substantial
outside aid will be needed if Poland is to make a successful transition
in the 1990s.

GNP: $158.5 billion, per capita $4,200; real growth rate - 8.9% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 250% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6.1% (end-December 1990)

Budget: revenues $20.9 billion; expenditures $23.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $2.8 billion (1989)

Exports: $12.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and equipment 38%; fuels, minerals, and
metals 21%; manufactured consumer goods 15%; agricultural and forestry
products 4% (1989);

partners--USSR 25%, FRG 14%, UK 6.5%, Czechoslovakia 5.5% (1989)

Imports: $12.8 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--machinery and equipment 37%; fuels, minerals, and
metals 31%; manufactured consumer goods 17%; agricultural and forestry
products 5% (1989);

partners--USSR 18%, FRG 16%, Austria 6%, Czechoslovakia 6% (1989)

External debt: $48.5 billion (January 1991)

Industrial production: growth rate - 23% (State sector 1990 est.)

Electricity: 31,530,000 kW capacity; 136,300 million kWh produced,
3,610 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: machine building, iron and steel, extractive industries,
chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP and 27% of labor force; 75% of
output from private farms, 25% from state farms; productivity remains
low by European standards; leading European producer of rye, rapeseed,
and potatoes; wide variety of other crops and livestock; major exporter
of pork products; normally self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: donor--bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed
countries, $2.2 billion (1954-89)

Currency: zloty (plural--zlotych); 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy

Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1--11,100.00 (May 1991),
9,500 (1990), 1,439.18 (1989), 430.55 (1988), 265.08 (1987),
175.29 (1986), 147.14 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 27,041 km total; 24,287 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
397 km 1.520-meter broad gauge, 2,357 km narrow gauge; 8,987 km double
track; 11,016 km electrified; government owned (1989)

Highways: 299,887 km total; 130,000 km improved hard surface (concrete,
asphalt, stone block); 24,000 km unimproved hard surface (crushed stone,
gravel); 100,000 km earth; 45,887 km other urban roads (1985)

Inland waterways: 3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1989)

Pipelines: 4,500 km for natural gas; 1,986 km for crude oil;
360 km for refined products (1987)

Ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin, Swinoujscie; principal
inland ports are Gliwice on Kanal Gliwice, Wroclaw on the Oder, and
Warsaw on the Vistula

Merchant marine: 235 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,957,600
GRT/4,163,820 DWT; includes 5 short-sea passenger, 92 cargo, 3
refrigerated cargo, 12 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 9 container, 3 petroleum,
oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 107 bulk; Poland
owns 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) of 6,333 DWT operating under Liberian
registry

Civil air: 48 major transport aircraft

Airports: 160 total, 160 usable; 85 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runway over 3,659 m; 35 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 65 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: phone density is 10.5 phones per 100 residents
(October 1990); 3.1 million subscribers; exchanges are 86% automatic
(February 1990); stations--29 AM, 29 FM, 37 (5 Soviet relays) TV;
9.6 million TVs

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: External Front Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Forces, Internal Defense Forces (WOW), Territorial Defense Forces (JOT),
Border Guards (WOP), Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense (OC)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 9,571,708; 7,543,565 fit for
military service; 302,000 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: 22.3 trillion zlotych, NA% of GDP (1991);
note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
official administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading
results



  * PORTUGAL

PORTUGAL
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 92,080 km2; land area: 91,640 km2; includes Azores and
Madeira Islands

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundary: 1,214 km with Spain

Coastline: 1,793 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province)
disputed with Indonesia

Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and
drier in south

Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south

Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore,
uranium ore, marble

Land use: arable land 32%; permanent crops 6%; meadows and pastures 6%;
forest and woodland 40%; other 16%; includes irrigated 7%

Environment: Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations
along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

PEOPLE
Population: 10,387,617 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 13 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Portuguese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Portuguese

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland,
Azores, Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated
to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000

Religion: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%

Language: Portuguese

Literacy: 85% (male 89%, female 82%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,605,700; services 45%, industry 35%, agriculture 20% (1988)

Organized labor: about 55% of the labor force; the Communist-dominated
General Confederation of Portuguese Workers--Intersindical (CGTP-IN)
represents more than half of the unionized labor force; its main competition,
the General Workers Union (UGT), is organized by the Socialists and Social
Democrats and represents less than half of unionized labor

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Portuguese Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Lisbon

Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos,
singular--distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas,
singular--regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga,
Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria,
Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal,
Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Dependent area: Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative
Region of China in 1999)

Independence: 1140; independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910

Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June 1989

Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews
the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June

Executive branch: president, Council of State, prime minister,
deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic
(Assembleia da Republica)

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justica)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Dr. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES
(since 9 March 1986);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Anibal CAVACO SILVA
(since 6 November 1985)

Political parties and leaders:
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Anibal CAVACO Silva;
Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), Jorge SAMPAIO;
Party of Democratic Renewal (PRD), Herminio MARTINHO;
Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Alvaro CUNHAL;
Social Democratic Center (CDS), Andriano MORREIRA (interim);
National Solidarity Party, Manuel SERGIO

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 13 February 1991
(next to be held February 1996);
results--Dr. Mario Lopes SOARES 70%, Basilio HORTA 14%, Carlos
CARVALHAS 13%, Carlos MARQUES 3%;

Assembly of the Republic--last held 6 October 1991
(next to be held October 1995);
results--Social Democrats 50.4%,
Socialists 29.3%,
United Democratic Coalition (CDU; Communists) 8.8%,
Christian Democrats 4.4%,
National Solidarity Party 1.7%,
Democratic Renewal 0.6%, other 4.8%;
seats--(230 total) Social Democrats 132, Socialists 70, United
Democratic Coalition (CDU; Communists) 17,
Christian Democrats 5, National Solidarity Party 1;
after absentee ballots counted five seats to be allocated

Communists: Portuguese Communist Party claims membership of 200,753
(December 1983)

Member of: AfDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE,
ECLAC, EIB, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Joao Eduardo M. PEREIRA BASTOS;
Chancery at 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
328-8610; there are Portuguese Consulates General in Boston, New York,
and San Francisco, and Consulates in Los Angeles, Newark (New Jersey),
New Bedford (Massachusetts), and Providence (Rhode Island);

US--Ambassador Everett E. BRIGGS; Embassy at Avenida das Forcas
Armadas, 1600 Lisbon (mailing address is APO New York 09678-0002);
telephone  351  (1) 726-6600 or 6659, 8670, 8880; there is a US
Consulate in Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and
red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered
on the dividing line

ECONOMY
Overview: During the past four years, the economy has made a sustained
recovery from the severe recession of 1983-85. The economy grew by 14%
during the 1987-89 period, largely because of strong domestic consumption
and investment spending. Unemployment has declined for the third consecutive
year, but inflation continues to be about three times the European Community
average. The government is pushing economic restructuring and privatization
measures in anticipation of the 1992 European Community timetable to form a
single large market in Europe.

GDP: $57.8 billion, per capita $5,580; real growth rate 3.5% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate:  5.5% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $21.6 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion,
including capital expenditures of $6.9 billion (1990)

Exports: $16.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--cotton textiles, cork and cork products, canned fish,
wine, timber and timber products, resin, machinery, appliances;

partners--EC 72%, other developed countries 13%, US 5%

Imports: $24.9 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, cotton, foodgrains, industrial machinery,
iron and steel, chemicals;

partners--EC 69%, other developed countries 11%,
less developed countries 13%, US 4%

External debt: $18.4 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.9% (1989); accounts for 40% of GDP

Electricity: 6,729,000 kW capacity; 16,000 million kWh produced,
1,530 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork;
metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 9% of GDP and 20% of labor force; small
inefficient farms; imports more than half of food needs; major
crops--grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; livestock sector--sheep, cattle,
goats, poultry, meat, dairy products

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.8
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.13 billion

Currency: Portuguese escudo (plural--escudos);
1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1--134.46 (January
1991), 142.55 (1990), 157.46 (1989), 143.95 (1988), 140.88 (1987),
149.59 (1986), 170.39 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,613 km total; state-owned Portuguese Railroad Co. (CP)
operates 2,858 km 1.665-meter gauge (434 km electrified and 426 km double
track), 755 km 1.000-meter gauge; 12 km (1.435-meter gauge) electrified,
double track, privately owned

Highways: 73,661 km total; 61,599 km paved (bituminous, gravel, and
crushed stone), including 140 km of limited-access divided highway;
7,962 km improved earth; 4,100 km unimproved earth (motorable tracks)

Inland waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national
economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300-metric-ton cargo capacity

Pipelines: crude oil, 11 km; refined products, 58 km

Ports: Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Velas (Azores),
Setubal, Sines

Merchant marine: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 684,350
GRT/1,190,454 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 20 cargo,
2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
12 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker,
2 liquefied gas, 10 bulk, 1 combination bulk; note--Portugal has created
a captive register on Madeira (MAR) for Portuguese-owned ships that will
have the taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience;
although only one ship currently is known to fly the Portuguese flag on
the MAR register, it is likely that a majority of Portuguese flag ships
will transfer to this subregister in a few years

Civil air: 29 major transport aircraft

Airports: 69 total, 63 usable; 36 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: facilities are generally adequate; 2,690,000
telephones; stations--57 AM, 66 (22 relays) FM, 25 (23 relays) TV;
7 submarine cables; communication satellite ground stations operating in
the INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and
domestic systems (mainland and Azores)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National
Republican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,621,116; 2,131,628 fit for
military service; 88,718 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.6 billion, 3% of GDP (1990)




  * PUERTO RICO


(commonwealth associated with the US)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 9,104 km2; land area: 8,959 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 501 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north;
mountains precipitous to sea on west coast

Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore
and offshore crude oil

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 9%; meadows and pastures
41%; forest and woodland 20%; other 22%

Environment: many small rivers and high central mountains ensure
land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain
belt in north

Note: important location between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands
group along the Mona Passage--a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal;
San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean

PEOPLE
Population: 3,294,997 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 16 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Puerto Rican(s); adjective--Puerto Rican

Ethnic divisions: almost entirely Hispanic

Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%

Language: Spanish (official); English is widely understood

Literacy: 89% (male 90%, female 88%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 1,068,000; government 28%, manufacturing 15%,
trade 14%, agriculture 3%, other 40% (1990)

Organized labor: 115,000 members in 4 unions; the largest is the
General Confederation of Puerto Rican Workers with 35,000 members (1983)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Type: commonwealth associated with the US

Capital: San Juan

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952;
effective 25 July 1952

National holiday: Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

Legal system: based on Spanish civil code

Executive branch: US president, US vice president, governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an
upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January
1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);

Head of Government Governor Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (since 2 January 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon;
New Progressive Party (PNP), Carlos ROMERO Barcelo;
Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), Juan MARI Bras and Carlos GALLISA;
Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez;
Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown

Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Elections:

Governor--last held 8 November 1988
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (PPD) 48.7%, Baltasar CORRADA Del Rio
(PNP) 45.8%, Ruben BERRIOS Martinez (PIP) 5.5%;

Senate--last held 8 November 1988
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(27 total) PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1;

House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be
held 3 November 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(53 total) PPD 36, PNP 15, PIP 2;

US House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be
held 3 November 1992); results--Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting
representative

Other political or pressure groups: all have engaged in terrorist
activities--Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN), Volunteers of
the Puerto Rican Revolution, Boricua Popular Army (also known as the
Macheteros), Armed Forces of Popular Resistance

Member of: ECLAC, ICFTU, IOC, WCL, WFTU, WTO (associate)

Diplomatic representation: none (commonwealth associated with the
US)

Flag: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bears a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the
US flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the
Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary
sector of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free
access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily
in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. Important new industries include
pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed
foods. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other
livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural
sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income
for the island. The economy is slowly recovering from the disruptions
caused by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. The tourism infrastructure
was especially hard hit.

GNP: $20.1 billion, per capita $6,100; real growth rate 3.6% (FY89)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.3% (October 1989-90)

Unemployment rate: 14.9% (October 1990)

Budget: revenues $5.5 billion; expenditures $5.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $1.5 billion (FY89)

Exports: $16.4 billion (f.o.b., FY89);

commodities--pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna,
rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instruments;

partners--US 87%

Imports: $14.0 billion (c.i.f., FY89);

commodities--chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products;

partners--US 60%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate 1.6% (FY89)

Electricity: 4,149,000 kW capacity; 14,844 million kWh produced,
4,510 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, electronics,
apparel, food products, instruments; tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 3% of labor force; crops--sugarcane,
coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock--cattle, chickens;
imports a large share of food needs

Economic aid: none

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 100 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane;
no passenger railroads

Highways: 13,762 km paved

Ports: San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo

Airports: 33 total; 23 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 900,000 or 99% of total households with TV;
1,067,787 telephones (1988); stations--50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV (1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 830,133; NA fit for military
service

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * QATAR

QATAR
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 11,000 km2; land area: 11,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 60 km total; Saudi Arabia 40 km, UAE 20 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes: boundary with UAE is in dispute; territorial dispute with
Bahrain over the Hawar Islands

Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, fish

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 0%; other 95%

Environment: haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited
freshwater resources mean increasing dependence on large-scale
desalination facilities

Note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major crude oil sources

PEOPLE
Population: 518,478 (July 1991), growth rate 5.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 35 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 24 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Qatari(s); adjective--Qatari

Ethnic divisions: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%,
other 14%

Religion: Muslim 95%

Language: Arabic (official); English is commonly used as second
language

Literacy: 76% (male 77%, female 72%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1986)

Labor force: 104,000; 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)

Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: State of Qatar

Type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)

Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in
personal matters

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Executive branch: amir, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Amir and Prime Minister
Khalifa bin Hamad Al THANI (since 22 February 1972); Heir Apparent Hamad
bin Khalifa AL THANI (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: none

Elections:

Advisory Council--constitution calls for elections for part
of this consultative body, but no elections have been held;
seats--(30 total)

Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hamad Abd al-Aziz
AL-KAWARI, Chancery at Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20037; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Mark G. HAMBLEY; Embassy at 149 Ali Bin Ahmed St.,
Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha (mailing address
is P. O. Box 2399, Doha); telephone  [phone] through 864703

Flag: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points)
on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more
than 85% of export earnings and roughly 75% of government revenues.
Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output
at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita
GDP of about $12,500, among the highest in the world outside the OECD
countries.

GDP: $6.6 billion, per capita $12,500 (1989 est.); real growth
rate 5.0% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.9% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $3.4 billion, including
capital expenditures of $400 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers;

partners--Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.), excluding military
equipment;

commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils,
chemicals, machinery and equipment;

partners--Japan, UK, US, Italy

External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.6% (1987); accounts
for 64% of GDP, including oil

Electricity: 1,514,000 kW capacity; 4,000 million kWh produced,
8,540 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel, cement

Agriculture: farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of
GDP; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Economic aid: donor--pledged $2.7 billion in ODA to less developed
countries (1979-88)

Currency: Qatari riyal (plural--riyals); 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100
dirhams

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6400 riyals (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 1,500 km total; 1,000 km bituminous, 500 km gravel or
natural surface (est.)

Pipelines: crude oil, 235 km; natural gas, 400 km

Ports: Doha, Umm Said, Halul Island

Merchant marine: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 465,371
GRT/707,089 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 5 container, 3 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; none with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern system centered in Doha; 110,000
telephones; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; radio relay to Saudi Arabia;
submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 3 TV;
earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT,
1 ARABSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Department

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 235,516; 125,591 fit for
military service; 4,243 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $500 million, 8% of GDP (1989)



  * REUNION

REUNION
(overseas department of France)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,510 km2; land area: 2,500 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 201 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from
May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along
coast

Natural resources: fish, arable land

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 4%;
forest and woodland 35%; other 39%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: periodic devastating cyclones

Note: located 750 km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 607,086 (July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Reunionese (sing. and pl.);
adjective--Reunionese

Ethnic divisions: most of the population is of intermixed French,
African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian ancestry

Religion: Roman Catholic 94%

Language: French (official); Creole widely used

Literacy: 69% (male 67%, female 74%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force: NA; agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49%
(1981); 63% of population of working age (1983)

Organized labor: General Confederation of Workers of Reunion (CGTR)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Department of Reunion

Type: overseas department of France

Capital: Saint-Denis

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: French president, commissioner of the Republic

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council, unicameral Regional
Council

Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (Cour d'appel)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND
(since 21 May 1981);

Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN
(since September 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS;
Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD;
Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Paul VERGES;
France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON;
Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU;
Social Democrats (CDS), other small parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:
General Council--last held March 1986 (next to be held 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(36 total) number of seats by party NA;

Regional Council--last held 16 March 1986
(next to be held March 1991);
results--RPR/UDF 36.8%, PCR 28.2%, FRA and other right wing 17.3%,
PS 14.1%, other 3.6%;
seats--(45 total) RPR/UDF 18, PCR 13, FRA and other right wing 8, PS 6;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(3 total) RPR-UDF 1, PS 1, independent 1;

French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(5 total) PCR 2, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1, FRA 1

Communists: Communist party small but has support among sugarcane
cutters, the minuscule Popular Movement for the Liberation of Reunion
(MPLR), and in the district of Le Port

Member of: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France,
Reunionese interests are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture.
Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some
years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing
the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment,
which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The white
and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments
of the population, adding to the social tensions generated by poverty
and unemployment. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on
continued financial assistance from France.

GDP: $3.37 billion, per capita $6,000 (1987 est.); real growth
rate 9% (1987 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 35% (February 1991)

Budget: revenues $358 million; expenditures $914 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1986)

Exports: $166 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%,
lobster 3%, vanilla and tea 1%;

partners--France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco,
machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum
products;

partners--France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy

External debt: NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; about 25% of GDP

Electricity: 245,000 kW capacity; 546 million kWh produced,
965 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing
handicraft items

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of labor force; dominant sector of
economy; cash crops--sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco; food crops--tropical
fruits, vegetables, corn; imports large share of food needs

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $14.1 billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) =
100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 2,800 km total; 2,200 km paved, 600 km gravel, crushed
stone, or stabilized earth

Ports: Pointe des Galets

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate system for needs; modern open-wire
line and radio relay network; principal center Saint-Denis;
radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new radio relay route
to Mauritius; 85,900 telephones; stations--3 AM, 13 FM, 1 (18 relays) TV;
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Manpower availability: males 15-49, 162,017; 83,959 fit for
military service; 5,979 reach military age (18) annually

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * ROMANIA

ROMANIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 237,500 km2; land area: 230,340 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: 2,904 km total; Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km,
USSR 1,307 km, Yugoslavia 546 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and
fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

Terrain: central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the plain of
Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the
Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Natural resources: crude oil (reserves being exhausted), timber,
natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt

Land use: arable land 43%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and
pastures 19%; forest and woodland 28%; other 7%; includes irrigated 11%

Environment: frequent earthquakes most severe in south and
southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides,
air pollution in south

Note: controls most easily traversable land route between
the Balkans and western USSR

PEOPLE
Population: 23,397,054 (July 1991), growth rate 0.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 75 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Romanian(s); adjective--Romanian

Ethnic divisions: Romanian 89.1%; Hungarian 8.9%; German 0.4%;
Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%

Religion: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6%, Greek Catholic
(Uniate) 3%, Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 15%

Language: Romanian, Hungarian, German

Literacy: 96% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

Labor force: 10,690,000; industry 34%, agriculture 28%, other 38% (1987)

Organized labor: until December 1989, a single trade union system
organized by the General Confederation of Romanian Trade Unions (UGSR)
under control of the Communist Party; since Ceausescu's overthrow,
newly-created trade and professional trade unions are joining three
umbrella organizations--Organization of Free Trade Unions, Fratia
(Brotherhood), and the Alfa Cortel; many other trade unions have been
formed

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: in transition from Communist state to republic

Capital: Bucharest

Administrative divisions: 40 counties (judete, singular--judet)
and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor,
Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*,
Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna,
Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara,
Ialomita, Iasi, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt,
Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea,
Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Independence: 1881 (from Turkey); republic proclaimed 30 December 1947

Constitution: 21 August 1965; new constitution being drafted

Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal
theory that increasingly reflected Romanian traditions is being revised

National holiday: National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)

Executive branch: president, vice president, prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or House of Deputies
(Adunarea Deputatilor)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990, previously
President of Provisional Council of National Unity since 23 December 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Teodor STOLOJAN
(since 2 October 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
National Salvation Front (FSN), Ion STOICA;
Magyar Democratic Union (UDMR), Geza DOMOKOS;
National Liberal Party (PNL), Radu CAMPEANU;
National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party (PNTCD), Corneliu
COPOSU;
Ecology Movement (MER), leader NA;
Romanian National Unity Party (AUR), Radu CEONTEA;
there are now more than 100 other parties; note--although the Communist
Party has ceased to exist, a small proto-Communist party, the Socialist
Labor Party, has been formed

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held NA 1992);
results--Ion ILIESCU 85%, Radu CAMPEANU 10.5%, Ion RATIU 3.8%;

Senate--last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held NA 1992);
results--FSN 67%, other 33%;
seats--(118 total) FSN 92, UDMR 12, PNL 9, AUR 2, PNTCD 1, MER 1, other 1;

House of Deputies--last held 20 May 1990
(next to be held NA 1992);
results--FSN 66%, UDMR 7%, PNL 6%, MER 2%, PNTCD 2%, AUR 2%,
other 15%;
seats--(387 total) FSN 263, UDMR 29, PNL 29, PNTCD 12, MER 12,
AUR 9, other 33

Communists: 3,400,000 (November 1984); Communist Party has ceased to exist

Member of: BIS, CCC, CSCE, ECE, FAO, G-9, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD,
ICAO, IFAD, IFC, IIB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Virgil CONSTANTINESCU;
Chancery at 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone];

US--Ambassador Alan GREEN, Jr.; Embassy at Strada Tudor Arghezi
7-9, Bucharest (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone
40 (0) 10-40-40

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow
band, has been removed; now similar to the flags of Andorra and Chad

ECONOMY
Overview: Industry, which accounts for one-third of the labor force
and generates over half the GNP, suffers from an aging capital plant and
persistent shortages of energy. The year 1990 witnessed about a 20%
drop in industrial production because of energy and input shortages and
labor unrest. In recent years the agricultural sector has had to contend
with drought, mismanagement, and shortages of inputs. A drought in 1990
contributed to a lackluster harvest, a problem compounded by corruption
and a poor distribution system. The new government is slowly loosening
the tight central controls of Ceaucesescu's command economy. It has
instituted moderate land reforms, with close to one-half of cropland now
in private hands, and it has allowed changes in prices for private
agricultural output. Also, the new regime is permitting the
establishment of private enterprises, largely in services, handicrafts,
and small-scale industry. New laws providing for the privatization
of large state firms have been passed. However, most of the early
privatization will involve converting state firms into joint-stock
companies. The selling of shares to the public has not yet been worked
out. Furthermore, the government has halted the old policy of diverting
food from domestic consumption to hard currency export markets. So far,
the government does not seem willing to adopt a thoroughgoing market
system, that is, there is great caution in decontrolling prices because
of public opposition. The government has sharply raised price ceilings
instead of lifting them entirely.

GNP: $69.9 billion, per capita $3,000; real growth rate - 10.8% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 160% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1990)

Budget:  revenues $28.4 billion; expenditures $28.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $12.3 billion (1989)

Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.);

commodities--machinery and equipment 34.7%, fuels, minerals and
metals 24.7%, manufactured consumer goods 16.9%, agricultural materials
and forestry products 11.9%, other 11.6% (1986);

partners--USSR 27%, Eastern Europe 23%, EC 15%, US 5%, China 4% (1987)

Imports: $7.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.);

commodities--fuels, minerals, and metals 51.0%, machinery and
equipment 26.7%, agricultural and forestry products 11.0%,
manufactured consumer goods 4.2% (1986);

partners--Communist countries 60%, non-Communist countries 40% (1987)

External debt: $400 million (mid-1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 7-8% (1991 est.)

Electricity: 22,700,000 kW capacity; 64,200 million kWh produced,
2,760 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy,
chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP and 28% of labor force; major
wheat and corn producer; other products--sugar beets, sunflower seed,
potatoes, milk, eggs, meat, grapes

Economic aid: donor--$4.4 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist
less developed countries (1956-89)

Currency: leu (plural--lei); 1 leu (L) = 100 bani

Exchange rates: lei (L) per US$1--60.00 (June 1991), 22.432
(1990), 14.922 (1989), 14.277 (1988), 14.557 (1987), 16.153 (1986),
17.141 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 11,275 km total; 10,860 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
370 km narrow gauge, 45 km broad gauge; 3,411 km electrified, 3,060 km
double track; government owned (1987)

Highways: 72,799 km total; 15,762 km concrete, asphalt, stone
block; 20,208 km asphalt treated; 27,729 km gravel, crushed stone, and
other paved surfaces; 9,100 km unpaved roads (1985)

Inland waterways: 1,724 km (1984)

Pipelines: 2,800 km crude oil; 1,429 km refined products;
6,400 km natural gas

Ports: Constanta, Galati, Braila, Mangalia; inland ports are
Giurgiu, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Orsova

Merchant marine: 294 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,767,465
GRT/5,893,700 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 191 cargo, 2 container,
1 rail-car carrier, 11 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 livestock carrier,
15 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 69 bulk, 2 combination
ore/oil

Civil air: 59 major transport aircraft

Airports: 165 total, 165 usable; 25 with permanent-surface runways;
15 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: about 2.3 million telephone customers; 89%
of phone network is automatic; present phone density is 9.85 per 100
residents; roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990);
stations--39 AM, 29 FM, 39 TV (1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: French--Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,801,986; 4,912,789 fit for
military service; 192,996 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: 15 billion lei (unofficial), NA% of GDP
(1991); note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using
the official administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading
results



  * RWANDA

RWANDA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 26,340 km2; land area: 24,950 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries: 893 km total; Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km,
Uganda 169 km, Zaire 217 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November
to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; mountains in west

Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite
(tungsten ore), natural gas, hydropower

Land use: arable land 29%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and
pastures 18%; forest and woodland 10%; other 32%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil
erosion; periodic droughts

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 7,902,644 (July 1991), growth rate 3.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 52 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 110 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 54 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 8.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun and adjective--Rwandan(s)

Ethnic divisions: Hutu 90%, Tutsi 9%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%,
indigenous beliefs and other 25%

Language: Kinyarwanda, French (official); Kiswahili used in
commercial centers

Literacy: 50% (male 64%, female 37%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,600,000; agriculture 93%, government and services
5%, industry and commerce 2%; 49% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Rwanda

Type: republic; presidential system in which military leaders hold
key offices; on 31 December 1990, the government announced a
National Political Charter to serve as a basis for transition
to a presidential/parliamentary political system; the charter will be
voted upon in a national referendum to be held June 1991

Capital: Kigali

Administrative divisions: 10 prefectures (prefectures,
singular--prefecture in French; plural--NA, singular--prefegitura in
Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama,
Kibungo, Kibuye, Rigali, Ruhengeri

Constitution: 17 December 1978

Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
administration)

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil law systems and
customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Development Council
(Conseil National de Developpement)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (consists of the Court of
Cassation and the Council of State in joint session)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Maj. Gen.
Juvenal HABYARIMANA (since 5 July 1973)

Political parties and leaders: only party--National Revolutionary
Movement for Development (MRND), Maj. Gen. Juvenal HABYARIMANA;
note--the MRND is officially a development movement, not a party

Suffrage: universal adult, exact age NA

Elections:

President--last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held December 1993);
results--President Maj. Gen. Juvenal HABYARIMANA reelected;

National Development Council--last held 19 December 1988
(next to be held December 1993);
results--MRND is the only party;
seats--(70 total); MRND 70

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, FAO, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Aloys UWIMANA; Chancery at
1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202)
232-2882;

US--Ambassador Robert A. FLATEN; Embassy at Boulevard
de la Revolution, Kigali (mailing address is B. P. 28, Kigali);
telephone  [phone] through 75603 or 72126 through 72128

Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and
green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses
the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of
Guinea, which has a plain yellow band

ECONOMY
Overview: Almost 50% of GDP comes from the agricultural sector;
coffee and tea make up 80-90% of total exports. The amount of fertile
land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion have created
problems. The industrial sector in Rwanda is small, contributing only
16% to GDP. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing of
agricultural products. The Rwandan economy remains dependent on coffee
exports and foreign aid, with no relief in sight. Weak international
prices since 1986 have caused the economy to contract and per capita
GDP to decline. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank
began in October 1990. An outbreak of insurgency, also in October, has
dampened any prospects for economic improvement.

GDP: $2.2 billion, per capita $300; real growth rate - 2.2% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $391 million; expenditures $491 million, including
capital expenditures of $225 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $117 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--coffee 85%, tea, tin, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrum;

partners--FRG, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, US

Imports: $293 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital
goods, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material;

partners--US, Belgium, FRG, Kenya, Japan

External debt: $689 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.2% (1988); accounts for 17% of GDP

Electricity: 26,000 kW capacity; 112 million kWh produced,
15 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining of cassiterite (tin ore) and wolframite
(tungsten ore), tin, cement, agricultural processing, small-scale
beverage production, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles,
cigarettes

Agriculture: accounts for almost 50% of GDP and about 90% of the labor force;
cash crops--coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums);
main food crops--bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; stock raising;
self-sufficiency declining; country imports foodstuffs as farm production
fails to keep up with a 3.8% annual growth in population

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $128
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $45 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $58 million

Currency: Rwandan franc (plural--francs); 1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1--120.00 (December 1990),
82.60 (1990), 79.98 (1989), 76.45 (1988), 79.67 (1987), 87.64 (1986),
101.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 4,885 km total; 460 km paved, 1,725 km gravel and/or
improved earth, 2,700 km unimproved

Inland waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 8 total, 8 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system with low-capacity radio relay
system centered on Kigali; 6,600 telephones; stations--2 AM, 5 FM, no TV;
earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,651,224; 842,480 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $37 million, 1.6% of GDP (1988 est.)



  * SAINT HELENA

SAINT HELENA
(dependent territory of the UK)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 410 km2; land area: 410 km2; includes Ascension, Gough
Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha

Comparative area: slightly more than 2.3 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 60 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds

Terrain: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains

Natural resources: fish; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea
turtles and sooty terns; no minerals

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 7%; forest and woodland 3%; other 83%

Environment: very few perennial streams

Note: located 1,920 km west of Angola, about two-thirds of the
way between South America and Africa; Napoleon Bonaparte's place of
exile and burial; the remains were taken to Paris in 1840

PEOPLE
Population: 6,695 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGl migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 46 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Saint Helenian(s); adjective--Saint Helenian

Ethnic divisions: NA

Religion: Anglican majority; also Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist,
and Roman Catholic

Language: English

Literacy: 98% (male 97%, female 98%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1987)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: Saint Helena General Workers' Union, 472 members;
crafts 17%, professional and technical 10%, service 10%, management and
clerical 9%, farming and fishing 9%, transport 6%, sales 5%, and other 34%

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Jamestown

Administrative divisions: 2 dependencies and 1 administrative
area*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 1 January 1967

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday in June), 10 June 1989

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Governor and Commander in Chief Robert
F. STIMSON (since 1987)

Political parties and leaders:
Saint Helena Labor Party, G. A. O. THORNTON;
Saint Helena Progressive Party, leader unknown;
note--both political parties inactive since 1976

Suffrage: NA

Elections:

Legislative Council--last held October 1984 (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total, 12 elected) number of seats by party NA

Communists: probably none

Member of: ICFTU

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the
flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance
from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the
rearing of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few
jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment
overseas.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 1.1% (1986)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $3.2 million; expenditures $2.9 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1984)

Exports: $23.9 thousand (f.o.b., 1984);

commodities--fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts;

partners--South Africa, UK

Imports: $2.4 million (c.i.f., 1984);

commodities--food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed,
building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts;

partners--UK, South Africa

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 9,800 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced,
1,390 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fish

Agriculture: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being
developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $184 million

Currency: Saint Helenian pound (plural--pounds);
1 Saint Helenian pound (LS) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1--0.5171
(January 1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102
(1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Saint Helenian pound is
at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 87 km bitumen-sealed roads, 20 km earth roads on
Saint Helena; 80 km bitumen-sealed on Ascension; 2.7 km bitumen-sealed on
Tristan da Cunha

Ports: Jamestown (Saint Helena), Georgetown (Ascension)

Merchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo ship totaling 6,767 GRT/5,600 DWT

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m on Ascension

Telecommunications: 1,500 radio receivers; stations--1 AM,
no FM, no TV; 550 telephones in automatic network; HF radio links to
Ascension, then into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks;
major coaxial cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at
Ascension; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 269 km2; land area: 269 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 135 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little
seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 22%; permanent crops 17%; meadows and
pastures 3%; forest and woodland 17%; other 41%

Environment: subject to hurricanes (July to October)

Note: located 320 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico

PEOPLE
Population: 40,293 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1991)

Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent

Nationality: noun--Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s); adjective--Kittsian, Nevisian

Religion: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic

Language: English

Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 20,000 (1981)

Organized labor: 6,700

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Basseterre

Administrative divisions: 14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town,
Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland,
Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree,
Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown,
Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island,
Trinity Palmetto Point

Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)

Constitution: 19 September 1983

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL
(since 19 September 1983, previously Governor General of the
Associated State since NA November 1981);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS
(since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the Associated State
since NA February 1980); Deputy Prime Minister Michael Oliver POWELL
(since NA)

Political parties and leaders:
People's Action Movement (PAM), Kennedy SIMMONDS;
Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Lee MOORE;
Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Simeon DANIEL;
Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

House of Assembly--last held 21 March 1989
(next to be held by 21 March 1994);
seats--(14 total, 11 elected) PAM 6, SKNLP 2, NRP 2, CCM 1

Communists: none known

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IMF, INTERPOL, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of
Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim Erstein M. EDWARDS;
Chancery at Suite 540, 2501 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone [phone];

US--none

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black
band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in
yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy has historically depended on the growing and
processing of sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In
recent years, tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed
larger roles.

GDP: $146.6 million, per capita $3,195; real growth rate 2.1% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.0 (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1989)

Budget: revenues $46.6 million; expenditures $49.1 million,
including capital expenditures of $7.1 million (1990)

Exports: $24.6 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--sugar, clothing, electronics, postage stamps;

partners--US 53%, UK 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 5%, OECS 5% (1988)

Imports: $117.2 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels;

partners--US 36%, UK 17%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, Canada 3%,
Japan 3%, OECS 4% (1988)

External debt: $26.4 million (1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 11.8% (1988 est.); accounts for 17% of GDP

Electricity: 15,800 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced,
1,120 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra,
clothing, footwear, beverages

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; cash crop--sugarcane;
subsistence crops--rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not
fully exploited; most food imported

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $10.7
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $57 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 58 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge on Saint Kitts for sugarcane

Highways: 300 km total; 125 km paved, 125 km otherwise improved,
50 km unimproved earth

Ports: Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Charlestown (Nevis)

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections
and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin;
2,400 telephones; stations--2 AM, no FM, 4 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 38,090; NA fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * SAINT LUCIA

SAINT LUCIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 620 km2; land area: 610 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 158 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds;
dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August

Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice),
mineral springs, geothermal potential

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 20%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 13%; other 54%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: subject to hurricanes and volcanic activity;
deforestation; soil erosion

Note: located 700 km southeast of Puerto Rico

PEOPLE
Population: 153,075 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 31 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Saint Lucian(s); adjective--Saint Lucian

Ethnic divisions: African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian
3.2%, Caucasian 0.8%

Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%

Language: English (official), French patois

Literacy: 67% (male 65%, female 69%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1980)

Labor force: 43,800; agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry
and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)

Organized labor: 20% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Castries

Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries,
Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin,
Soufriere, Vieux-Fort

Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK)

Constitution: 22 February 1979

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Acting Governor General Sir Stanislaus Anthony JAMES
(since 10 October 1988);

Head of Government--Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON
(since 3 May 1982)

Political parties and leaders:
United Workers' Party (UWP), John COMPTON;
Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian HUNTE;
Progressive Labor Party (PLP), George ODLUM

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Assembly--last held 6 April 1987
(next to be held by April 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(17 total) UWP 10, SLP 7

Communists: negligible

Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS,
NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS;
Chancery at Suite 309, 2100 M Street NW, Washington DC 30037;
telephone [phone] or 7379; there is a Saint Lucian Consulate
General in New York;

US--none

Flag: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead;
the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

ECONOMY
Overview: Since 1983 the economy has shown an impressive average
annual growth rate of almost 5% because of strong agricultural and
tourist sectors. Saint Lucia also possesses an expanding
industrial base supported by foreign investment in manufacturing and
other activities, such as in data processing. The economy, however,
remains vulnerable because the important agricultural sector is dominated
by banana production. Saint Lucia is subject to periodic droughts and/or
tropical storms, and its protected market agreement with the UK for
bananas may end in 1992.

GDP: $273 million, per capita $1,830; real growth rate 4.0% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 16.0% (1988)

Budget: revenues $131 million; expenditures $149 million,
including capital expenditures of $71 million (FY90 est.)

Exports: $111.9 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--bananas 54%, clothing 17%, cocoa, vegetables, fruits,
coconut oil;

partners--UK 51%, CARICOM 20%, US 19%, other 10%

Imports: $265.9 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--manufactured goods 23%, machinery and transportation
equipment 27%, food and live animals 18%, chemicals 10%, fuels 6%;

partners--US 35%, CARICOM 16%, UK 15%, Japan 7%, Canada 4%, other 23%

External debt: $54.5 million (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Electricity: 32,500 kW capacity; 112 million kWh produced,
730 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages,
corrugated boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing

Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP and 43% of labor force;
crops--bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus fruit, root crops, cocoa;
imports food for the tourist industry

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $118 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal Year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 760 km total; 500 km paved; 260 km otherwise improved

Ports: Castries

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439

Telecommunications: fully automatic telephone system;
9,500 telephones; direct radio relay link with Martinique and
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; interisland troposcatter link to
Barbados; stations--4 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (cable)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 38,050; NA fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
(territorial collectivity of France)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 242 km2; land area: 242 km2; includes eight small
islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups

Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 120 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and
France

Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn
are windy

Terrain: mostly barren rock

Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports

Land use: arable land 13%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 4%; other 83%

Environment: vegetation scanty

Note: located 25 km south of Newfoundland, Canada, in the
North Atlantic Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 6,356 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women);
adjective--French

Ethnic divisions: originally Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Religion: Roman Catholic 98%

Language: French

Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 99%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

Labor force: 2,850 (1988)

Organized labor: Workers' Force trade union

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Type: territorial collectivity of France

Capital: Saint-Pierre

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France);
note--has been under French control since 1763

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

National holiday: National Day, 14 July (Taking of the Bastille)

Executive branch: commissioner of the Republic

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council

Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);

Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Pierre MARQUIE
(since February 1989); President of the General Council Marc PLANTEGENEST
(since NA)

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS);
Union for French Democracy (UDF/CDS), Gerard GRIGNON

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

General Council--last held September-October 1988
(next to be held September 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(19 total) Socialist and other left-wing parties 13, UDF and
right-wing parties 6;

French President--last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held May 1995);
results--(second ballot) Jacques CHIRAC 56%, Francois MITTERRAND 44%;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989
(next to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) PS 1;

French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) UDF/CDS 1

Member of: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as a territorial collectivity of France,
local interests are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their
livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the
coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because
the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over
the years. In March 1989, an agreement between France and Canada set fish
quotas for Saint Pierre's trawlers fishing in Canadian and
Canadian-claimed waters for three years. The agreement settles a
longstanding dispute that had virtually brought fish exports to a halt.
The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from
Canada and France.

GDP: $50 million, per capita $7,900; real growth rate NA% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 8.3% (1988)

Budget: revenues $18.3 million; expenditures $18.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $5.5 million (1989)

Exports: $24.1 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts;

partners--US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal

Imports: $61.6 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery,
building materials;

partners--Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 10,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced,
3,970 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets;
tourism

Agriculture: vegetables, cattle, sheep and pigs for local
consumption; fish catch, 20,500 metric tons (1989)

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $493 million

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991),
5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261
(1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 120 km total; 60 km paved (1985)

Ports: Saint Pierre

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways,
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 3,601 telephones; stations--1 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
radiotelecommunication with most countries in the world; 1
earth station in French domestic system

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 340 km2; land area: 340 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 84 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation;
rainy season (May to November)

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island
of Saint Vincent

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 38%; permanent crops 12%; meadows and
pastures 6%; forest and woodland 41%; other 3%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: subject to hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat

Note: some islands of the Grenadines group are administered by Grenada

PEOPLE
Population: 114,221 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 31 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s);
adjectives--Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent; remainder mixed,
with some white, East Indian, Carib Indian

Religion: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist

Language: English, some French patois

Literacy: 96% (male 96%, female 96%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)

Organized labor: 10% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kingstown

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)

Constitution: 27 October 1979

Legal system: based on English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 Septermber 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
1984)

Political parties and leaders:
New Democratic Party (NDP), James (Son) MITCHELL;
Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP), Vincent BEACH;
United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS;
Movement for National Unity (MNU), Ralph GONSALVES;
National Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Assembly--last held 16 May 1989
(next to be held July 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(21 total; 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators)
NDP 15

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, OAS, OECS,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double
width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged
in a V pattern

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most
important sector of the economy. The services sector, based mostly on
a growing tourist industry, is also important. The economy continues to
have a high unemployment rate of 30% because of an overdependence on the
weather-plagued banana crop as a major export earner. Government progress
toward diversifying into new industries has been relatively unsuccessful.

GDP: $146 million, per capita $1,270; real growth rate 5.9 (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $62 million; expenditures $67 million,
including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90 est.)

Exports: $74.6 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot
starch, tennis racquets, flour;

partners--UK 43%, CARICOM 37%, US 15%

Imports: $127.5 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and
fertilizers, minerals and fuels;

partners--US 42%, CARICOM 19%, UK 15%

External debt: $51.4 million (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1989); accounts for 14% of GDP

Electricity: 16,600 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced,
570 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food processing (sugar, flour), cement, furniture,
clothing, starch, sheet metal, beverage

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and 60% of labor force;
provides bulk of exports; products--bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes,
spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, hogs, goats; small fish catch
used locally

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $11
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $76 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed
rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year (as of January 1991); previously 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: about 1,000 km total; 300 km paved; 400 km improved;
300 km unimproved

Ports: Kingstown

Merchant marine: 242 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,855,061
GRT/2,919,872 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 132 cargo,
11 container, 15 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 9 refrigerated cargo,
13 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker,
4 liquefied gas, 44 bulk, 6 combination bulk, 1 vehicle carrier;
note--China owns 3 ships; a flag of convenience registry

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: islandwide fully automatic telephone system;
6,500 telephones; VHF/UHF interisland links to Barbados and the
Grenadines; new SHF links to Grenada and Saint Lucia;
stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV (cable)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force,
Coast Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 28,339; NA fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * SAN MARINO

SAN MARINO
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 60 km2; land area: 60 km2

Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundary: 39 km with Italy

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Terrain: rugged mountains

Natural resources: building stones

Land use: arable land 17%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 83%

Environment: dominated by the Appenines

Note: landlocked; world's smallest republic; enclave of Italy

PEOPLE
Population: 23,264 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 8 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Sanmarinese (sing. and pl.);
adjective--Sanmarinese

Ethnic divisions: Sanmarinese, Italian

Religion: Roman Catholic

Language: Italian

Literacy: 96% (male 96%, female 95%)
age 14 and over can read and write (1976)

Labor force: about 4,300

Organized labor: Democratic Federation of Sanmarinese Workers
(affiliated with ICFTU) has about 1,800 members; Communist-dominated
General Federation of Labor, 1,400 members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of San Marino

Type: republic

Capital: San Marino

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli,
singular--castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano,
Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle

Independence: 301 AD (by tradition)

Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of
the functions of a constitution

Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law
influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic,
3 September

Executive branch: two captains regent, Congress of State (cabinet);
real executive power is wielded by the secretary of state for foreign
affairs and the secretary of state for internal affairs

Legislative branch: unicameral Great and General Council (Consiglio
Grande e Generale)

Judicial branch: Council of Twelve (Consiglio dei XII)

Leaders:

Co-Chiefs of State--Captain Regent Aldamiro BARTOLINI and
Captain Regent Ottaviano ROSSI (since 1 April 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Gabriele GATTI (since July 1986)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party (DCS), Gabriele GATTI;
San Marino Democratic Progressive Party (PPDS) formerly San Marino
Communist Party (PCS), Gilberto GHIOTTI;
San Marino Socialist Party (PSS), Remy GIACOMINI;
Democratic Movement (MD), Emilio Della BALDA;
San Marino Social Democratic Party (PSDS), Augusto CASALI;
San Marino Republican Party (PRS), Cristoforo BUSCARINI

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Grand and General Council--last held 29 May 1988
(next to be held by May 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(60 total) DCS 27, PCS 18, PSU 8, PSS 7

Communists: about 300 members

Other political parties or pressure groups: political parties
influenced by policies of their counterparts in Italy

Member of: CE, CSCE, ICAO, ICFTU, ILO, IMF (observer), IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: San Marino maintains honorary Consulates General
in Washington and New York, and an honorary Consulate in Detroit;

US--no mission in San Marino, but the Consul General in Florence
(Italy) is accredited to San Marino; Consulate General at Lungarno
Amerigo Vespucci, 38, 50123 Firenze, Italy (mailing address is APO New
York 09019-0007); telephone [phone] through 8279 and 217-605

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue
with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat
of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a
wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

ECONOMY
Overview: More than 2 million tourists visit each year, contributing about 60%
to GDP. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is another important
income producer. The manufacturing sector employs nearly 40% of the labor
force and agriculture less than 4%. The per capita level of output and
standard of living are comparable to northern Italy.

GDP: $393 million, per capita $17,000; real growth rate 2% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1985)

Budget: revenues $99.2 million; expenditures
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1983)

Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy;
commodity trade consists primarily of exchanging building stone, lime,
wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics for a wide
variety of consumer manufactures

Imports: see Exports

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: supplied by Italy

Industries: wine, olive oil, cement, leather, textile, tourist

Agriculture: employs less than 4% of labor force; products--wheat,
grapes, corn, olives, meat, cheese, hides; small numbers of cattle, pigs,
horses; depends on Italy for food imports

Economic aid: NA

Currency: Italian lira (plural--lire);
1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi; also mints its own coins

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,134.4 (January
1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987),
1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 104 km

Telecommunications: automatic telephone system; 11,700 telephones;
stations--no AM, 20 FM, no TV; radio relay and cable links into Italian
networks; no communication satellite facilities

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: public security or police force of less than 50 people

Manpower availability: all fit men ages 16-60 constitute a militia
that can serve as an army

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 960 km2; land area: 960 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 209 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 20%; meadows and
pastures 1%; forest and woodland 75%; other 3%

Environment: deforestation; soil erosion

Note: located south of Nigeria and west of Gabon near the Equator
in the North Atlantic Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 128,499 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Sao Tomean(s); adjective--Sao Tomean

Ethnic divisions: mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan
slaves), forros (descendents of freed slaves), servicais (contract
laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of
servicais born on the islands), and Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Religion: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day
Adventist

Language: Portuguese (official)

Literacy: 57% (male 73%, female 42%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force: 21,096 (1981); most of population engaged in
subsistence agriculture and fishing; labor shortages on plantations and
of skilled workers; 56% of population of working age (1983)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

Type: republic

Capital: Sao Tome

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Principe, Sao Tome

Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Constitution: 5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly
(Assembleia Popular Nacional)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO
(since 21 January 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR),
Prime Minister Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO, secretary general;
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP),
Carlos da GRACIA;
Christian Democratic Front (FDC), Alphonse Dos SANTOS;
Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO), leader NA; other small parties

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 3 March 1991
(next to be held March 1996);
results--Miguel TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's
first multiparty presidential election;

National People's Assembly--last held 20 January 1991
(next to be held January 1996);
results--PCD-GR 54.4%, MLSTP 30.5%, CODO 5.2%, FDC 1.5%, other 8.3%;
seats--(55 total) PCD-GR 33, MLSTP 21, CODO 1; note--this was the first
National Assembly multiparty election in Sao Tome

Member of: ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO;
Chancery (temporary) at 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1504, New York, NY
10017; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Keith L. WAUCHOPE in Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and
Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands

Flag: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width),
and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side
in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on
the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the
country gained independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however,
cocoa production has gradually deteriorated because of drought and
mismanagement, so that by 1987 output had fallen to less than 50% of
its former levels. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for export has
created a serious balance-of-payments problem. Production of less
important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels, has
also declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that ofexports by
a ratio of 4 to 1. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense of
other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food needs.
It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods. Over the years,
Sao Tome has been unable to service its external debt, which amounts to
roughly 80% of export earnings. Considerable potential exists for
development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps
to expand facilities in recent years. The government also implemented
a Five-Year Plan covering 1986-90 to restructure the economy and
reschedule external debt service payments in cooperation with the
International Development Association and Western lenders.

GDP: $46.0 million, per capita $400; real growth rate 1.5% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 36% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $10.2 million; expenditures $36.8 million,
including capital expenditures of $22.5 million (1989)

Exports: $5.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--cocoa 85%, copra, coffee, palm oil;

partners--FRG, GDR, Netherlands, China

Imports: $26.8 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--machinery and electrical equipment 54%, food
products 23%, other 23%;

partners--Portugal, GDR, Angola, China

External debt: $129 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7.1% (1986)

Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 12 million kWh produced,
100 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries,
shrimp processing

Agriculture: dominant sector of economy, primary source of exports;
cash crops--cocoa (85%), coconuts, palm kernels, coffee;
food products--bananas, papaya, beans, poultry, fish;
not self-sufficient in food grain and meat

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $8 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
$59 million

Currency: dobra (plural--dobras); 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1--122.48 (December 1988),
72.827 (1987), 36.993 (1986), 41.195 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 300 km (two-thirds are paved); roads on Principe are mostly unpaved
and in need of repair

Ports: Sao Tome, Santo Antonio

Civil air: 8 major transport aircraft

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: minimal system; 2,200 telephones; stations--1
AM, 2 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, National Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 28,984; 15,287 fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 1.6% of GDP (1980)



  * SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,149,690 km2; land area: 2,149,690 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than one-fourth the size of US

Land boundaries: 4,410 km total; Iraq 488 km, Iraq-Saudi Arabia
Neutral Zone 198 km, Jordan 742 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar
40 km, UAE 586 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Coastline: 2,510 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 18 nm;

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: no defined boundaries with Yemen and UAE;
shares Neutral Zone with Iraq--in December 1981, Iraq and Saudi Arabia
signed a boundary agreement that divides the zone between them, but the
agreement must be ratified before it becomes effective; Kuwaiti
ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands is disputed by
Saudi Arabia

Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature

Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 39%; forest and woodland 1%; other 59%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: no perennial rivers or permanent water bodies;
developing extensive coastal seawater desalination facilities;
desertification

Note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide
great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf
and Suez Canal

PEOPLE
Population: 17,869,558 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991);
note--the population figure is based on growth since the last official
Saudi census of 1974 that reported a total of 7 million persons and
included foreign workers; estimates from other sources may be 15-30% lower

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 12 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 69 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 68 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Saudi(s); adjective--Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Religion: Muslim 100%

Language: Arabic

Literacy: 62% (male 73%, female 48%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,200,000; about 60% are foreign workers; government 34%,
industry and oil 28%, services 22%, and agriculture 16%

Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Type: monarchy

Capital: Riyadh

Administrative divisions: 14 emirates (imarat,
singular--imarah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah,
Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Al Qurayyat, Ar Riyad, Ash
Sharqiyah, Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)

Constitution: none; governed according to Sharia (Islamic law)

Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Executive branch: monarch and prime minister, crown prince and
deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: none

Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--King and Prime Minister
FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982);
Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
(half-brother to the King, appointed heir to the throne 13 June 1982)

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: negligible

Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,  NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador BANDAR Bin Sultan; Chancery
at 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202)
342-3800; there are Saudi Arabian Consulates General in Houston, Los
Angeles, and New York;

US--Ambassador Charles W. FREEMAN, Jr.; Embassy at Collector Road
M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh (mailing address is P. O. Box 9041, Riyadh
11143, or APO New York 09038); telephone  966  (1) 488-3800; there are US
Consulates General in Dhahran and Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated
as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a
white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the
traditional color of Islam

ECONOMY
Overview: The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 70% of budget revenues,
33% of GDP, and almost all export earnings. Saudi Arabia has the largest
reserves of petroleum in the world, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum,
plays a leading role in OPEC, and invests substantial amounts abroad.

GDP: $79 billion, per capita $4,800; real growth rate 0.5% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 0% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $31.5 billion; expenditures $38.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $6.9 billion (1990)

Exports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum and petroleum products 85%;

partners--US 22%, Japan 20%, Singapore 7%, France 5%

Imports: $20.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--manufactured goods, transportation equipment,
construction materials, processed food products;

partners--UK 17%, US 15%, Japan 12%, FRG 6%

External debt: $18.9 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 1.1% (1989 est.);
accounts for 37% of GDP, including petroleum

Electricity: 25,205,000 kW capacity; 50,500 million kWh produced,
2,950 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic
petrochemicals, cement, small steel-rolling mill, construction,
fertilizer, plastic

Agriculture: accounts for about 10% of GDP, 16% of labor force;
fastest growing economic sector; subsidized by government;
products--wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus fruit, mutton,
chickens, eggs, milk; approaching self-sufficiency in food

Economic aid: donor--pledged $64.7 billion in bilateral aid (1979-89)

Currency: Saudi riyal (plural--riyals); 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalas

Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1--3.7450
(fixed rate since late 1986), 3.7033 (1986), 3.6221 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 886 km 1.435-meter standard gauge

Highways: 74,000 km total; 35,000 km bituminous, 39,000 km gravel
and improved earth

Pipelines: 6,400 km crude oil; 150 km refined products; 2,200 km
natural gas, includes 1,600 km of natural gas liquids

Ports: Jiddah, Ad Dammam, Ras Tanura, Jizan, Al Jubayl,
Yanbu al Bahr, Yanbu al Sinaiyah

Merchant marine: 84 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,492,174
GRT/2,436,635 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 6 short-sea passenger,
14 cargo, 12 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 container, 6 refrigerated cargo, 5
livestock carrier, 26 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 8
chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 1 specialized tanker, 1 bulk

Civil air: 182 major transport aircraft available

Airports: 207 total, 188 usable; 69 with permanent-surface runways;
13 with runways over 3,659 m; 38 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 103 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good system with extensive microwave and
coaxial cable systems; 1,624,000 telephones; stations--21 AM, 16 FM,
97 TV; radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and
Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait; submarine cable to Djibouti and Egypt;
earth stations--3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT,
1 ARABSAT, 1 INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National
Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Force, Special Security Force, Public
Security Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,663,217; 3,724,610 fit for
military service; 165,167 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $13.9 billion, 16.9% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * SENEGAL

SENEGAL
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 196,190 km2; land area: 192,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries: 2,640 km total; The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km,
Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

Coastline: 531 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: short section of the boundary with The Gambia is
indefinite; the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rendered its
decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary in favor
of Senegal--that decision has been rejected by Guinea-Bissau;
boundary with Mauritania

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (December to April) has
strong southeast winds; dry season (May to November) dominated by hot,
dry harmattan wind

Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore

Land use: arable land 27%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 30%;
forest and woodland 31%; other 12%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: lowlands seasonally flooded; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Note: The Gambia is almost an enclave

PEOPLE
Population: 7,952,657 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 86 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Senegalese (sing. and pl.);
adjective--Senegalese

Ethnic divisions: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur
9%, Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%

Religion: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2%
(mostly Roman Catholic)

Language: French (official); Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo

Literacy: 38% (male 52%, female 25%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,509,000; 77% subsistence agricultural workers;
175,000 wage earners--private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60%;
52% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: majority of wage-labor force represented by unions;
however, dues-paying membership very limited; major confederation is
National Confederation of Senegalese Labor (CNTS), an affiliate of
governing party

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Senegal

Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital: Dakar

Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions,
singular--region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga,
Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Independence: 4 April 1960 (from France); The Gambia and Senegal
signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982) that
called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as
Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989

Constitution: 3 March 1963, last revised in 1984

Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in Supreme Court, which also audits the government's
accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Socialist Party (PS), President Abdou DIOUF;
Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), Abdoulaye WADE;
13 other small uninfluential parties

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

President--last held 28 February 1988
(next to be held February 1993);
results--Abdou DIOUF (PS) 73%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 26%, other 1%;

National Assembly--last held 28 February 1988 (next to be
held February 1993);
results--PS 71%, PDS 25%, other 4%;
seats--(120 total) PS 103, PDS 17

Communists: small number of Communists and sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: students, teachers, labor,
Muslim Brotherhoods

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM,
OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WADB, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ibra Deguene KA; Chancery at 2112
Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone] or 0541;

US--Ambassador George E. MOOSE; Embassy on Avenue Jean XXIII at the
corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar (mailing address is B. P. 49, Dakar);
telephone  [phone] or 23-34-24

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and
red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: The agricultural sector accounts for about 20% of GDP and
provides employment for about 75% of the labor force. About 40% of the
total cultivated land is used to grow peanuts, an important export crop.
The principal economic resource is fishing, which brought in about $200
million or about 25% of total foreign exchange earnings in 1987. Mining
is dominated by the extraction of phosphate, but production has faltered
because of reduced worldwide demand for fertilizers in recent years. Over
the past 10 years tourism has become increasingly important to the economy.

GDP: $5.0 billion, per capita $615; real growth rate 3.6% (1990)


Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 3.5% (1987)

Budget: revenues $921 million; expenditures $1,024 million;
including capital expenditures of $14 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $814 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--manufactures 30%, fish products 27%, peanuts 11%,
petroleum products 11%, phosphates 10%;

partners--France, other EC, Mali, Ivory Coast, India

Imports: $1.050 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--semimanufactures 30%, food 27%, durable consumer
goods 17%, petroleum 12%, capital goods 14%;

partners--France, other EC, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Algeria, China,
Japan

External debt: $2.9 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1989); accounts for
15% of GDP

Electricity: 210,000 kW capacity; 760 million kWh produced,
100 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fishing, agricultural processing, phosphate mining,
petroleum refining, building materials

Agriculture: including fishing, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 75%
of labor force; major products--peanuts (cash crop), millet, corn, sorghum,
rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; estimated two-thirds self-sufficient
in food; fish catch of 299,000 metric tons in 1987

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $551 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88),
$4.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $589 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $295 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,034 km 1.000-meter gauge; all single track except
70 km double track Dakar to Thies

Highways: 14,000 km total; 3,770 km paved, 10,230 km laterite or
improved earth

Inland waterways: 900 km total; 785 km on the Senegal, 115 km
on the Saloum

Ports: Dakar, Kaolack

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 9,263
GRT/15,167 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 bulk

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 25 total, 20 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: above-average urban system, using radio relay
and cable; 40,200 telephones; stations--8 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine
cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie;
Surete Nationale

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,749,540; 913,806 fit for
military service; 91,607 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $100 million, 2% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * SEYCHELLES

SEYCHELLES
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 455 km2; land area: 455 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 491 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims Tromelin Island

Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon
(late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky,
hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops 18%; meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 18%; other 60%

Environment: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are
rare; short droughts possible; no fresh water, catchments collect rain;
40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

Note: located north-northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 68,932 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 75 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Seychellois (sing. and pl.);
adjective--Seychelles

Ethnic divisions: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans,
Europeans)

Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%

Language: English and French (official); Creole

Literacy: 58% (male 56%, female 60%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1971)

Labor force: 27,700; industry and commerce 31%, services 21%,
government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985);
57% of population of working age (1983)

Organized labor: three major trade unions

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Seychelles

Type: republic

Capital: Victoria

Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts;
Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale,
Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade,
Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island),
La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance,
Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Constitution: 5 June 1979

Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law,
and customary law

National holiday: Liberation Day (anniversary of coup), 5 June (1977)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President France Albert
RENE (since 5 June 1977)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Seychelles People's
Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE

Suffrage: universal at age 17

Elections:

President--last held 9-11 June 1989 (next to be held June 1994);
results--President France Albert RENE reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 5 December 1987
(next to be held December 1992);
results--SPPF is the only party;
seats--(25 total, 23 elected) SPPF 23

Communists: negligible, although some Cabinet ministers espouse
pro-Soviet line

Other political or pressure groups: trade unions, Roman Catholic Church

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Second Secretary, Charge d'Affaires
ad interim Marc R. MARENGO; Chancery (temporary) at 820 Second Avenue,
Suite 201, New York, NY 10017; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador James B. MORAN; Embassy at 4th Floor, Victoria
House, Victoria (mailing address is Box 148, Victoria, and Victoria
House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles, or APO New York 09030-0006);
telephone [phone]

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green;
the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest

ECONOMY
Overview: In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist
industry employs about 30% of the labor force and provides the main
source of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has
encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other
services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the high
dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing,
and small-scale manufacturing.

GDP: $283 million, per capita $4,100; real growth rate 7.0% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 9% (1987)

Budget: revenues $180 million; expenditures $202 million, including
capital expenditures of $32 (1989)

Exports: $40 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports);

partners--France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987)

Imports: $186 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages,
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products;

partners--UK 20%, France 14%, South Africa 13%, PDRY 13%,
Singapore 8%, Japan 6% (1987)

External debt: $171 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1987); accounts for 10% of GDP

Electricity: 25,000 kW capacity; 67 million kWh produced,
960 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing,
coir rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage

Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming;
cash crops--coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla; other products--sweet potatoes,
cassava, bananas; broiler chickens; large share of food needs imported;
expansion of tuna fishing under way

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1978-88), $310 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $60 million

Currency: Seychelles rupee (plural--rupees);
1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SR) per US$1--5.0878 (January 1991),
5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989), 5.3836 (1988), 5.6000 (1987), 6.1768 (1986),
7.1343 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 260 km total; 160 km bituminous, 100 km crushed stone or earth

Ports: Victoria

Merchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 14 total, 14 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: direct radio communications with adjacent
islands and African coastal countries; 13,000 telephones; stations--2 AM,
no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station; USAF tracking station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Protection Unit,
Police Force, Militia

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 17,399; 8,933 fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $12 million, 6% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * SIERRA LEONE

SIERRA LEONE
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 71,740 km2; land area: 71,620 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries: 958 km total; Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Coastline: 402 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to
December); winter dry season (December to April)

Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country,
upland plateau, mountains in east

Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use: arable land 25%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 31%;
forest and woodland 29%; other 13%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: extensive mangrove swamps hinder access to sea;
deforestation; soil degradation

PEOPLE
Population: 4,274,543 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 20 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 151 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 42 years male, 48 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Sierra Leonean(s); adjective--Sierra Leonean

Ethnic divisions: native African 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%);
Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%; 13 tribes

Religion: Muslim 30%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%,
other or none 30%

Language: English (official); regular use limited to literate
minority; principal vernaculars are Mende in south and Temne in north;
Krio is the language of the resettled ex-slave population of the Freetown
area and is lingua franca

Literacy: 21% (male 31%, female 11%)
age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,369,000 (est.); agriculture 65%, industry 19%,
services 16% (1981); only about 65,000 earn wages (1985);
55% of population of working age

Organized labor: 35% of wage earners

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Sierra Leone

Type: republic under presidential regime

Capital: Freetown

Administrative divisions: 4 provinces; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western

Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK)

Constitution: 14 June 1978

Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to
local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Republic Day, 27 April (1961)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. Joseph
Saidu MOMOH (since 28 November 1985); First Vice President Abu Bakar
KAMARA (since 4 April 1987); Second Vice President Salia JUSU-SHERIFF
(since 4 April 1987)

Political parties and leaders: only party--All People's Congress
(APC), Gen. Joseph Saidu MOMOH; note--constitutional referendum to
adopt a multiparty system is scheduled for June 1991

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 1 October 1985 (next to be held October 1992);
results--Gen. Joseph Saidu MOMOH was elected without opposition;

House of Representatives--last held 30 May 1986 (next to be
held February 1992);
results--APC is the only party;
seats--(127 total, 105 elected) APC 105

Communists: no party, although there are a few Communists and a
slightly larger number of sympathizers

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador George CAREW; Chancery at
1701 19th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Johnny YOUNG; Embassy at the corner of Walpole and
Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown; telephone  232  (22) 26481

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white,
and light blue

ECONOMY
Overview: The economic and social infrastructure is not well
developed. Subsistence agriculture dominates the economy, generating
about one-third of GDP and employing about two-thirds of the working
population. Manufacturing accounts for less than 10% of GDP, consisting
mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for
the domestic market. Diamond mining provides an important source of hard
currency. The economy suffers from high unemployment, rising inflation,
large trade deficits, and a growing dependency on foreign assistance.
The government in 1990 was attempting to get the budget deficit under
control and, in general, to bring economic policy in line with the
recommendations of the IMF and the World Bank.

GDP: $1,302 million, per capita $325; real growth rate 2.8% (FY90)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): over 100% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $134 million; expenditures $187 million,
including capital expenditures of $32 million (FY91 est.)

Exports: $138 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--rutile 50%, bauxite 17%, cocoa 11%, diamonds 3%, coffee 3%;

partners--US, UK, Belgium, FRG, other Western Europe

Imports: $146 million (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--capital goods 40%, food 32%, petroleum 12%,
consumer goods 7%, light industrial goods;

partners--US, EC, Japan, China, Nigeria

External debt: $572 million (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 19% (FY88 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP

Electricity: 83,000 kW capacity; 180 million kWh produced,
45 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile), small-scale manufacturing
(beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear), petroleum refinery

Agriculture: accounts for over 30% of GDP and two-thirds of the
labor force; largely subsistence farming; cash crops--coffee, cocoa, palm
kernels; harvests of food staple rice meets 80% of domestic needs;
annual fish catch averages 53,000 metric tons

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $161
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $698 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $18 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $101 million

Currency: leone (plural--leones); 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: leones per US$1--196.0784 (January 1991),
144.9275 (1990), 58.1395 (1989), 31.2500 (1988), 30.7692 (1987),
8.3963 (1986), 4.7304 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 84 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge mineral line is used on a
limited basis because the mine at Marampa is closed

Highways: 7,400 km total; 1,150 km bituminous, 490 km laterite
(some gravel), remainder improved earth

Inland waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable year round

Ports: Freetown, Pepel

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 12 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: marginal telephone and telegraph service;
national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present; 23,650
telephones; stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 939,214; 453,877 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $6 million, 0.7% of GDP (1988 est.)



  * SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 632.6 km2; land area: 622.6 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 193 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: not specific;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry
seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)

Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water
catchment area and nature preserve

Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports

Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 5%; other 84%

Environment: mostly urban and industrialized

Note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

PEOPLE
Population: 2,756,330 (July 1991), growth rate 1.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 77 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Singaporean(s), adjective--Singapore

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%

Religion: majority of Chinese are Buddhists or atheists; Malays
are nearly all Muslim (minorities include Christians, Hindus, Sikhs,
Taoists, Confucianists)

Language: Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and English (all official);
Malay (national)

Literacy: 88% (male 93%, female 84%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,280,000; financial, business, and other services
35.3%, manufacturing 29.0%, commerce 22.8%, construction 6.6%,
other 6.3% (1989)

Organized labor: 210,000; 16.1% of labor force (1989)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Singapore

Type: republic within Commonwealth

Capital: Singapore

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)

Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence
State of Singapore Constitution

Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)

Executive branch: president, prime minister,
two deputy prime ministers, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President WEE Kim Wee (since 3 September 1985);

Head of Government--Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November
1990); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990);
Deputy Prime Minister ONG Teng Cheong (since 2 January 1985)

Political parties and leaders:

government--People's Action Party (PAP), LEE Kuan Yew, secretary general;

opposition--Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM;
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHIAM See Tong;
National Solidarity Party (NSP), SOON Kia Seng;
United People's Front (UPF), Harbans SINGH;
Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 20

Elections:

President--last held 31 August 1989 (next to be held August 1993);
results--President WEE Kim Wee was reelected by Parliament without
opposition;

Parliament--last held 3 September 1988
(next to be held 31 August 1991);
results--PAP 61.8%, WP 18.4%, SDP 11.5%, NSP 3.7%, UPF 1.3%, other 3.3%;
seats--(81 total) PAP 80, SDP 1; note--BS has 1 nonvoting seat

Communists: 200-500; Barisan Sosialis infiltrated by Communists;
note--Communist party illegal

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador S. R. NATHAN;
Chancery at 1824 R Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202)
667-7555;

US--Ambassador Robert D. ORR; Embassy at 30 Hill Street,
Singapore 0617 (mailing address is FPO San Francisco 96699);
telephone [phone]

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near
the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent
(closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white
five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

ECONOMY
Overview: Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong
service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading
links derived from its entrepot history. During the 1970s and early
1980s, the economy expanded rapidly, achieving an average annual growth
rate of 9%. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia. In 1985 the
economy registered its first drop in 20 years and achieved less than a 2%
increase in 1986. Recovery was strong based on rising demand for
Singapore's products in OECD countries and improved competitiveness of
domestic manufactures. The economy grew 8.3% in 1990. Singapore's
position as a major oil refining and services center helped it weather
the Persian Gulf crisis.

GDP: $34.6 billion, per capita $12,700; real growth rate 8.3% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1990)

Budget: revenues $8.0 billion; expenditures $7.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $2.4 billion (FY90 est.)

Exports: $52.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--includes transshipments to Malaysia--petroleum
products, rubber, electronics, manufactured goods;

partners--US 21%, EC 14%, Malaysia 13%, Japan 9%

Imports: $60.9 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--includes transshipments from Malaysia--capital
equipment, petroleum, chemicals, manufactured goods, foodstuffs;

partners--Japan 20%, US 16%, Malaysia 14%, EC 13%

External debt: $3.9 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1990 est.);
accounts for 29% of GDP (1989)

Electricity: 4,000,000 kW capacity; 14,400 million kWh produced,
5,300 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling
equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and
beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services, biotechnology

Agriculture: occupies a position of minor importance in the economy;
self-sufficient in poultry and eggs; must import much of other food;
major crops--rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
$882 million

Currency: Singapore dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Singapore dollars per US$1--1.7454 (January 1991),
1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987),
2.1774 (1986), 2.2002 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 38 km of 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 2,597 km total (1984)

Ports: Singapore

Merchant marine: 435 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,259,085
GRT/13,553,438 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 121 cargo, 66 container,
6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 18 vehicle carrier,
1 livestock carrier, 118 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5
chemical tanker, 3 combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 7 liquefied
gas, 75 bulk, 2 combination bulk; note--many Singapore flag ships are
foreign owned

Civil air: 38 major transport aircraft (est.)

Airports: 9 total, 9 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good domestic facilities; good international
service; good radio and television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000
telephones; stations--13 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to
Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines;
satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 842,721; 625,546 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $1.7 billion, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * SOLOMON ISLANDS

SOLOMON ISLANDS
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 28,450 km2; land area: 27,540 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 5,313 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 1%;
forest and woodland 93%; other 4%

Environment: subject to typhoons, which are rarely destructive;
geologically active region with frequent earth tremors

Note: located just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 347,115 (July 1991), growth rate 3.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 40 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Solomon Islander(s); adjective--Solomon Islander

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 93.0%, Polynesian 4.0%, Micronesian
1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%

Religion: almost all at least nominally Christian; Anglican 34%,
Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other Protestant 5%

Language: 120 indigenous languages; Melanesian pidgin in much of
the country is lingua franca; English spoken by 1-2% of population

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 23,448 economically active; agriculture, forestry, and
fishing 32.4%; services 25%; construction, manufacturing, and mining
7.0%; commerce, transport, and finance 4.7% (1984)

Organized labor: NA, but most of the cash-economy workers have
trade union representation

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: independent parliamentary state within Commonwealth

Capital: Honiara

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western

Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK; formerly British Solomon Islands)

Constitution: 7 July 1978

Legal system: common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989,
previously acted as governor general since 7 July 1988);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 28
March 1989);
Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since NA October 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
People's Alliance Party (PAP);
United Party (UP), Sir Peter KENILOREA;
Solomon Islands Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU;
Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI;
Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

National Parliament--last held 22 February 1989
(next to be held February 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(38 total) PAP 13, UP 6, NFP 4, SILP 4, LP 2, independents 9

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant) resides in Honiara
(Solomon Islands);

US--the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to the
Solomon Islands; Embassy at Mud Alley, Honiara (mailing address is
American Embassy, P. O. Box 561, Honiara); telephone [phone]

Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower
hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five
white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower
triangle is green

ECONOMY
Overview: About 90% of the population depend on subsistence
agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood.
Agriculture, fishing, and forestry contribute about 75% to GDP, with the
fishing and forestry sectors being important export earners. The service
sector contributes about 25% to GDP. Most manufactured goods and
petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped
mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. The economy
suffered from a severe cyclone in mid-1986 that caused widespread damage
to the infrastructure.

GDP: $156 million, per capita $500 (1988); real growth rate 5.0% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.8% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $44 million; expenditures $45 million,
including capital expenditures of $22 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--fish 46%, timber 31%, copra 5%, palm oil 5%;

partners--Japan 51%, UK 12%, Thailand 9%, Netherlands 8%, Australia 2%,
US 2% (1985)

Imports: $94 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--plant and machinery 30%, fuel 19%, food 16%;

partners--Japan 36%, US 23%, Singapore 9%, UK 9%, NZ 9%, Australia
4%, Hong Kong 4%, China 3% (1985)

External debt: $128 million (1988 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1987); accounts for 5% of GDP

Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 39 million kWh produced,
115 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: copra, fish (tuna)

Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for about
75% of GDP; mostly subsistence farming; cash crops--cocoa, beans,
coconuts, palm kernels, timber; other products--rice, potatoes,
vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs; not self-sufficient in food grains;
90% of the total fish catch of 44,500 metric tons was exported (1988)

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1985), $16.1 million

Currency: Solomon Islands dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1--2.5934
(January 1991), 2.5288 (1990), 2.2932 (1989), 2.0825 (1988), 2.0033
(1987), 1.7415 (1986), 1.4808 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: about 2,100 km total (1982); 30 km sealed, 290 km gravel,
980 km earth, 800 private logging and plantation roads of varied
construction

Ports: Honiara, Ringi Cove

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 31 total, 29 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; stations--4 AM, no FM, no TV;
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 77,169; NA fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * SOMALIA

SOMALIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 637,660 km2; land area: 627,340 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: 2,340 km total; Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia
1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline: 3,025 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional
Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden;
possible claims to Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on
unification of ethnic Somalis

Climate: desert; northeast monsoon (December to February),
cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid
periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Natural resources: uranium, and largely unexploited reserves
of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 46%; forest and woodland 14%; other 38%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern
plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification

Note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern
approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

PEOPLE
Population: 6,709,161 (July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 116 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 56 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Somali(s); adjective--Somali

Ethnic divisions: Somali 85%, rest mainly Bantu; Arabs 30,000,
Europeans 3,000, Asians 800

Religion: almost entirely Sunni Muslim

Language: Somali (official); Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy: 24% (male 36%, female 14%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,200,000; very few are skilled laborers; pastoral
nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and
other 30%; 53% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: General Federation of Somali Trade Unions is
controlled by the government

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Somali Democratic Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Mogadishu

Administrative divisions: 16 regions (plural--NA,
singular--gobolka); Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,
Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha
Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland,
which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September
1979

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 21 October (1969)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Interim President ALI Mahdi Mohamed (since 27
January 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib
(since 27 January 1991); Deputy Prime Minister MOHAMED Abshir Mussa
(since 27 January 1991)

Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC)
ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; note--formerly the only
party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by
former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed
Siad BARRE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 23 December 1986
(next to be held NA);
results--President Siad was reelected without opposition;

People's Assembly--last held 31 December 1984
(next to be held NA); results--SRSP was the only party;
seats--(177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171;
note--the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen.
Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government
has promised that a democratically elected government will be established

Communists: probably some Communist sympathizers in the government hierarchy

Member of: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador ABDIKARIM Ali Omar; Chancery
at Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone [phone]; there is a Somali Consulate General in
New York;

US--Ambassador James K. BISHOP; Embassy at K-7, AFGOI Road,
Mogadishu (mailing address is P. O. Box 574, Mogadishu);
telephone  252  (01) 39971; note--US Embassy evacuated and
closed indefinitely in January 1991

Flag: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center;
design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN
trust territory)

ECONOMY
Overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed countries,
Somalia has few resources. Agriculture is the most important sector of
the economy, with the livestock sector accounting for about 40% of GDP
and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are
dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half
of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs
about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar,
sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial
sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts
for less than 10% of GDP. Serious economic problems facing the nation are
the external debt of $1.9 billion and double-digit inflation.

GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $210; real growth rate - 1.4% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 210% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $190 million; expenditures $195 million, including
capital expenditures of $111 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $58.0 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins;

partners--US 0.5%, Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)

Imports: $249 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials;

partners--US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)

External debt: $1.9 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate - 5.0% (1988); accounts for 5% of GDP

Electricity: 72,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced,
7 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining,
textiles, petroleum refining

Agriculture: dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle,
sheep, goats); crops--bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not
self-sufficient in food; fishing potential largely unexploited

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $3.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million

Currency: Somali shilling (plural--shillings);
1 Somali shilling (So.Sh.) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1--3,800.00
(December 1990), 490.7 (1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00
(1986), 39.49 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 15,215 km total; including 2,335 km bituminous surface,
2,880 km gravel, and 10,000 km improved earth or stabilized soil (1983)

Pipelines: 15 km crude oil

Ports: Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913
GRT/9,457 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 61 total, 46 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: minimal telephone and telegraph service; radio
relay and troposcatter system centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns;
6,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
earth station; scheduled to receive an ARABSAT station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Somali National Army (including Navy, Air Force, and
Air Defense Force), National Police Force, National Security Service

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,601,690; 902,732 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1,221,040 km2; land area: 1,221,040 km2; includes
Walvis Bay, Marion Island, and Prince Edward Island

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 4,973 km total; Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km,
Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 1,078 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Coastline: 2,881 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay exclave and 12 offshore
islands administered by South Africa

Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nights

Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore,
manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum,
copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and
pastures 65%; forest and woodland 3%; other 21%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires
extensive water conservation and control measures

Note: Walvis Bay is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia;
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely
surrounds Swaziland

PEOPLE
Population: 40,600,518 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991);
includes the 10 so-called homelands, which are not recognized by the US;

four independent homelands--Bophuthatswana 2,419,515, growth rate
2.83%; Ciskei 1,056,552, growth rate 2.96%; Transkei 4,553,994, growth
rate 4.16%; Venda 691,273, growth rate 3.83%;

six other homelands--Gazankulu 772,532, growth rate 3.98%; Kangwane
576,573, growth rate 3.62%; KwaNdebele 360,582, growth rate 3.38%;
KwaZulu 5,546,082, growth rate 3.60%; Lebowa 2,812,630, growth rate
3.91%; QwaQwa 277,957, growth rate 3.60%

Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 51 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--South African(s); adjective--South African

Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%

Religion: most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks are Christian;
about 60% of Indians are Hindu; Muslim 20%

Language: Afrikaans, English (both official); many vernacular
languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, North and South Sotho, Tswana

Literacy: 76% (male 78%, female 75%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 11,000,000 economically active (1989); services 34%,
agriculture 30%, industry and commerce 29%, mining 7% (1985)

Organized labor: about 17% of total labor force is unionized;
African unions represent 15% of black labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of South Africa; abbreviated RSA

Type: republic

Capital: administrative, Pretoria; legislative, Cape Town;
judicial, Bloemfontein

Administrative divisions: 4 provinces; Cape, Natal, Orange Free
State, Transvaal; there are 10 homelands not recognized by the US--
4 independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, Venda) and 6 other
(Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu, Lebowa, QwaQwa)

Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)

Constitution: 3 September 1984

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Republic Day, 31 May (1910)

Executive branch: state president, Executive Council (cabinet),
Ministers' Councils (from the three houses of Parliament)

Legislative branch: tricameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of
the House of Assembly (Volksraad; whites), House of Representatives
(Raad van Verteenwoordigers; Coloreds), and House of Delegates
(Raad van Afgevaardigdes; Indians)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--State President
Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 13 September 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
white political parties and leaders--National Party (NP), Frederik
W. DE KLERK (majority party);
Conservative Party (CP), Dr. Andries P. TREURNICHT (official opposition
party);
Herstigte National Party (HNP), Jaap MARAIS;
Democratic Party (DP), Zach DE BEER;

Colored political parties and leaders--Labor Party (LP), Allan
HENDRICKSE (majority party);
Democratic Reform Party (DRP), Carter EBRAHIM;
United Democratic Party (UDP), Jac RABIE;
Freedom Party;

Indian political parties and leaders--Solidarity, J. N. REDDY
(majority party);
National People's Party (NPP), Amichand RAJBANSI;
Merit People's Party

Suffrage: universal at age 18, but voting rights are racially based

Elections:

House of Assembly (whites)--last held 6 September 1989
(next to be held by March 1995);
results--NP 58%, CP 23%, DP 19%;
seats--(178 total, 166 elected) NP 103, CP 41, DP 34;

House of Representatives (Coloreds)--last held 6 September 1989
(next to be held by September 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(85 total, 80 elected) LP 69, DRP 5, UDP 3, Freedom Party 1,
independents 2;

House of Delegates (Indians)--last held 6 September 1989
(next to be held by September 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(45 total, 40 elected) Solidarity 16, NPP 9, Merit People's
Party 3, United Party 2, Democratic Party 2, People's Party 1,
National Federal Party 1, independents 6

Communists: small Communist party legalized in 1990 after
30-year ban, Daniel TLOOME, chairman, and Joe SLOVO, general secretary

Other political or pressure groups:
African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president;
Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), Clarence MAKWETU, president

Member of: BIS, CCC, ECA, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFC,
IMF, INTELSAT, ISO, ITU, LORCS, SACU, UN, UNCTAD, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO (suspended)

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Harry SCHWARZ;
Chancery at 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone]; there are South African Consulates General
in Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, Houston, and New York;

US--Ambassador William L. SWING; Embassy at Thibault House,
225 Pretorius Street, Pretoria; telephone  27  (12) 28-4266; there are
US Consulates General in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg

Flag: actually four flags in one--three miniature flags reproduced
in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands
which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue;
the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free
State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a
horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

ECONOMY
Overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African
population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational
standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the
remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third
World, including unemployment, lack of job skills, and barriers to
movement into higher-paying fields. Inputs and outputs thus do not move
smoothly into the most productive employments, and the effectiveness
of the market is further lowered by international constraints on
dealings with South Africa. The main strength of the economy lies in
its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports.
Average growth of less than 2% in output in recent years falls far short
of the 5-6% level needed to cut into the high unemployment rate.

GDP: $101.7 billion, per capita $2,600; real growth rate - 0.9% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 22% (1989); blacks 25-30%, up to 50% in homelands
(1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $28.9 billion; expenditures $32.8 billion,
including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (FY92 est.)

Exports: $23.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--gold 39%, minerals and metals 33%, food 5%, chemicals 3%;

partners--Italy, Japan, US, FRG, UK, other EC, Hong Kong

Imports: $17 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%,
oil, textiles, scientific instruments, base metals;

partners--FRG, Japan, UK, US, Italy

External debt: $19.5 billion (July 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 45% of GDP

Electricity: 34,941,000 kW capacity; 158,000 million kWh produced,
4,100 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold,
chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron
and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs

Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force;
diversified agriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products--cattle,
poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat; sugarcane, fruits,
vegetables; self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: NA

Currency: rand (plural--rand); 1 rand (R) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1--2.5625 (January 1991),
2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685
(1986), 2.1911 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 20,638 km route distance total; 35,079 km of 1.067-meter
gauge trackage (counts double and multiple tracking as single track);
314 km of 610 mm gauge

Highways: 188,309 km total; 54,013 km paved, 134,296 km crushed
stone, gravel, or improved earth

Pipelines: 931 km crude oil; 1,748 km refined products; 322 km
natural gas

Ports: Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richard's Bay, Saldanha,
Mosselbaai, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 229,245
GRT/218,929 DWT; includes 6 container, 1 vehicle carrier

Civil air: 81 major transport aircraft

Airports: 917 total, 765 usable; 130 with permanent-surface
runways; 5 with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 224
with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: the system is the best developed, most modern,
and has the highest capacity in Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped
open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay links, fiber optic cable,
and radiocommunication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town,
Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria; 4,500,000 telephones;
stations--14 AM, 286 FM, 67 TV; 1 submarine cable; earth
stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Medical Services

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 9,797,349; 5,980,786 fit for
military service; 426,615 reach military age (18) annually; obligation
for service in Citizen Force or Commandos begins at 18; volunteers for
service in permanent force must be 17; national service obligation is
one year; figures include the so-called homelands not recognized by
the US

Defense expenditures: $3.67 billion, 11% of GDP (FY92)



  * SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS

SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 4,066 km2; land area: 4,066 km2; includes Shag and
Clerke Rocks

Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: undetermined

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the
year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls
as snow

Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are
rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep,
glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic
origin with some active volcanoes

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%; largely covered
by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of
grass, moss, and lichen

Environment: reindeer, introduced early in this century, live
on South Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult to
approach the South Sandwich Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are
subject to active volcanism

Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays,
which provide good anchorage

PEOPLE
Population: no permanent population; there is a small military
garrison on South Georgia and the British Antarctic Survey has a
biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich islands are
uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (no
short-form name)

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 3 October 1985

Legal system: English common law

National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Executive branch: British monarch, commissioner

Legislative branch: none

Judicial branch: none

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Commissioner William Hugh FULLERTON (since 1988; resident
at Stanley, Falkland Islands)

ECONOMY
Overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is
a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The
islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK.

Budget: revenues $291,777; expenditures $451,011, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)

Electricity: 900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per
capita (1990)

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: NA

Ports: Grytviken on South Georgia

Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runway 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications: coastal radio station at Grytviken; no
broadcast stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * SOVIET UNION

SOVIET UNION
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 22,402,200 km2; land area: 22,272,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of US

Land boundaries: 19,933 km total; Afghanistan 2,384 km,
Czechoslovakia 98 km, China 7,520 km, Finland 1,313 km, Hungary 135 km,
Iran 1,690 km, North Korea 17 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 196 km,
Poland 1,215 km, Romania 1,307 km, Turkey 617 km

Coastline: 42,777 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: bilateral negotiations are under way to resolve
disputed sections of the boundary with China; US Government has not
recognized the incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into
the Soviet Union; Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan Islands and the
Habomai island group occupied by Soviet Union since 1945, claimed by
Japan; maritime dispute with Norway over portion of Barents Sea; has made
no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so)
and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Kurdish question
among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR

Climate: mostly temperate to arctic continental; winters vary from
cool along Black Sea to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from hot in
southern deserts to cool along Arctic coast

Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous
forest and tundra in Siberia, deserts in Central Asia, mountains in south

Natural resources: self-sufficient in oil, natural gas, coal,
and strategic minerals (except bauxite, alumina, tantalum, tin, tungsten,
fluorspar, and molybdenum), timber, gold, manganese, lead, zinc, nickel,
mercury, potash, phosphates; note--the USSR is the world's largest
producer of oil and natural gas, third in coal

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 17%; forest and woodland 41%; other 32%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: despite size and diversity, small percentage of land
is arable and much is too far north; some of most fertile land is water
deficient or has insufficient growing season; many better climates have
poor soils; hot, dry, desiccating sukhovey wind affects south;
desertification; continuous permafrost over much of Siberia is a major
impediment to development

Note: largest country in world, but unfavorably located in
relation to major sea lanes of world

PEOPLE
Population: 293,047,571 (July 1991), growth rate 0.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Soviet(s); adjective--Soviet

Ethnic divisions: Russian 50.78%, Ukrainian 15.45%, Uzbek 5.84%,
Belorussian (Byelorussian) 3.51%, Kazakh 2.85%, Azeri 2.38%, Armenian
1.62%, Tajik 1.48%, Georgian 1.39%, Moldovan 1.17%, Lithuanian 1.07%,
Turkmen 0.95%, Kirghiz 0.89%, Latvian 0.51%, Estonian 0.36%, other 9.75%

Religion: Russian Orthodox 20%, Muslim 10%, Protestant, Georgian
Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Roman Catholic 7%, Jewish less than 1%,
atheist 60% (est.)

Language: Russian (official); more than 200 languages and dialects
(at least 18 with more than 1 million speakers); Slavic group 75%,
other Indo-European 8%, Altaic 12%, Uralian 3%, Caucasian 2%

Literacy: 98% (male 99%, female 97%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1989)

Labor force: 152,300,000 civilians; industry and other nonagricultural
fields 80%, agriculture 20%; shortage of skilled labor (1989)

Organized labor: the vast majority of workers are union members;
official unions are organized within the General Confederation of Trade
Unions (GCTU) and still operate within general guidelines set up by the
CPSU and Soviet Government; a large number of independent trade unions
have been formed since President Gorbachev came to power; most are
locally or regionally based and represent workers from one enterprise
or a group of enterprises; there are a few independent unions that claim
a nationwide following, the most prominent of which is Independent Miners
Trade Union set up by the country's coal miners

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; abbreviated
USSR

Type: in transition to multiparty federal system

Capital: Moscow

Administrative divisions: 1 soviet federative socialist republic*
(sovetskaya federativnaya sotsialistcheskaya respublika) and 14 soviet
socialist republics (sovetskiye sotsialisticheskiye respubliki,
singular--sovetskaya sotsialisticheskaya respublika);
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic,
Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic,
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic,
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic*,
Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova, Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic,
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic; note--Russian Soviet Federative
Socialist Republic is often abbreviated RSFSR and Soviet Socialist
Republic is often abbreviated SSR; the parliaments in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, and Lithuania have removed the
words Soviet Socialist from the names of their republics, but the central
government has not recognized those changes; the parliament in Kirghiziya
changed the name Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic to Republic of
Kyrgyzstan, but the central government has not recognized that change

Independence: 30 December 1922
(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established)

Constitution: 7 October 1977

Legal system: civil law system as modified by Communist legal
theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Great October Socialist Revolution,
7-8 November (1917)

Executive branch: president

Legislative branch: the Congress of People's Deputies (S'ezd
Narodnykh Deputatov) is the supreme organ of USSR state power and
selects the bicameral Supreme Soviet (Verkhovnyi Sovyet) which
consists of two coequal houses--Soviet of the Union (Soviet Soiuza)
and Soviet of Nationalities (Soviet Natsional'nostei)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of the USSR

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Mikhail Sergeyevich GORBACHEV
(since 14 March 1990; former General Secretary of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party since 11 March 1985--resigned August 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister (vacant); Chairman of the
Committee for the Operational Management of the USSR National
Economy Ivan SILAYEV (since 24 August 1991)

Political parties and leaders: nascent multiparty system

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 14 March 1990 (next to be held NA 1995);
results--Mikhail Sergeyevich GORBACHEV was elected by the Congress of
People's Deputies;

Congress of People's Deputies--last held 17 December 1990
(next to be held NA);
results--NA;
seats--(2,250 total) CPSU NA, non-CPSU NA;
note--dissolved September 1991

USSR Supreme Soviet--consists of the Council of the Union and
the Council of Republics;

Council of the Union--last held Spring 1991
(next to be held Fall 1991);
results--NA;
seats--(271 total) CPSU NA, non-CPSU NA;

Council of Republics--last held Spring 1991
(next to be held Fall 1991);
results--NA;
seats--(271 total) CPSU NA, non-CPSU NA;
note--to be reconstituted as a new legislature--date not set

Communists: prior to August 1991 about 15 million party members,
with membership declining

Other political or pressure groups: formal parties, regional
popular fronts, trade unions, and informal organizations

Member of: CSCE, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBEC, ICAO, ICFTU,
IIB, ILO, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UN Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Viktor KOMPLEKTOV;
Chancery at 1125 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036;
telephone [phone] or 8548; there is a Soviet Consulate General
in San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Robert S. STRAUSS; Embassy at Ulitsa Chaykovskogo
19/21/23, Moscow (mailing address is APO New York 09862);
telephone  7  [phone] through 59; there is a US Consulate General
in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad)

Flag: red with the yellow silhouette of a crossed hammer and sickle
below a yellow-edged five-pointed red star in the upper hoist-side corner

ECONOMY
Overview: The first six years of perestroyka (economic and
political restructuring) have undermined the institutions and processes
of the Soviet command economy without replacing them with efficiently
functioning markets. The initial reforms have featured greater authority
for enterprise managers over prices, wages, product mix, investment,
sources of supply, and customers. But in the absence of effective market
discipline, the result has been the disappearance of low-price goods,
excessive wage increases, an even larger volume of unfinished
construction projects, and, in general, continued economic stagnation.
The Gorbachev regime has made at least four serious errors in economic
policy in these six years: the unpopular and short-lived antialcohol
campaign; the initial cutback in imports of consumer goods; the failure
to act decisively at the beginning for the privatization of agriculture;
and the buildup of a massive overhang of unspent rubles in the hands of
households and enterprises. The regime has vacillated among a series of
ambitious economic policy prescriptions put forth by leading economists
and political leaders. The plans vary from proposals for (a) quick
marketization of the economy; (b) gradual marketization; (c) a period
of retrenchment to ensure a stable base for future marketization; and
(d) a return to disciplined central planning and allocation. The
economy, caught between two systems, is suffering from even greater
mismatches between what is being produced and what would serve the best
interests of enterprises and households. Meanwhile, the seething
nationality problems have been dislocating regional patterns of economic
specialization and pose a further major threat to growth prospects over
the next few years. Official Soviet statistics report GNP fell by 2% in
1990, but the actual decline was substantially greater. Whatever the
numerical decline, it does not capture the increasing disjointures in the
economy evidenced by emptier shelves, longer lines, increased barter, and
widespread strikes.

GNP: approximately $2,660 billion, per capita $9,130;
real growth rate - 2.4% to - 5.0% (1990 est. based on a reconstruction
of official Soviet statistics); note--because of the continued
unraveling of Soviet economic and statistical controls, the estimate
is subject to even greater uncertainties than in earlier years; the
dollar estimates most likely overstate Soviet GNP to some extent because
of an incomplete allowance for the poor quality, narrow assortment, and
low performance characteristics of Soviet goods and services; the
- 2.4% growth figure is based on the application of CIA's usual
estimating methods whereas the - 5.0% figure is corrected for
measurement problems that worsened sharply in 1990

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: official Soviet statistics imply an unemployment
rate of 1 to 2 percent in 1990; USSR's first official unemployment
estimate, however, is acknowledged to be rough

Budget: revenues 422 billion rubles; expenditures 510 billion
rubles, including capital expenditures of 53 billion rubles (1990 est.)

Exports: $109.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals,
wood, agricultural products, and a wide variety of manufactured goods
(primarily capital goods and arms);

partners--Eastern Europe 46%, EC 16%, Cuba 6%, US, Afghanistan (1989)

Imports: $114.7 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--grain and other agricultural products, machinery and
equipment, steel products (including large-diameter pipe), consumer
manufactures;

partners--Eastern Europe 50%, EC 13%, Cuba, China, US (1989)

External debt: $55 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 2.4% (1990 est.)

Electricity: 350,000,000 kW capacity; 1,740,000 million kWh
produced, 5,920 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: diversified, highly developed capital goods and defense
industries; comparatively less developed consumer goods industries

Agriculture: accounts for roughly 20% of GNP and labor force;
production based on large collective and state farms; inefficiently
managed; wide range of temperate crops and livestock produced; world's
third-largest grain producer after the US and China; shortages of grain,
oilseeds, and meat; world's leading producer of sawnwood and roundwood;
annual fish catch among the world's largest

Illicit drugs: illegal producer of cannabis and opium poppy,
mostly for domestic consumption; government has begun eradication
program to control cultivation; used as a transshipment country
for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Economic aid: donor--extended to non-Communist less developed
countries (1954-89), $49.6 billion; extended to other Communist countries
(1954-89), $154 billion

Currency: ruble (plural--rubles); 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks

Exchange rates: rubles (R) per US$1--0.580 (1990),
0.629 (1989), 0.629 (1988), 0.633 (1987), 0.704 (1986), 0.838 (1985);
note--as of 1 April 1991 the official exchange rate remained
administratively set; it should not be used indiscriminately to convert
domestic rubles to dollars; in November 1990 the USSR introduced a
commercial exchange rate of 1.8 rubles to the dollar used for accounting
purposes within the USSR and which was still in force on 1 April 1991;
on 1 April 1991 the USSR introduced a new foreign-currency
market for foreign companies and individuals; the rate will be fixed
twice a week based on supply and demand; as of 4 April 1991 the rate
was 27.6 rubles to the dollar; Soviet citizens traveling abroad
are restricted to buying $200 a year at prevailing rates

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 147,400 km total; 53,900 km electrified; does not
include industrial lines (1989)

Highways: 1,757,000 km total; 1,310,600 km hard-surfaced (asphalt,
concrete, stone block, asphalt treated, gravel, crushed stone);
446,400 km earth (1989)

Inland waterways: 123,700 km navigable, exclusive of Caspian Sea (1989)

Pipelines: 82,000 km crude oil and refined products;
206,500 km natural gas (1987)

Ports: St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), Riga, Tallinn,
Kaliningrad, Liepaja, Ventspils, Murmansk, Arkhangel'sk, Odessa,
Novorossiysk, Il'ichevsk, Nikolayev, Sevastopol', Vladivostok, Nakhodka;
inland ports are Astrakhan', Baku, Nizhniy Novgorod (Gor'kiy), Kazan',
Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuybyshev, Moscow, Rostov, Volgograd, Kiev

Merchant marine: 1,565 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
15,243,228 GRT/20,874,488 DWT; includes 52 passenger, 898 cargo,
52 container, 11 barge carrier, 4 roll-on/float off cargo, 5 railcar
carrier, 114 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 230 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
(POL) tanker, 5 liquefied gas, 17 combination ore/oil, 4 specialized
liquid carrier, 13 chemical tanker, 160 bulk; note--594 merchant ships
are based in Black Sea, 366 in Baltic Sea, 398 in Soviet Far East, and
207 in Barents Sea and White Sea; the Soviet Union has been transferring
merchant ships to a variety of flags of convenience; at the beginning
of 1991 the USSR had 64 ships under foreign flags (Cyprus 52, Malta 7,
Panama 2, Vanuatu 2, and Honduras 1)

Civil air: 4,000 major transport aircraft

Airports: 7,192 total, 4,607 usable; 1,163 with permanent-surface
runways; 33 with runways over 3,659 m; 491 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
661 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 37 million telephone subscribers; phone
density of 37 per 100 households; urban phone density is 9.2 phones
per 100 residents; rural phone density is 2.9 per 100 residents
(June 1990); automatic telephone dialing with 70 countries and
between 25 Soviet cities (April 1989); broadcast stations--457 AM,
131 FM, over 900 TV; 90 million TVs (December 1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces,
Strategic Rocket Forces, Command and General Support, Security Forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 70,058,651; 55,931,817 fit for
military service; 2,265,935 reach military age (18) annually
(down somewhat from 2,500,000 a decade ago); approximately 35-40% receive
deferments for health, education, or other reasons

Defense expenditures: 63.9 billion rubles, NA% of GDP



  * SPAIN

SPAIN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 504,750 km2; land area: 499,400 km2; includes Balearic
Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de
soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco--Ceuta, Mellila, Islas
Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Land boundaries: 1,903.2 km total; Andorra 65 km, France 623 km,
Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km

Coastline: 4,964 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of
sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of
Morocco--the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests
as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de
la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate
and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy
and cool along coast

Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged
hills; Pyrenees in north

Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury,
pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin,
potash, hydropower

Land use: arable land 31%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and
pastures 21%; forest and woodland 31%; other 7%; includes irrigated 6%

Environment: deforestation; air pollution

Note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

PEOPLE
Population: 39,384,516 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 82 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Spaniard(s); adjective--Spanish

Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Religion: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%

Language: Castilian Spanish; second languages include
Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%

Literacy: 95% (male 97%, female 93%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 14,621,000; services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%,
constrction 9% (1988)

Organized labor: less 10% of labor force (1988)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Spain

Type: parliamentary monarchy

Capital: Madrid

Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades
autonomas, singular--comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon,
Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon,
Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares,
La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco; note--there are five
places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila,
Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown

Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)

Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications;
does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 12 October

Executive branch: monarch, president of the government (prime
minister), deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet),
Council of State

Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National
Assembly (Las Cortes Generales) consists of an upper house or Senate
(Senado) and a lower house or Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los
Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)

Leaders:

Chief of State--King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez
(since 2 December 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Narcis SERRA
(since 13 March 1991)

Political parties and leaders: principal national parties, from
right to left--Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR;
Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Luis DE GRANDES;
Social Democratic Center (CDS), Adolfo SUAREZ Gonzalez;
Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez;
Socialist Democracy Party (DS), Ricardo Garcia DAMBORENEA;
Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA;
chief regional parties--
Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley, in Catalonia;
Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS;
Basque Solidarity (EA), Carlos GARAICOETXEA Urizza;
Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon IDIGORAS;
Basque Left (EE), Kepa AULESTIA;
Andalusian Party (PA), Pedro PACHECO;
Independent Canary Group (AIC);
Aragon Regional Party (PAR);
Valencian Union (UV)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Senate --last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held October 1993);
results--NA;
seats (208) PSOE 106, PP 79, CiU 10, PNV 4, HB 3, AIC 1, other 5;

Congress of Deputies--last held 29 October 1989
(next to be held October 1993);
results--PSOE 39.6%, PP 25.8%, CDS 9%, Communist-led
coalition (IU) 9%, CiU 5%, Basque Nationalist Party 1.2%, HB 1%,
Andalusian Party 1%, other 8.4%;
seats--(350 total) PSOE 175, PP 106, CiU 18, IU 17, CDS 14, PNV 5,
HB 4, other 11

Communists: PCE membership declined from a possible high of
160,000 in 1977 to roughly 60,000 in 1987; the party gained almost
1 million voters and 10 deputies in the 1989 election; voters came
mostly from the disgruntled socialist left; remaining strength is in
labor, where it dominates the Workers Commissions trade union (one of
the country's two major labor centrals), which claims a membership of
about 1 million; experienced a modest recovery in 1986 national
election, nearly doubling the share of the vote it received in 1982

Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, the Basque
Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October Antifascist
Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the government; free
labor unions (authorized in April 1977) include the Communist-dominated
Workers Commissions (CCOO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT),
and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); the Catholic
Church; business and landowning interests; Opus Dei; university students

Member of: AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE, EBRD,
EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jaime de OJEDA; Chancery at
2700 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone [phone] or
0191; there are Spanish Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan
(Puerto Rico);

US--Ambassador Joseph ZAPPALA; Embassy at Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
(mailing address is APO New York 09285); telephone  34  (1) 577-4000;
there is a US Consulate General in Barcelona and a Consulate in Bilbao

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width),
and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow
band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of
Hercules which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either
side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar

ECONOMY
Overview: This Western capitalistic economy has done well since
Spain joined the EC in 1986. With annual increases in real GNP averaging
about 5% in the 1987-90 period, Spain has been the fastest growing member
of the EC. Increased investment--both domestic and foreign--has been the
most important factor pushing the economic expansion. Inflation moderated
to 4.8% in 1988, but an overheated economy caused inflation to reach
almost 7% in 1989-90. Another economic problem facing Spain is an
unemployment rate of 16.3%, the highest in Europe.

GDP: $435.9 billion, per capita $11,100; real growth rate 3.7% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.7% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 16.3% (1990)

Budget: revenues $100.1 billion; expenditures $111.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Exports: $55.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--foodstuffs, live animals, wood, footwear, machinery, chemicals;

partners--EC 67.8%, US 6.5%, other developed countries 9%

Imports: $87.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--petroleum, footwear, machinery, chemicals, grain, soybeans,
coffee, tobacco, iron and steel, timber, cotton, transport equipment;

partners--EC 59.7%, US 8.5%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 3.4%

External debt: $37 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.)

Electricity: 46,589,000 kW capacity; 141,000 million kWh produced,
3,590 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and
beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding,
automobiles, machine tools

Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP and 14% of labor force; major
products--grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus
fruit, beef, pork, poultry, dairy; largely self-sufficient in food;
fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nations

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-79), $545.0 million; not currently a recipient

Currency: peseta (plural--pesetas); 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1--95.20 (January 1991),
101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988), 123.48 (1987),
140.05 (1986), 170.04 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE)
operates 12,691 km 1.668-meter gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and
2,295 km double track; FEVE (government-owned narrow-gauge railways)
operates 1,821 km of predominantly 1.000-meter gauge and 441 km
electrified; privately owned railways operate 918 km of predominantly
1.000-meter gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 km double track

Highways: 150,839 km total; 82,513 km national (includes 2,433 km
limited-access divided highway, 63,042 km bituminous treated, 17,038 km
intermediate bituminous, concrete, or stone block) and 68,326 km
provincial or local roads (bituminous treated, intermediate bituminous,
or stone block)

Inland waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance

Pipelines: 265 km crude oil; 1,794 km refined products;
1,666 km natural gas

Ports: Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz,
Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo,
Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands),
Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto,
Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor ports

Merchant marine: 304 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,367,529
GRT/5,984,306 DWT; includes 2 passenger, 9 short-sea passenger,
105 cargo, 17 refrigerated cargo, 14 container, 29 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 50 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 14 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 1 combination ore/oil,
4 specialized tanker, 48 bulk

Civil air: 172 major transport aircraft

Airports: 104 total, 98 usable; 61 with permanent-surface runways;
4 with runways over 3,659 m; 22 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: generally adequate, modern facilities;
15,350,464 telephones; stations--206 AM, 411 (134 relays) FM, 143
(1,297 relays) TV; 17 coaxial submarine cables; communications
satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (5 Atlantic Ocean,
1 Indian Ocean), MARISAT, and ENTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 10,134,256; 8,222,987 fit for
military service; 339,749 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $8.6 billion, 2% of GDP (1990)



  * SPRATLY ISLANDS

SPRATLY ISLANDS
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: less than 5 km2; land area: less than 5 km2; includes
100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the
South China Sea

Comparative area: undetermined

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 926 km

Maritime claims: undetermined

Disputes: China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
claim all or part of the Spratly Islands

Climate: tropical

Terrain: flat

Natural resources: fish, guano; oil and natural gas potential

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands,
atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

Note: strategically located near several primary shipping
lanes in the central South China Sea; serious navigational hazard

PEOPLE
Population: no permanent inhabitants; garrisons

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing and
phosphate mining. Geological surveys carried out several years ago
suggest that substantial reserves of oil and natural gas may lie beneath
the islands; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Industries: some guano mining

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 3 total, 2 usable; none with runways over 2,439 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Ports: no natural harbors

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: approximately 50 small islands or reefs are occupied
by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam



  * SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 65,610 km2; land area: 64,740 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,340 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; monsoonal; northeast monsoon (December to
March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in
south-central interior

Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems,
phosphates, clay

Land use: arable land 16%; permanent crops 17%; meadows and
pastures 7%; forest and woodland 37%; other 23%; includes irrigated 8%

Environment: occasional cyclones, tornados; deforestation; soil
erosion

Note: only 29 km from India across the Palk Strait; near major
Indian Ocean sea lanes

PEOPLE
Population: 17,423,736 (July 1991), growth rate 1.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Sri Lankan(s); adjective--Sri Lankan

Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%; Tamil 18%; Moor 7%; Burgher,
Malay, and Veddha 1%

Religion: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%

Language: Sinhala (official); Sinhala and Tamil listed as national
languages; Sinhala spoken by about 74% of population, Tamil spoken by
about 18%; English commonly used in government and spoken by about 10% of
the population

Literacy: 86% (male 91%, female 81%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force: 6,600,000; agriculture 45.9%, mining and manufacturing 13.3%,
trade and transport 12.4%, services and other 28.4% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: about 33% of labor force, over 50% of which are
employed on tea, rubber, and coconut estates

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Type: republic

Capital: Colombo

Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Amparai, Anuradhapura,
Badulla, Batticaloa, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambantota, Jaffna,
Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalla, Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Matara, Moneragala,
Mullaittivu, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Trincomalee,
Vavuniya; note--the administrative structure may now include 8 provinces
(Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa,
Southern, Uva, and Western) and 25 districts (with Kilinochchi added to
the existing districts)

Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK; formerly Ceylon)

Constitution: 31 August 1978

Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law,
Roman-Dutch, Muslim, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Ranasinghe PREMADASA (since 2 January 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGE
(since 6 March 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
United National Party (UNP), Ranasinghe PREMADASA;
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE;
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF;
All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Kumar PONNAMBALAM;
People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh
GUNAWARDENE;
Eelam Democratic Front (EDF), Edward Sebastian PILLAI;
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), leader (vacant);
Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS),
Velupillai BALAKUMARAN;
New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja Party),
Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA;
Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or Lanka Sama Samaja Party),
Colin R. de SILVA;
Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party),
Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARANATUNGA;
Communist Party/Moscow (CP/M), K. P. SILVA;
Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN;
note--the United Socialist Alliance (USA) includes the NSSP, LSSP,
SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 19 December 1988
(next to be held December 1994);
results--Ranasinghe PREMADASA (UNP) 50%,
Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE (SLFP) 45%, other 5%;

Parliament--last held 15 February 1989
(next to be held by February 1995);
results--UNP 51%, SLFP 32%, SLMC 4%, TULF 3%, USA 3%, EROS 3%, MEP 1%,
other 3%;
seats--(225 total) UNP 125, SLFP 67, other 33

Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; Janatha Vimukthi
Peramuna (JVP or People's Liberation Front); Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese
Buddhist lay groups; labor unions

Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador W. Susanta De ALWIS; Chancery
at 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone]
through 4028; there is a Sri Lankan Consulate in New York;

US--Ambassador Marion V. CREEKMORE, Jr.; Embassy at 210 Galle Road,
Colombo 3 (mailing address is P. O. Box 106, Colombo);
telephone [phone]

Flag: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two
equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is
a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword and there
is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border
that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing dominate the economy,
employing about 45% of the labor force and accounting for 26% of
GDP. The plantation crops of tea, rubber, and coconuts provide about 35%
of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of
unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth, which has been
depressed by ethnic unrest, accelerated in 1990 as domestic conditions
began to improve.

GDP: $6.6 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 4.5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 23% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $2.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $0.5 billion (1990)

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--tea, textiles and garments, petroleum products,
coconut, rubber, agricultural products, gems and jewelry, marine
products;

partners--US 26%, FRG, Japan, UK, Belgium, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China

Imports: $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--food and beverages, textiles and textile materials,
petroleum, machinery and equipment;

partners--Japan, Saudi Arabia, US 5.6%, India, Singapore, FRG, UK, Iran

External debt: $5.6 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 6% (1989 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP

Electricity: 1,300,000 kW capacity; 4,200 million kWh produced,
240 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural
commodities; cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco, clothing

Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP and nearly half of labor
force; most important staple crop is paddy rice; other field
crops--sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseeds, roots, spices; cash
crops--tea, rubber, coconuts; animal products--milk, eggs, hides, meat;
not self-sufficient in rice production

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.0
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1980-88), $4.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $169 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $369 million

Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (plural--rupees);
1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRs) per US$1--40.272 (January
1991), 40.063 (1990), 36.047 (1989), 31.807 (1988), 29.445 (1987),
28.017 (1986), 27.163 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,948 km total (1989); all 1.868-meter broad gauge;
102 km double track; no electrification; government owned

Highways: 75,263 km total (1988); 27,637 km paved (mostly
bituminous treated), 32,887 km crushed stone or gravel, 14,739 km
improved earth or unimproved earth; several thousand km of mostly
unmotorable tracks (1988 est.)

Inland waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft

Pipelines: crude and refined products, 62 km (1987)

Ports: Colombo, Trincomalee

Merchant marine: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 364,466
GRT/551,686 DWT; includes 18 cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo, 5 container,
2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 bulk

Civil air: 8 major transport (including 1 leased)

Airports: 14 total, 13 usable; 12 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: good international service; 114,000 telephones
(1982); stations--12 AM, 5 FM, 5 TV; submarine cables extend to
Indonesia and Djibouti; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,636,767; 3,625,289 fit for
military service; 178,010 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $300 million, 5% of GDP (1991)



  * SUDAN

SUDAN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,505,810 km2; land area: 2,376,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than one quarter the size of US

Land boundaries: 7,697 km total; Central African Republic 1,165 km,
Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Ethiopia 2,221 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya
383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km

Coastline: 853 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 18 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide
with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt
does not coincide with international boundary

Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season
(April to October)

Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west

Natural resources: small reserves of crude oil, iron ore,
copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, crude oil

Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 24%; forest and woodland 20%; other 51%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: dominated by the Nile and its tributaries; dust storms;
desertification

Note: largest country in Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 27,220,088 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 85 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 54 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Sudanese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Sudanese

Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Religion: Sunni Muslim (in north) 70%, indigenous beliefs 20%,
Christian (mostly in south and Khartoum) 5%

Language: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects
of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, and Sudanic languages, English;
program of Arabization in process

Literacy: 27% (male 43%, female 12%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 6,500,000; agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%,
government 6%; labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled
employment (1983 est.); 52% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: trade unions suspended following 30 June 1989
coup; now in process of being legalized anew

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of the Sudan

Type: military; civilian government suspended and martial law
imposed after 30 June 1989 coup

Capital: Khartoum

Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat,
singular--wilayat or wilayah*); Aali an Nil,
Al Wusta*, Al Istiwaiyah*, Al Khartum,
Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al Ghazal,
Darfur, Kurdufan

Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK; formerly
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan)

Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April
1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of
30 June 1989

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law;
as of 20 January 1991, the Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic
law in the six northern states of Al Wusta, Al Khartum, Ash
Shamaliyah, Ash Sharqiyah, Darfur, and Kurdufan; the
council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic
law will apply to all residents of the six northern states regardless of
their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Executive branch: executive and legislative authority vested in a
13-member Revolutionary Command Council (RCC); chairman of the RCC acts
as prime minister; in July 1989 RCC appointed a predominately civilian
22-member cabinet to function as advisers

Legislative branch: none

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary Courts

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Revolutionary Command
Council Chairman and Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Umar Hasan Ahmad
al-BASHIR (since 30 June 1989);
Deputy Chairman of the Command Council and Deputy Prime Minister
Maj. Gen. al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH Ahmed (since 9 July 1989)

Political parties and leaders: none; banned following
30 June 1989 coup

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Member of: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdallah Ahmad ABDALLAH; Chancery at
2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone]
through 8570; there is a Sudanese Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador James R. CHEEK; Embassy at Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif,
Khartoum (mailing address is P. O. Box 699, Khartoum, or APO New York
09668); telephone 74700 or 74611

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, is buffeted
by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, and
counterproductive economic policies. The economy is dominated
by governmental entities that account for more than 70% of new
investment. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture
and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. The
economy's base is agriculture, which employs 80% of the work force.
Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic
performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining
annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita income and
consumption. A high foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause
difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual
step of declaring Sudan noncooperative on account of its nonpayment of
arrearages to the Fund.

GDP: $8.5 billion, per capita $330; real growth rate - 7% (FY90 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (FY90 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget: revenues $514 million; expenditures $1.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $183 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $465 million (f.o.b., FY90 est.);

commodities--cotton 52%, sesame, gum arabic, peanuts;

partners--Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%,
Japan 9%, US 3% (FY88)

Imports: $1.0 billion (c.i.f., FY90 est.);

commodities--petroleum products 28%, manufactured goods, machinery
and equipment, medicines and chemicals;

partners--Western Europe 32%, Africa and Asia 15%, US 13%,
Eastern Europe 3% (FY88)

External debt: $12.3 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.7% (FY89); accounts for 11% of GDP

Electricity: 606,000 kW capacity; 900 million kWh produced,
37 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,
soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining

Agriculture: accounts for 35% of GNP and 80% of labor force;
water shortages; two-thirds of land area suitable for raising crops and
livestock; major products--cotton, oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat,
gum arabic, sheep; marginally self-sufficient in most foods

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $588 million

Currency: Sudanese pound (plural--pounds);
1 Sudanese pound (LSd) = 100 piasters

Exchange rates: official rate--Sudanese pounds (LSd) per
US$1--4.5004 (fixed rate since 1987), 2.8121 (1987), 2.5000 (1986),
2.2883 (1985); note--commercial exchange rate 12.2 (May 1990)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 5,500 km total; 4,784 km 1.067-meter gauge, 716 km
1.6096-meter-gauge plantation line

Highways: 20,000 km total; 1,600 km bituminous treated,
3,700 km gravel, 2,301 km improved earth, 12,399 km unimproved earth
and track

Inland waterways: 5,310 km navigable

Pipelines: refined products, 815 km

Ports: Port Sudan, Suakin

Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,277
GRT/59,588 DWT; includes 3 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

Airports: 78 total, 66 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
30 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: large, well-equipped system by African
standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained; consists of
radio relay, cables, radio communications, and troposcatter; domestic
satellite system with 14 stations; 73,400 telephones; stations--4 AM,
1 FM, 2 TV; earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,176,917; 3,792,635 fit for
military service; 306,695 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $610 million, 7.2% of GDP (1989 est)



  * SURINAME

SURINAME
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 163,270 km2; land area: 161,470 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries: 1,707 km total; Brazil 597 km, French Guiana
510 km, Guyana 600 km

Coastline: 386 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and
Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area in Guyana
between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all
headwaters of the Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,
bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures NEGL%;
forest and woodland 97%; other 3%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: mostly tropical rain forest

PEOPLE
Population: 402,385 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Surinamer(s); adjective--Surinamese

Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (East Indian) 37.0%, Creole (black and
mixed) 31.0%, Javanese 15.3%, Bush black 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese
1.7%, Europeans 1.0%, other 1.1%

Religion: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%,
Protestant (predominantly Moravian) 25.2%, indigenous beliefs about 5%

Language: Dutch (official); English widely spoken; Sranan Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles
and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others;
also Hindi Suriname Hindustani (a variant of Bhoqpuri) and Javanese

Literacy: 95% (male 95%, female 95%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 104,000 (1984)

Organized labor: 49,000 members of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Suriname

Type: republic

Capital: Paramaribo

Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten,
singular--distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne,
Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands; formerly
Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana)

Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987

Legal system: NA

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Executive branch: president, vice president and prime minister,
Cabinet of Ministers, Council of State; note--commander in chief of the
National Army maintains significant power

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President
Ronald VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and
Prime Minister Jules AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991)

Political parties and leaders:

traditional ethnic-based parties--The New Front (NF), Henck
ARRON, a coalition formed of four parties following the 24 December
1990 military coup--Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON;
National Party of Suriname (NPS), Henck ARRON;
Indonesian Peasants Party (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; and
Suriname Labor Party (SLP), Frank DERBY;

promilitary New Democratic Party (NDP), Jules Albert WIJDENBOSCH,
Frank PLAYFAIR;

Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91),
Gerard BRUNINGS, a coalition of five parties formed in
January 1991--Alternative Forum, Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN;
Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalall PARMISSER;
Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY;
Pendawalima, Marsha JAMIN; and
Independent Progressive Group, Karam RAMSUNDERSINGH;

leftists--Revolutionary People's Party (RVP), Michael NAARENDORP;
Progressive Workers and Farmers (PALU), Iwan KROLIS

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 6 September 1991
(next to be held May 1996);
results--elected by the National Assembly--Ronald VENETIAAN (NF)
80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE
(DA '91) 6% (49 votes)

National Assembly--last held 25 May 1991
(next to be held May 1996);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(51 total) NF 30, NDP 12, DA '91 9

Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT; Chancery
at Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 7490 through 7492; there is a Surinamese
Consulate General in Miami;

US--Ambassador John (Jack) P. LEONARD; Embassy at Dr. Sophie
Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribo (mailing address is P. O. Box 1821,
Paramaribo); telephone  [phone], 77881, or 76459

Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white,
red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large
yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which
accounts for about 70% of export earnings and 40% of tax revenues. The
economy has been in trouble since the Dutch ended development aid in
1982. A drop in world bauxite prices that started in the late 1970s and
continued until late 1986, was followed by the outbreak of a guerrilla
insurgency in the interior. The guerrillas targeted the economic
infrastructure, crippling the important bauxite sector and shutting down
other export industries. These problems have created high inflation,
high unemployment, widespread black market activity, and a bad climate
for foreign investment. A small gain in economic growth of 2.0% was
registered in 1989 due to reduced guerrilla activity and improved
international markets for bauxite.

GDP: $1.35 billion, per capita $3,400; real growth rate 2.0% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: 33% (1990)

Budget: revenues $466 million; expenditures $716 million,
including capital expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $425 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);

commodities--alumina, bauxite, aluminum, rice, wood and wood
products, shrimp and fish, bananas;

partners--Norway 33%, Netherlands 20%, US 15%, FRG 9%,
Brazil 5%, UK 5%, Japan 3%, other 10%

Imports: $370 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);

commodities--capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
consumer goods;

partners--US 37%, Netherlands 15%, Netherlands Antilles 11%,
Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Brazil 5%, UK 3%, other 20%

External debt: $138 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 16.4% (1988 est.);
accounts for 22% of GDP

Electricity: 458,000 kW capacity; 2,018 million kWh produced,
5,090 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production,
lumbering, food processing, fishing

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of both GDP and labor force; paddy
rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm
output; other products--bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains,
peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing
importance; self-sufficient in most foods

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $1.45 billion

Currency: Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (plural--guilders,
gulden, or florins); 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) =
100 cents

Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.)
per US$1--1.7850 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned,
and 80 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track

Highways: 8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel,
crushed stone, or improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay

Inland waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport;
oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging from 4.2 m to 7 m can navigate
many of the principal waterways

Ports: Paramaribo, Moengo

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
6,472 GRT/8,914 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 46 total, 42 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: international facilities good; domestic radio
relay system; 27,500 telephones; stations--5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1
shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: National Army (including Navy which is company-size,
small Air Force element), Civil Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 107,544; 64,146 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $91 million, 7.2% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * SVALBARD

SVALBARD
(territory of Norway)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 62,049 km2; land area: 62,049 km2; includes Spitsbergen
and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 3,587 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway,
not recognized by USSR;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

Disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Norway
and USSR

Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current;
cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the
year

Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north
coasts

Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc,
wildlife, fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%; there are no trees and the only
bushes are crowberry and cloudberry

Environment: great calving glaciers descend to the sea

Note: located 445 km north of Norway where the Arctic Ocean,
Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet

PEOPLE
Population: 3,942 (July 1991), growth rate NA% (1991); about
one-third of the population resides in the Norwegian areas (Longyearbyen
and Svea on Vestspitsbergen) and two-thirds in the Soviet areas
(Barentsburg and Pyramiden on Vestspitsbergen); about 9 persons live at
the Polish research station

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Ethnic divisions: Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981)

Language: Russian, Norwegian

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry,
Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen,
Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway

Capital: Longyearbyen

Leaders:

Chief of State--King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991);

Head of Government--Governor Leif ELDRING (since NA)

Member of: none

Flag: the flag of Norway is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard.
By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have
equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian
regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined
in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Soviet.
Each company mines about half a million tons of coal annually. The
settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian
state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population
on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the
local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear,
fox, and walrus.

Budget: revenues $13.3 million, expenditures $13.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced,
11,420 kWh per capita (1989)

Currency: Norwegian krone (plural--kroner);
1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--5.9060 (January
1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987), 7.3947
(1986), 8.5972 (1985)

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: limited facilities--Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay

Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 5 meteorological/radio stations;
stations--1 AM, 1 (2 relays) FM, 1 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)



  * SWAZILAND

SWAZILAND
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 17,360 km2; land area: 17,200 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 535 km total; Mozambique 105 km, South Africa
430 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate

Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, tin, hydropower, forests,
and small gold and diamond deposits

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 67%;
forest and woodland 6%; other 19%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 859,336 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 101 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 59 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Swazi(s); adjective--Swazi

Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3%

Religion: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Language: English and siSwati (official);
government business conducted in English

Literacy: 55% (male 57%, female 54%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)

Labor force: 195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence
agriculture; about 92,000 wage earners (many only intermittently), with
agriculture and forestry 36%, community and social services 20%,
manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other 21%; 24,000-29,000
employed in South Africa (1987)

Organized labor: about 10% of wage earners

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Swaziland

Type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)

Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)

Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended
on 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but
has not been formally presented to the people

Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists
of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--King  MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Obed DLAMINI (since 12 July 1989)

Political parties: none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on
13 October 1978

Suffrage: none

Elections: no direct elections

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
PCA, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA;
Chancery at 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS; Embassy at Central Bank Building,
Warner Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane);
telephone  [phone] through 5

Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and
blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a
large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated
with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which
occupies much of the labor force and contributes about 23% to GDP.
Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories,
accounts for another 26% of GDP. Mining has declined in importance in
recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted in 1978, and
health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and
forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by
South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland
is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 92% of
its imports and to which it sends about 40% of its exports.

GNP: $563 million, per capita $670; real growth rate 5.0% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $322.9 million; expenditures $325.5 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92 est.)

Exports: $543 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus,
canned fruit;

partners--South Africa 40% (est.), EC, Canada

Imports: $651 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment,
petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals;

partners--South Africa 92% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK

External debt: $290 million (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate NA; accounts for 26% of GDP (1989)

Electricity: 50,000 kW capacity; 130 million kWh produced,
170 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar

Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force;
mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops--sugarcane, citrus fruit,
cotton, pineapples; other crops and livestock--corn, sorghum, peanuts,
cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $142
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $488 million

Currency: lilangeni (plural--emalangeni); 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1--2.5625 (January 1991),
2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685
(1986), 2.1911 (1985); note--the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the
South African rand

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 297 km plus 71 km disused, 1.067-meter gauge, single track

Highways: 2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone,
gravel, or stabilized soil, and 1,113 km improved earth

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airports: 23 total, 22 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire
lines and low-capacity radio relay links; 15,400 telephones;
stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 185,562; 107,254 fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $8 million, 1.3% of GDP (1988)



  * SWEDEN

SWEDEN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 449,964 km2; land area: 410,928 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries: 2,205 km total; Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km

Coastline: 3,218 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool,
partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 2%;
forest and woodland 64%; other 27%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: water pollution; acid rain

Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking
Baltic and North Seas

PEOPLE
Population: 8,564,317 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Swede(s); adjective--Swedish

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous white population; small Lappish
minority; foreign born or first-generation immigrants (Finns, Yugoslavs,
Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks) about 12%

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%,
Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)

Language: Swedish, small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities;
immigrants speak native languages

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)

Labor force: 4,572,000 (October 1990); government services 37.4%,
mining, manufacturing, electricity, and water service 23.1%, private
services 22.2%, transportation and communications 7%, construction 6.3%,
agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting 3.8%, other 0.2% (1988)

Organized labor: 80% of labor force (1990 est.)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Sweden

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Stockholm

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and
plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan,
Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands
Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan,
Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan,
Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,
Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan,
Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan

Independence: 6 June 1809, constitutional monarchy established

Constitution: 1 January 1975

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Riksdag)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)

Leaders:

Chief of State--King CARL XVI Gustaf (since 19 September 1973);
Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the
King (born 14 July 1977);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Carl BILDT (since 3 October 1991)

Political parties and leaders:
ruling four-party coalition consists of the
Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT;
Liberal People's Party, Bengt WESTERBERG;
Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; and the
Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON;
Social Democratic Party, Ingvar CARLSSON;
New Democracy Party, Count Ian WACHMEISTER;
Left Party (VP; Communist), Lars WERNER;
Swedish Communist Party (SKP), Rune PETTERSSON;
Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL;
Green Party, no formal leader

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Riksdag--last held 15 September 1991
(next to be held September 1994);
results--Social Democratic 37.6%, Moderate (conservative)
21.9%, Liberal People's Party 9.1%, Center Party 8.5%, Christian
Democrats 7.1%, New Democracy 6.7%, Left Party (Communist) 4.5%, Green
Party 3.4%, other 1.2%;
seats--(349 total) Social Democratic 138, Moderate (conservative) 80,
Liberal People's Party 33, Center Party 31, Christian Democrats 26, New
Democracy 25, Left Party (Communist) 16; note: the Green Party leaves
the Riksdag because it received less than the required 4% of the vote

Communists: VP and SKP; VP, formerly the Left Party-Communists,
is reported to have roughly 17,800 members and attracted 5.8% of the vote
in the 1988 election; VP dropped the Communist label in 1990, but
maintains a Marxist ideology

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer) AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE,
EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-6, G-8, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL,
INTELSAT, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NC,
NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Anders THUNBORG; Chancery at
Suite 1200, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone [phone]; there are Swedish Consulates General in
Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York;

US--Ambassador Charles E. REDMAN; Embassy at Strandvagen 101,
S-115 89 Stockholm; telephone  46  (8) 783-5300

Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

ECONOMY
Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during
World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable
standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and
extensive welfare benefits. It has essentially full employment,
a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external
communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and
iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily
oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for
about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering
sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. For some observers,
the Swedish model has succeeded in making economic efficiency
and social egalitarianism complementary, rather than competitive,
goals. Others argue that the Swedish model is on the verge of
collapsing by pointing to the serious economic problems Sweden
faces in 1991: high inflation and absenteeism, growing unemployment
and deficits, and declining international competitiveness. In 1990,
to improve the economy, the government approved a mandate for
Sweden to seek EC membership and an austerity and privatization
package and implemented a major tax reform. These reforms may
succeed in turning the economy around in 1992.

GDP: $137.8 billion, per capita $16,200; real growth rate 0.3% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.9% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1990)

Budget: revenues $60.1 billion; expenditures $56.7 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY89)

Exports: $57.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp
and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and
petroleum products;

partners--EC 54.4%, (FRG 14.2%, UK 10.1%, Denmark 6.6%), US 8.6%, Norway 8.2%

Imports: $54.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing;

partners--EC 55.3%, US 8.4%

External debt: $14.1 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 2.0% (1990)

Electricity: 39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,000 million kWh produced,
16,700 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio
and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products,
processed foods, motor vehicles

Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy
products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops--grains,
sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes,
85% self-sufficient in sugar beets

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion

Currency: Swedish krona (plural--kronor);
1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 ore

Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1--5.6402 (January
1991), 5.9188 (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988), 6.3404 (1987), 7.1236
(1986), 8.6039 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 12,000 km total; Swedish State Railways (SJ)--10,819 km
1.435-meter standard gauge, 6,955 km electrified and 1,152 km double
track; 182 km 0.891-meter gauge; 117 km rail ferry service; privately
owned railways--511 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (332 km electrified);
371 km 0.891-meter gauge (all electrified)

Highways: 97,400 km (51,899 km paved, 20,659 km gravel, 24,842 km
unimproved earth)

Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges

Pipelines: 84 km natural gas

Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Malmo,
Stockholm; numerous secondary and minor ports

Merchant marine: 182 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,226,923
GRT/2,879,057 DWT; includes 9 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container,
45 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 11 vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier,
28 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 27 chemical tanker,
6 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 8 combination ore/oil,
12 bulk, 1 combination bulk

Civil air: 115 major transports

Airports: 256 total, 254 usable; 137 with permanent-surface
runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
92 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international facilities;
8,200,000 telephones; stations--4 AM, 56 (321 relays) FM, 111 (925 relays) TV;
5 submarine coaxial cables; communication satellite earth stations operating
in the INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Royal Swedish Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,136,227; 1,865,645 fit for
military service; 55,198 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $4.9 billion, 2.5% of GDP (FY90)



  * SWITZERLAND

SWITZERLAND
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 41,290 km2; land area: 39,770 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries: 1,852 km total; Austria 164 km, France 573 km,
Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy,
rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional
showers

Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a
central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
40%; forest and woodland 26%; other 23%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: dominated by Alps

Note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe

PEOPLE
Population: 6,783,961 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 83 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Swiss (sing. & pl.); adjective--Swiss

Ethnic divisions: total population--German 65%, French 18%,
Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%; Swiss nationals--German 74%,
French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980)

Language: total population--German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%,
Romansch 1%, other 4%; Swiss nationals--German 74%, French 20%,
Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%

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

Labor force: 3,310,000; 904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian;
services 50%, industry and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and
forestry 6%, other 1% (1989)

Organized labor: 20% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Swiss Confederation

Type: federal republic

Capital: Bern

Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular--canton in
French; cantoni, singular--cantone in Italian; kantone, singular--kanton
in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern,
Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern,
Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz,
Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

Independence: 1 August 1291

Constitution: 29 May 1874

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal
decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Federal Council
(German--Bundesrat, French--Conseil Federal, Italian--Consiglio Federale)

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly
(German--Bundesversammlung, French--Assemblee Federale,
Italian--Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or Council
of States (German--Standerat, French--Conseil des Etats,
Italian--Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National
Council (German--Nationalrat, French--Conseil National,
Italian--Consiglio Nazionale)

Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Flavio COTTI
(1991 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice President Rene
FELBER (term runs concurrently with that of president)

Political parties and leaders:
Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president;
Social Democratic Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman;
Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER,
chairman;
Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president;
Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president;
Automobile Party (AP),       DREYER;
Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER, president;
Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA;
Evangelical People's Party (EVP), Max DUNKI, president;
Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean SPIELMANN, general secretary;
Ticino League, leader NA
Liberal Party (LPS), Gilbert COUTAU, president;
National Action Party (NA), Rudolph KELLER, chairman;
Republican Party (RP), Franz BAUMGARTNER, president;
Progressive Organizations of Switzerland (POCH), Georg DEGEN, secretary;
Unitary Socialist Party (PSU), Dario ROBBIANI, president

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

Council of States--last held throughout 1991 (next to be
held 1995;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(46 total) FDP 15, CVP 14, SVP 4, LPS 3, LDU 1; note--9
seats require run-off elections, to be held in November1991

National Council--last held 20 October 1991
(next to be held October 1995);
results--FDP     %, SPS     %, CVP     %, SVP     %, GPS   %,
LPS    %, AP   %, LDU   %,SD    %, EVP    %, Workers Party    %,
Ticino League 23%, other    %; ?????????
seats--(200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS 10,
AP 8, LDU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, Workers Party 2, Ticino League 2, other 2

Communists: 4,500 members (est.)

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE,
EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IEA, IFAD,
ILO, IMF (observer), IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER; Chancery at
2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];
there are Swiss Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, New York, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Joseph B. GILDENHORN; Embassy at
Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern; telephone  41  (31) 437-011;
there is a Branch Office of the Embassy in Geneva and a
Consulate General in Zurich

Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the
center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: Switzerland's economic success is matched in few, if any,
other nations. Per capita output, general living standards, education
and science, health care, and diet are unsurpassed in Europe. Inflation
remains low because of sound government policy and harmonious
labor-management relations. Unemployment is negligible, a marked
contrast to the larger economies of Western Europe. This economic
stability helps promote the important banking and tourist sectors. Since
World War II, Switzerland's economy has adjusted smoothly to the great
changes in output and trade patterns in Europe and presumably can adjust
to the challenges of the 1990s, in particular, the further economic
integration of Western Europe and the amazingly rapid changes in East
European political/economic prospects.

GDP: $126 billion, per capita $18,700; real growth rate 2.6% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1990)

Budget: revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Exports: $63.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal
products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing;

partners--Western Europe 64% (EC 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4%

Imports: $70.5 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--agricultural products, machinery and transportation
equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials;

partners--Western Europe 78% (EC 71%, other 7%), US 6%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate 2.1% (1990)

Electricity: 17,710,000 kW capacity; 59,070 million kWh produced,
8,930 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Agriculture: dairy farming predominates; less than 50%
self-sufficient; food shortages--fish, refined sugar, fats and oils
(other than butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion

Currency: Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural--francs, franken,
or franchi); 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per
US$1--1.2724 (January 1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633
(1988), 1.4912 (1987), 1.7989 (1986), 2.4571 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 5,174 km total; 2,971 km are government owned
and 2,203 km are nongovernment owned; the government network consists
of 2,897 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 74 km 1.000-meter narrow
gauge track; 1,432 km double track, 99% electrified; the nongovernment
network consists of 710 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 1,418 km
1.000-meter gauge, and 75 km 0.790-meter gauge track, 100% electrified

Highways: 62,145 km total (all paved), of which 18,620 km are
canton and 1,057 km are national highways (740 km autobahn);
42,468 km are communal roads

Pipelines: 314 km crude oil; 1,506 km natural gas

Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen
to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes

Ports: Basel (river port)

Merchant marine: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 258,678
GRT/441,555 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 chemical
tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 7 bulk

Civil air: 89 major transport aircraft

Airports: 67 total, 65 usable; 42 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
17 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent domestic, international, and
broadcast services; 5,890,000 telephones; stations--6 AM, 36 (400
relays) FM, 145 (1,250 relays) TV; communications satellite earth
stations operating in the INTELSAT (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,802,005; 1,549,347 fit for
military service; 42,619 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $4.6 billion, 2% of GDP (1990)



  * SYRIA

SYRIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 185,180 km2; land area: 184,050 km2 (including 1,295
km2 of Israeli-occupied territory)

Comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota

Land boundaries: 2,253 km total; Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km,
Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km

Coastline: 193 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 6 nm beyond territorial sea limit;

Territorial sea: 35 nm

Disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Golan
Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; periodic
disputes with Iraq over Euphrates water rights; ongoing dispute over
water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers;
Kurdish question among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR

Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August)
and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast

Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;
mountains in west

Natural resources: crude oil, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores,
asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum

Land use: arable land 28%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
46%; forest and woodland 3%; other 20%; includes irrigated 3%

Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Note: there are 38 Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

PEOPLE
Population: 12,965,996 (July 1991), growth rate 3.8% (1991);
in addition, there are at least 12,000 Druze and 13,000 Jewish settlers
in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (1990 est.)

Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Syrian(s); adjective--Syrian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%; Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Religion: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim
sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, tiny Jewish communities in
Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo

Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic,
Circassian; French widely understood

Literacy: 64% (male 78%, female 51%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,400,000; miscellaneous and government services 36%,
agriculture 32%, industry and construction 32%; majority unskilled;
shortage of skilled labor (1984)

Organized labor: 5% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Syrian Arab Republic

Type: republic; under leftwing military regime since March 1963

Capital: Damascus

Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al
Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda, Dara, Dayr az Zawr,
Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration); formerly United Arab Republic

Constitution: 13 March 1973

Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special
religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)

Executive branch: president, three vice presidents, prime minister,
three deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab)

Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial
Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February
1971); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Rifat al-ASAD, and
Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
1987);
Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984);
Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981);
Deputy Prime Minister Mahmud QADDUR (since NA May 1985)

Political parties and leaders: ruling party is the Arab Socialist
Resurrectionist (Bath) Party;
the Progressive National Front is dominated by Bathists but includes
independents and members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP),
Arab Socialist Union (ASU),
Syrian Communist Party (SCP),
Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, and
Democratic Socialist Union Party

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 10-11 February 1985
(next to be held February 1992);
results--President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected without opposition;

People's Council--last held 22-23 May 1990
(next to be held May 1994);
results--Bath 53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist
Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%, Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%,
independents 33.6%;
seats--(250 total) Bath 134, ASU 8, SCP 8,
Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5, Democratic Socialist Union
Party 4, independents 84;
the People's Council was expanded to 250 seats total prior to the
May 1990 election

Communists: mostly sympathizers, numbering about 5,000

Other political or pressure groups: non-Bath parties have little
effective political influence; Communist party ineffective; greatest
threat to Asad regime lies in factionalism in the military; conservative
religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood

Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Walid MOUALEM;
Chancery at 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Edward P. DJEREJIAN; Embassy at Abu Rumaneh,
Al Mansur Street No.2, Damascus (mailing address is P. O. Box 29,
Damascus); telephone  963  (11) 333052 or 332557, 330416, 332814, 332315,
714108, 337178, 333232, 334352

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered
in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen which has a plain white
band and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription)
in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag
of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: Syria's rigidly structured Bathist economy turned
out slightly more goods in 1990 than in 1983, when the population was 20%
smaller. Economic difficulties are attributable, in part, to severe
drought in several recent years, costly but unsuccessful attempts
to match Israel's military strength, a falloff in Arab aid, and
insufficient foreign exchange earnings to buy needed inputs for industry
and agriculture. Socialist policy, embodied in a thicket of bureaucratic
regulations, in many instances has driven away or pushed underground the
mercantile and entrepreneurial spirit for which Syrian businessmen have
long been famous. Two bright spots: a sizable number of villagers have
benefited from land redistribution, electrification, and other rural
development programs; and a recent find of light crude oil has enabled
Syria to cut oil imports. A long-term concern is the additional drain of
upstream Euphrates water by Turkey when its vast dam and irrigation
projects are completed toward the end of the 1990s. Output in 1990
rebounded from the very bad year of 1989, as agricultural production
and oil revenues increased substantially.

GDP: $20.0 billion, per capita $1,600; real growth rate 12% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $4.8 billion; expenditures $5.5 billion, including
capital expenditures of $2.1 billion (1990 est.)

Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum 40%, textiles 30%, farm products 13%, phosphates (1989);

partners--USSR and Eastern Europe 42%, EC 31%, Arab countries 17%, US/Canada 2% (1989)

Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs and beverages 21%, metal and metal
products 16%, machinery 14%, textiles, petroleum (1989);

partners--EC 42%, USSR and Eastern Europe 13%, other Europe 13%,
US/Canada 8%, Arab countries 6% (1989)

External debt: $5.2 billion in hard currency (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 17% (1990 est.); accounts for 19% of GDP

Electricity: 2,867,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced,
500 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco,
phosphate rock mining, petroleum

Agriculture: accounts for 27% of GDP and one-third of labor force;
all major crops (wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown
mainly on rainfed land causing wide swings in production; animal
products--beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain
or livestock products

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538
million; Western (non-US) ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88),
$1.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; Communist
countries (1970-89), $3.3 billion

Currency: Syrian pound (plural--pounds);
1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piasters

Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1--11.2250 (fixed rate
since 1987), 3.9250 (fixed rate 1976-87)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,241 km total; 1,930 km standard gauge, 311 km
1.050-meter narrow gauge; note--the Tartus-Latakia line is nearly
complete

Highways: 27,000 km total; 21,000 km paved, 3,000 km gravel
or crushed stone, 3,000 km improved earth

Inland waterways: 672 km; of little economic importance

Pipelines: 1,304 km crude oil; 515 km refined products

Ports: Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas

Merchant marine: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 61,951
GRT/86,552 DWT; includes 18 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 vehicle
carrier, 1 bulk

Civil air: 35 major transport aircraft

Airports: 99 total, 96 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system currently undergoing significant
improvement; 512,600 telephones; stations--9 AM, 1 FM, 40 TV; satellite
earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station, with 1
Intersputnik station under construction; 1 submarine cable; coaxial
cable and radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon (inactive)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air
Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,825,214; 1,584,887 fit for
military service; 149,105 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.6 billion, 10.9% of GDP (1988 est.)



  * TAIWAN

TAIWAN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 35,980 km2; land area: 32,260 km2; includes the
Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
Connecticut

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with
China, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam; Paracel Islands occupied by
China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered
Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan

Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon
(June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently
rolling plains in west

Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos

Land use: arable land 24%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
5%; forest and woodland 55%; other 15%; irrigated 14%

Environment: subject to earthquakes and typhoons

PEOPLE
Population: 20,658,702 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (19901

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Chinese (sing., pl.); adjective--Chinese

Ethnic divisions: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%

Religion: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%,
Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Language: Mandarin Chinese (official); Taiwanese and Hakka dialects
also used

Literacy: 91.2% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Labor force: 7,900,000; industry and commerce 53%, services 22%,
agriculture 15.6%, civil administration 7% (1989)

Organized labor: 1,300,000 or about 18.4% (government controlled) (1983)

Administration  zzzz
Long-form name: none

Type: one-party presidential regime; opposition political parties
legalized in March, 1989

Capital: Taipei

Administrative divisions: the authorities in Taipei claim to be the
government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the central
administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng, singular and plural)
and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural)--Fu-chien (some 20
offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu),
Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the
Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced administrative
divisions are those of Taiwan Province--16 counties (hsien, singular and
plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special
municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i,
Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung,
Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung,
T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung,
T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un;
note--Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization

Constitution: 25 December 1947, presently undergoing revision

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: National Day (Anniversary of the Revolution),
10 October (1911)

Executive branch: president, vice president, premier of the
Executive Yuan, vice premier of the Executive Yuan, Executive Yuan

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan

Leaders:

Chief of State--President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988);
Vice President LI Yuan-zu (since 20 May 1990);

Head of Government--Premier (President of the Executive Yuan)
HAO Po-ts'un (since 2 May 1990); Vice Premier (Vice President of the
Executive Yuan) SHIH Ch'i-yang (since NA July 1988)

Political parties and leaders:
Kuomintang (Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman;
Democratic Socialist Party and Young China
Party controlled by Kuomintang;
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP);
Labor Party;
27 other minor parties

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

President--last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996);
results--President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly;

Vice President--last held 21 March 1990
(next to be held March 1996);
results--LI Yuan-zu was elected by the National Assembly;

Legislative Yuan--last held 2 December 1989
(next to be held December 1992);
results--KMT 65%, DPP 33%, independents 2%;
seats--(304 total, 102 elected) KMT 78, DPP 21, independents 3;

National Assembly:--originally elected in November 1947 (last
supplementary election in December 1986; Assembly will be completely
reelected in December 1991)

Member of: expelled from UN General Assembly and Security
Council on 25 October 1971 and withdrew on same date from other
charter-designated subsidiary organs; expelled from IMF/World Bank group
April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT; attempting to retain membership in
INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972, but still allows IAEA controls
over extensive atomic development; AsDB, ICC, ICFTU, IOC

Diplomatic representation: none; unofficial commercial and cultural
relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private
instrumentality, the Coordination Council for North American Affairs
(CCNAA) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and
10 other US cities with all addresses and telephone numbers NA;

US--unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of
Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American
Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7 Lane 134,
telephone  886  (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d
Road, telephone  886  (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade
Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center,
333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone  886  (2) 720-1550

Flag: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

ECONOMY
Overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable
government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial
government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real
growth in GNP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three decades.
Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for
industrialization. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GNP, down from 35%
in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading
countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being
replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries.

GNP: $150.8 billion, per capita $7,380; real growth rate 5.2% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1990)

Budget: revenues $30.3 billion; expenditures $30.1 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)

Exports: $67.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--textiles 15.6%, electrical machinery 18.2%, general
machinery and equipment 14.8%, basic metals and metal products 7.8%,
foodstuffs 1.7%, plywood and wood products 1.6% (1989);

partners--US 36.2%, Japan 13.7% (1989)

Imports: $54.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery and equipment 15.3%, crude oil 5%, chemical
and chemical products 11.1%, basic metals 13.0%, foodstuffs 2.2% (1989);

partners--Japan 31%, US 23%, FRG 5% (1989)

External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1990 est.)

Electricity: 17,000,000 kW capacity; 68,000 million kWh produced,
3,310 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing,
food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GNP and 16% of labor force
(includes part-time farmers); heavily subsidized sector; major
crops--vegetables, rice, fruit, tea; livestock--hogs, poultry, beef,
milk, cattle; not self-sufficient in wheat, soybeans, corn; fish catch
increasing, 1.4 million metric tons (1988)

Economic aid: US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $445 million

Currency: New Taiwan dollar (plural--dollars);
1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1--27.2 (January 1991),
27.243 (November 1990), 26.407 (1989), 28.589 (1988), 31.845 (1987),
37.838 (1986), 39.849 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: about 4,600 km total track with 1,075 km common
carrier lines and 3,525 km industrial lines; common carrier lines
consist of the 1.067-meter gauge 708 km West Line and the 367 km East
Line; a 98.25 km South Link Line connection is under construction; common
carrier lines owned by the government and operated by the Railway
Administration under Ministry of Communications; industrial lines owned
and operated by government enterprises

Highways: 20,041 km total; 17,095 km bituminous or concrete,
2,371 km crushed stone or gravel, 575 km graded earth

Pipelines: 615 km refined products, 97 km natural gas

Ports: Kao-hsiung, Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Su-ao, T'ai-tung

Merchant marine: 226 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,557,167
GRT/9,153,646 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 52 cargo, 17
refrigerated cargo, 75 container, 15 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
(POL) tanker, 3 combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 62 bulk

Airports: 38 total, 37 usable; 33 with permanent-surface runways;
3 with runways over 3,659 m; 16 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: best developed system in Asia outside of Japan;
7,800,000 telephones; extensive microwave transmission links on east and
west coasts; stations--91 AM, 23 FM, 15 TV (13 relays); 8,620,000
radios; 6,386,000 TVs (5,680,000 color, 706,000 monochrome);
earth stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT; submarine cable links to Japan (Okinawa), the Philippines,
Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and
Western Europe

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Taiwan
Garrison Command, Ministry of National Defense

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,874,345; 4,577,294 fit for
military service; about 187,807 currently reach military age (19) annually



  * TANZANIA

TANZANIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 945,090 km2; land area: 886,040 km2; includes the
islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: 3,402 km total; Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km,
Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia
338 km

Coastline: 1,424 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa;
Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be
indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the
Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Natural resources: hydropower potential, tin, phosphates,
iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 40%;
forest and woodland 47%; other 7%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: lack of water and tsetse fly limit agriculture; recent droughts
affected marginal agriculture; Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

PEOPLE
Population: 26,869,175 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 105 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 55 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Tanzanian(s); adjective--Tanzanian

Ethnic divisions: mainland--native African consisting of well over
100 tribes 99%; Asian, European, and Arab 1%

Religion:

mainland--Christian 33%, Muslim 33%, indigenous beliefs 33%;

Zanzibar--almost all Muslim

Language: Swahili and English (official); English primary language
of commerce, administration, and higher education; Swahili widely
understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups;
first language of most people is one of the local languages; primary
education is generally in Swahili

Literacy: 46% (male 62%, female 31%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1978)

Labor force: 732,200 wage earners; 90% agriculture, 10% industry
and commerce (1986 est.)

Organized labor: 15% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: United Republic of Tanzania

Type: republic

Capital: Dar es Salaam; some government offices have been
transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital in
the 1990s

Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam,
Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro,
Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma,
Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar
North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi

Independence: Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from
UN trusteeship under British administration); Zanzibar became independent
19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964
to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United
Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

Constitution: 15 March 1984 (Zanzibar has its own Constitution but
remains subject to provisions of the union Constitution)

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)

Executive branch: president, first vice president and prime
minister of the union, second vice president and president of Zanzibar,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Ali Hassan MWINYI (since 5 November
1985); First Vice President John MALECELA (since 9 November 1990);
Second Vice President Salmin AMOUR (since 9 November 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister John MALECELA (since 9
November 1990)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Chama Cha MAPINDUZI
(CCM or Revolutionary Party), Ali Hassan MWINYI, party chairman

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 28 October 1990
(next to be held October 1995);
results--Ali Hassan MWINYI was elected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 28 October 1990
(next to be held October 1995);
results--CCM is the only party;
seats--(241 total, 168 elected) CCM 168

Communists: no Communist party; a few Communist sympathizers

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-6, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Charles Musama
NYIRABU; Chancery at 2139 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Edmund DE JARNETTE; Embassy at 36 Laibon Road (off
Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam (mailing address is P. O. Box 9123,
Dar es Salaam); telephone  255  (51) 37501 through 37504

Flag: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the
lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the
lower triangle is blue

ECONOMY
Overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world.
The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about
47% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force.
Industry accounts for 8% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing
agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic
recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in
agricultural production and financial support for the program by
bilateral donors. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have
increased the availability of imports and provided funds to rehabilitate
Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure.

GDP: $5.92 billion, per capita $240; real growth rate 4.3%
(FY89 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 31.2 (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $495 million; expenditures $631 million,
including capital expenditures of $118 million (FY90)

Exports: $380 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--coffee, cotton, sisal, tea, cashew nuts, meat,
tobacco, diamonds, coconut products, pyrethrum, cloves (Zanzibar);

partners--FRG, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--manufactured goods, machinery and transportation
equipment, cotton piece goods, crude oil, foodstuffs;

partners--FRG, UK, US, Japan, Italy, Denmark

External debt: $5.8 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.2% (1988); accounts for 8% of GDP

Electricity: 401,000 kW capacity; 895 million kWh produced,
35 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer,
cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond mine, oil refinery, shoes, cement,
textiles, wood products, fertilizer

Agriculture: accounts for over 40% of GDP; topography and climatic
conditions limit cultivated crops to only 5% of land area; cash
crops--coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from
chrysanthemums), cashews, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar); food crops--corn,
wheat, cassava, bananas, fruits, and vegetables; small numbers of cattle,
sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in food grain production

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $400
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $9.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $44 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $614 million

Currency: Tanzanian shilling (plural--shillings);
1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1--196.60
(January 1991), 195.06 (1990), 143.377 (1989), 99.292 (1988), 64.260
(1987), 32.698 (1986), 17.472 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,555 km total; 960 km 1.067-meter gauge; 2,595 km
1.000-meter gauge, 6.4 km double track, 962 km Tazara Railroad
1.067-meter gauge; 115 km 1.000-meter gauge planned by end of decade

Highways: total 81,900 km, 3,600 km paved; 5,600 km gravel or
crushed stone; remainder improved and unimproved earth

Pipelines: 982 km crude oil

Inland waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa

Ports: Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, and Zanzibar are ocean ports;
Mwanza on Lake Victoria and Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika are inland ports

Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,784
GRT/25,860 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 3 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker

Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 105 total, 93 usable; 12 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
44 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system of open wire, radio relay, and
troposcatter; 103,800 telephones; stations--12 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; including Army,
Navy, and Air Force); paramilitary Police Field Force Unit; Militia

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,545,022; 3,200,744 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $111 million, 3.9% of GDP (1988)



  * THAILAND

THAILAND
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 514,000 km2; land area: 511,770 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries: 4,863 km total; Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km,
Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Coastline: 3,219 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime
boundary with Vietnam

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon
(mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to
mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain: central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains
elsewhere

Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum,
timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Land use: arable land 34%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 30%; other 31%; includes irrigated 7%

Environment: air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area

Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

PEOPLE
Population: 56,814,069 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Thai (sing. and pl.); adjective--Thai

Ethnic divisions: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religion: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%,
Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.5% (1991)

Language: Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite;
ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy: 93% (male 96%, female 90%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%,
commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)

Organized labor: 309,000 union members (1989)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Thailand; under martial law since
military takeover 23 February 1991

Type: constitutional monarchy; under martial law since
military coup of 23 February 1991

Capital: Bangkok

Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (changwat, singular and
plural); Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum,
Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin,
Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon,
Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon
Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan,
Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum
Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,
Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin
Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sakon
Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun,
Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin,
Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit,
Yala, Yasothon

Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized

Constitution: 22 December 1978; interim constitution promulgated
by National Peace-Keeping Council on 1 March 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of
common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial
law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Executive branch: monarch, interim prime minister, three
interim deputy prime ministers, interim Council of Ministers (cabinet),
Privy Council; following the military coup of 23 February 1991
a National Peace-Keeping Council was set up

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha)
consists of an upper house or Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or
House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn); following the
military coup of 23 February 1991 the National Assembly was dissolved
and a new interim National Legislative Assembly has been formed until
elections are held in April 1992

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarndika)

Leaders:

Chief of State--King PHUMIPHON ADUNLAYADET (since 9 June 1946);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952);

Head of Government--Interim Prime Minister ANAN Panyarachun
(since 4 March 1991);
Interim Deputy Prime Minister SANO Unakun (since 6 March 1991);
Interim Deputy Prime Minister Police Gen. PHAO Sarasin (since 6 March
1991);
Interim Deputy Prime Minister MICHAI Ruchupan (since 6 March 1991);

National Peace-Keeping Council (ruling junta)--Chairman
Gen. SUNTHON Khongsomphong;
Vice Chairman Gen. SUCHINDA Khraprayun;
Vice Chairman Adm. PRAPHAT Kritsanachan;
Vice Chairman Air Chief Mar. KASET Rotchananin;
Vice Chairman Police Gen. SAWAT Amonwiwat

Political parties and leaders: under martial law political
parties are prohibited from meeting; leaders of several parties have
resigned and other parties are fragmenting; it is unclear which of
the following parties functioning at the time of the military
coup will still be in existence by the time new elections are
held;

Thai Nation Party (TNP);
Solidarity Party;
Thai Citizens Party (TCP);
People's Party (Ratsadon);
Thai People's Party;
Social Action Party (SAP);
Democrat Party (DP);
Mass Party;
Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma);
People's Party (Prachachon);
New Aspiration Party;
United Democracy Party;
Liberal Party;
Social Democratic Force

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 24 July 1988 (next to be
held by April 1992 for a new National Legislative Assembly according
to the National Peace-Keeping Council);
results--TNP 27%, SAP 15%, DP 13%, TCP 9%, other 36%;
seats--(357 total) TNP 96, Solidarity 62, SAP 53, DP 48, TCP 31,
People's Party (Ratsadon) 21, Thai People's Party (Prachachon) 17,
Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 15, United Democracy Party 5,
Mass Party 5, Liberal 3, Social Democratic Force 1; note--the
House of Representatives was dissolved 23 February 1991; the
new interim National Legislative Assembly has 292 seats with 148 of
the seats held by active and retired military officers

Communists: illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members;
armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500 (est.)

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG
Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone]; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago,
Los Angeles, and New York;

US--Ambassador Daniel A. O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road,
Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone  66  (2)
252-504019; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates
in Songkhla and Udorn

Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
width), white, and red

ECONOMY
Overview: Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries
in Asia, enjoyed a year of 9% growth in 1990, although down from the
double-digit rates of 1987-89. The increasingly sophisticated
manufacturing sector benefited from export-oriented investment, but
the agricultural sector contracted 2%, primarily because of weaker
demand in Thailand's major overseas markets for commodities such as
rice. The trade deficit almost doubled in 1990, to $9 billion, but
earnings from tourism ($4.7 billion), remittances, and net capital
inflows helped keep the balance of payments in surplus. The government
has followed fairly sound fiscal and monetary policies, aided by
increased tax receipts from the fast-moving economy. In 1990 the
government approved new projects--especially for telecommunications
and roads--needed to refurbish the country's now overtaxed
infrastructure. Although growth in 1991 will slow further, Thailand's
economic outlook remains good, assuming the continuation of prudent
government policies in the wake of the 23 February 1991 military coup.

GNP: $79 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 10% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $15.2 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $4.1 billion (FY91)

Exports: $23.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--light manufactures 66%, fishery products 12%,
rice 8%, tapioca 8%, manufactured gas, corn, tin;

partners--US 22%, Japan 17%, Singapore 7%, Netherlands, FRG,
Hong Kong, UK, Malaysia, China (1989)

Imports: $32.0 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--machinery and parts 23%, petroleum products 13%,
chemicals 11%, iron and steel, electrical appliances;

partners--Japan 30%, US 11%, Singapore 8%, FRG 5%, Taiwan,
South Korea, China, Malaysia, UK (1989)

External debt: $26.9 billion (end 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 14% (1990 est.);
accounts for almost 27% of GDP

Electricity: 7,270,000 kW capacity; 29,000 million kWh produced,
530 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange;
textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco,
cement, other light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances
and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's
second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP and 62% of labor force;
leading producer and exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca); other
crops--rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans; except for wheat,
self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 2.8 million tons (1989)

Illicit drugs: a minor producer, major illicit trafficker of
heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, and cannabis for the
international drug market; eradication efforts have reduced the area of
cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries;
opium poppy cultivation has been affected by eradication efforts

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $8.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million

Currency: baht (plural--baht); 1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1--25.224 (January 1991), 25.585
(1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987), 26.299 (1986),
27.159 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track

Highways: 44,534 km total; 28,016 km paved, 5,132 km earth surface,
11,386 km under development

Inland waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with
navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous
minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Pipelines: natural gas, 350 km; refined products, 67 km

Ports: Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha

Merchant marine: 136 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 521,565
GRT/791,570 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 79 cargo,
9 container, 29 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
9 liquefied gas, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk, 3 refrigerated cargo,
1 combination bulk

Civil air: 41 (plus 2 leased) major transport aircraft

Airports: 127 total, 103 usable; 56 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 28 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: service to general public inadequate; bulk of
service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and
radio relay network; 739,500 telephones (1987); stations--over 200 AM,
100 FM, and 11 TV in government-controlled networks; satellite earth
stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT; domestic
satellite system being developed

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 16,028,159; 9,778,003 fit for
military service; 604,483 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $2.4 billion, 3% of GNP (1990 est.)



  * TOGO

TOGO
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 56,790 km2; land area: 54,390 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries: 1,647 km total; Benin 644 km, Burkina 126 km,
Ghana 877 km

Coastline: 56 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 30 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern
plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble

Land use: arable land 25%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 4%;
forest and woodland 28%; other 42%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north
during winter; recent droughts affecting agriculture; deforestation

PEOPLE
Population: 3,810,616 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 49 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 110 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 58 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Togolese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Togolese

Ethnic divisions: 37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe,
Mina, and Kabye; under 1% European and Syrian-Lebanese

Religion: indigenous beliefs about 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%

Language: French, both official and language of commerce; major African
languages are Ewe and Mina in the south and Dagomba and Kabye in the north

Literacy: 43% (male 56%, female 31%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: NA; agriculture 78%, industry 22%; about 88,600 wage
earners, evenly divided between public and private sectors; 50% of
population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: one national union, the National Federation of
Togolese Workers

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Togo

Type: republic; one-party presidential regime

Capital: Lome

Administrative divisions: 21 circumscriptions (circonscriptions,
singular--circonscription); Amlame (Amou), Aneho (Lacs),
Atakpame (Ogou), Badou (Wawa), Bafilo (Assoli), Bassar (Bassari),
Dapaong (Tone), Kante (Keran), Klouto (Kloto), Kpagouda (Binah),
Lama-Kara (Kozah), Lome (Golfe), Mango (Oti), Niamtougou (Doufelgou),
Notse (Haho), Sotouboua, Tabligbo (Yoto), Tchamba, Tchaoudjo,
Tsevie (Zio), Vogan (Vo); note--the 21 units may now be called
prefectures (prefectures, singular--prefecture) and reported name
changes for individual units are included in parentheses

Independence: 27 April 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French
administration, formerly French Togo)

Constitution: 30 December 1979, effective 13 January 1980

Legal system: French-based court system

National holiday: Liberation Day (anniversary of coup), 13 January (1967)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel), Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967);

Head of Government-interim Prime Minister Kokou KOFFIGOH (since 28 August 1991)

Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese
People (RPT) led by President EYADEMA was the only party until the
formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991; more than
10 parties formed as of mid-May, though none yet legally registered;
a national conference to determine transition regime took place
10-20 June 1991

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:

President--last held 21 December 1986
(next to be held December 1993);
results--Gen. EYADEMA was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 4 March 1990
(next to be held 14 June 1992);
results--RPT was the only party;
seats--(77 total) RPT 77

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, Entente,
FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ellom-Kodjo SCHUPPIUS;
Chancery at 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] or 4213;

US--Ambassador Harmon E. KIRBY; Embassy at Rue Pelletier
Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome (mailing address is B. P. 852, Lome);
telephone  [phone] through 94 and 21-77-17

Flag: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom)
alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red
square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on subsistence
agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of GDP and provides
employment for 78% of the labor force. Primary agricultural exports are
cocoa, coffee, and cotton, which together account for about 30% of total
export earnings. Togo is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests
are normal. In the industrial sector phosphate mining is by far the most
important activity, with phosphate exports accounting for about 40% of
total foreign exchange earnings. Togo serves as a regional commercial and
trade center. The government actively encourages foreign investment.

GDP: $1.4 billion, per capita $395; real growth rate 3.6% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 1.2% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 2.0% (1987)

Budget: revenues $330 million; expenditures $363 million,
including capital expenditures of $101 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $331 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--phosphates, cocoa, coffee, cotton, manufactures, palm kernels;

partners--EC 70%, Africa 9%, US 2%, other 19% (1985)

Imports: $344 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--food, fuels, durable consumer goods,
other intermediate goods, capital goods;

partners--EC 61%, US 6%, Africa 4%, Japan 4%, other 25% (1989)

External debt: $1.3 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.9% (1987 est.); 6% of GDP

Electricity: 179,000 kW capacity; 209 million kWh produced,
60 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement,
handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Agriculture: cash crops--coffee, cocoa, cotton; food crops--yams,
cassava, corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock production
not significant; annual fish catch, 10,000-14,000 tons

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $132 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $51 million

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989),
297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 515 km 1.000-meter gauge, single track

Highways: 6,462 km total; 1,762 km paved; 4,700 km unimproved roads

Inland waterways: none

Ports: Lome, Kpeme (phosphate port)

Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,906
GRT/70,483 DWT; includes 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 multifunction
large-load carrier

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 9 total, 9 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system based on network of open-wire lines
supplemented by radio relay routes; 12,000 telephones; stations--2 AM,
no FM, 3 (2 relays) TV; earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
and 1 SYMPHONIE

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 799,597; 420,092 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $44 million, 3.7% of GDP (1987)



  * TOKELAU

TOKELAU
(territory of New Zealand)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 10 km2; land area: 10 km2

Comparative area: about 17 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 101 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain: coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Note: located 3,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific
Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

PEOPLE
Population: 1,700 (July 1991), growth rate 0.0% (1991)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Tokelauan(s); adjective--Tokelauan

Ethnic divisions: all Polynesian, with cultural ties to Western Samoa

Religion: Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic
28%, other 2%; on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the
Congregational Christian Church predominant

Language: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language) and English

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: territory of New Zealand

Capital: none, each atoll has its own administrative center

Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand)

Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)

Constitution: administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948,
as amended in 1970

Legal system: British and local statutes

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

Executive branch: administrator (appointed by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs in New Zealand), official secretary

Legislative branch: Council of Elders (Taupulega) on each atoll

Judicial branch: High Court in Niue, Supreme Court in New Zealand

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government--Administrator Neil WALTER; Official Secretary
M. NORRISH, Office of Tokelau Affairs

Suffrage: NA

Elections: NA

Communists: probably none

Member of: SPC

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of New Zealand)

Flag: the flag of New Zealand is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources
greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the
subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to
maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than
GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage
stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to
families from relatives in New Zealand.

GDP: $1.4 million, per capita $800; real growth rate NA% (1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $430,830; expenditures $2.8 million, including
capital expenditures of $37,300 (FY87)

Exports: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983);

commodities--stamps, copra, handicrafts;

partners--NZ

Imports: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983);

commodities--foodstuffs, building materials, fuel;

partners--NZ

External debt: none

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 200 kW capacity; 300,000 kWh produced,
180 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood
work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Agriculture: coconuts, copra; basic subsistence crops--breadfruit,
papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $24 million

Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars);
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6798 (January
1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987),
1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa

Telecommunications: telephone service between islands and to
Western Samoa

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand



  * TONGA

TONGA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 748 km2; land area: 718 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 419 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: no specific limits;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December
to May), cool season (May to December)

Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted
coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Natural resources: fish, fertile soil

Land use: arable land 25%; permanent crops 55%; meadows and
pastures 6%; forest and woodland 12%; other 2%

Environment: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to
cyclones (October to April); deforestation

Note: located about 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about
two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and New Zealand

PEOPLE
Population: 102,272 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Tongan(s); adjective--Tongan

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian; about 300 Europeans

Religion: Christian; Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents

Language: Tongan, English

Literacy: 100% (male 100%, female 100%)
age 15 and over can read and write a simple message in Tongan or English (1976)

Labor force: NA; 70% agriculture; 600 engaged in mining

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Kingdom of Tonga

Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Nukualofa

Administrative divisions: three island groups; Haapai, Tongatapu, Vavau

Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK; formerly Friendly Islands)

Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Legal system: based on English law

National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Prince Fatafehi TU'IPELEHAKE
(since 16 December 1965)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Reform Movement,
'Akolisi POHIVA

Suffrage: all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21

Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held 14-15 February 1990
(next to be held NA February 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(29 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist

Communists: none known

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Siosaia a'Ulupekotofa
TUITA resides in London;

US--the US has no offices in Tonga; the Ambassador to Fiji is
accredited to Tonga and makes periodic visits

Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of
the labor force and contributes 50% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and vanilla
beans are the main crops and make up two-thirds of exports. The country
must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The
manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary
source of hard currency earnings, but the island remains dependent on
sizable external aid and remittances to sustain its trade deficit.

GDP: $86 million, per capita $850; real growth rate 3.6% (FY89 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (FY89)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $30.6 million; expenditures $48.9 million,
including capital expenditures of $22.5 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $9.6 million (f.o.b., FY90 est.);

commodities--coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, bananas, taro,
vanilla beans, fruits, vegetables, fish;

partners--NZ 54%, Australia 30%, US 8%, Fiji 5% (FY87)

Imports: $59.9 million (c.i.f., FY90 est.);

commodities--food products, beverages and tobacco, fuels, machinery
and transport equipment, chemicals, building materials;

partners--NZ 39%, Australia 25%, Japan 9%, US 6%, EC 5% (FY87)

External debt: $42.0 million (FY89)

Industrial production: growth rate 15% (FY86); accounts for 11% of GDP

Electricity: 6,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced,
80 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, fishing

Agriculture: dominated by coconut, copra, and banana production;
vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $240 million

Currency: pa'anga (plural--pa'anga); 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti

Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1--1.2832 (January 1991),
1.2809 (1990), 1.2637 (1989), 1.2799 (1988), 1.4282 (1987), 1.4960
(1986), 1.4319 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 198 km sealed road (Tongatapu); 74 km (Vavau); 94 km
unsealed roads usable only in dry weather

Ports: Nukualofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Merchant marine: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,857
GRT/480,726 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 container,
1 liquefied gas

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 3,529 telephones; 66,000 radios; no TV sets;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Land Force, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines,
Royal Tongan Guard, Police

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5,130 km2; land area: 5,130 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 362 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, asphalt

Land use: arable land 14%; permanent crops 17%; meadows and pastures 2%;
forest and woodland 44%; other 23%; includes irrigated 4%

Environment: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Note: located 11 km from Venezuela

PEOPLE
Population: 1,285,297 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s);
adjective--Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Ethnic divisions: black 43%, East Indian 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%,
Chinese 1%, other 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%,
other Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%

Language: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish

Literacy: 95% (male 97%, female 93%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Labor force: 463,900; construction and utilities 18.1%;
manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14.8%; agriculture 10.9%;
other 56.2% (1985 est.)

Organized labor: 22% of labor force (1988)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port-of-Spain

Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and
1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew,
Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria

Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)

Constitution: 31 August 1976

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March 1987);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON
(since 18 December 1986)

Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), A. N. R. ROBINSON;
People's National Movement (PNM), Patrick MANNING;
United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY;
Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held 15 December 1986
(next to be held by December 1991);
results--NAR 66%, PNM 32%, other 2%;
seats--(36 total) NAR 33, PNM 3; note--in 1989 six members
were expelled from the NAR and formed the UNC, while retaining
their parliamentary seats; as a result seats held are NAR 27,
UNC 6, PNM 3

Communists: Communist Party of Trinidad and Tobago; Trinidad and
Tobago Peace Council, James MILLETTE

Other political pressure groups: National Joint Action Committee
(NJAC), radical antigovernment black-identity organization; Trinidad and
Tobago Peace Council, leftist organization affiliated with the World
Peace Council; Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce;
Trinidad and Tobago Labor Congress, moderate labor federation; Council of
Progressive Trade Unions, radical labor federation

Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Angus Albert KHAN; Chancery
at 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone
[phone]; Trinidad and Tobago has a Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador Charles A. GARGANO; Embassy at 15 Queen's Park West,
Port-of-Spain (mailing address is P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain);
telephone [phone] through 6376, 6176

Flag: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum-based economy began to
emerge from a lengthy depression in 1990. The economy fell sharply
through most of the 1980s, largely because of the decline in oil prices.
This sector accounts for 80% of export earnings and more than 25% of
GDP. The government, in response to the oil revenue loss, pursued a
series of austerity measures that pushed the unemployment rate as high
as 22% in 1988. The economy showed signs of recovery in 1990, however,
helped along by rising oil prices. Agriculture employs only about 11% of
the labor force and produces about 3% of GDP. Since this sector is
small, it has been unable to absorb the large numbers of the unemployed.
The government currently seeks to diversify its export base.

GDP: $4.05 billion, per capita $3,363; real growth rate - 3.7% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.4% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--includes reexports--petroleum and petroleum products 82%,
steel products 9%, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus (1988);

partners--US 53%, CARICOM 16%, EC 10%, Latin America 3% (1989)

Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--raw materials and intermediate goods 47%, capital
goods 26%, consumer goods 26% (1988);

partners--US 51%, Latin America 10%, UK 8%, Canada 5%, CARICOM 6% (1989)

External debt: $2.5 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.2%, excluding oil refining
(1986); accounts for 30% of GDP, including petroleum

Electricity: 1,176,000 kW capacity; 3,468 million kWh produced,
2,730 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement,
beverage, cotton textiles

Agriculture: highly subsidized sector; major crops--cocoa and
sugarcane; sugarcane acreage is being shifted into rice, citrus, coffee,
vegetables; poultry sector most important source of animal protein; must
import large share of food needs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $373
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $443 million

Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1--4.2500
(January 1991), 4.2500 (1990), 4.2500 (1989), 3.8438 (1988),
3.6000 (1987), 3.6000 (1986), 2.4500 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: minimal agricultural system near San Fernando

Highways: 8,000 km total; 4,000 km paved, 1,000 km improved earth,
3,000 km unimproved earth

Pipelines: 1,032 km crude oil; 19 km refined products; 904 km natural gas

Ports: Port-of-Spain, Point Lisas, Pointe-a-Pierre

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

Airports: 6 total, 5 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: excellent international service via
tropospheric scatter links to Barbados and Guyana; good local service;
109,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (Army), Coast Guard,
Air Wing, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 339,260; 245,086 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $59 million, 1.6% of GDP (1989 est.)



  * TROMELIN ISLAND

TROMELIN ISLAND
(French possession)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 1 km2; land area: 1 km2

Comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 3.7 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles

Climate: tropical

Terrain: sandy

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other--scattered bushes 100%

Environment: wildlife sanctuary

Note: located 350 km east of Madagascar and 600 km north of Reunion in the
Indian Ocean; climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones

PEOPLE
Population: uninhabited

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the
Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

ECONOMY
Overview: no economic activity

COMMUNICATIONS
Airports: 1 with runway less than 1,220 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Telecommunications: important meteorological station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * TUNISIA

TUNISIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 163,610 km2; land area: 155,360 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries: 1,424 km total; Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline: 1,148 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Libya

Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers; desert in south

Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south
merges into the Sahara

Natural resources: crude oil, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc,
salt

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and pastures 19%;
forest and woodland 4%; other 47%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean; only 144 km from
Italy across the Strait of Sicily; borders Libya on east

PEOPLE
Population: 8,276,096 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Tunisian(s); adjective--Tunisian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%

Religion: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish less than 1%

Language: Arabic (official); Arabic and French (commerce)

Literacy: 65% (male 74%, female 56%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,250,000; agriculture 32%; shortage of skilled labor

Organized labor: about 360,000 members claimed, roughly 20% of labor force;
General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT), quasi-independent of Constitutional
Democratic Party

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Tunisia; note--may be changed to Tunisian Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Tunis

Administrative divisions: 23 governorates (wilayat,
singular--wilayah); Al Kaf, Al Mahdiyah, Al Munastir,
Al Qasrayn, Al Qayrawan, Aryanah, Bajah, Banzart,
Bin Arus, Jundubah, Madanin, Nabul, Qabis, Qafsah,
Qibili, Safaqis, Sidi Bu Zayd, Silyanah, Susah,
Tatawin, Tawzar, Tunis, Zaghwan

Independence:  20 March 1956 (from France)

Constitution: 1 June 1959

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law;
some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint
session

National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab)

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Gen. Zine el Abidine BEN ALI
(since 7 November 1987);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (RCD), President BEN ALI
(official ruling party);
Movement of Democratic Socialists (MDS), Ahmed Mestiri;
five other political parties are legal, including the Communist Party

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:

President--last held 2 April 1989 (next to be held April 1994);
results--Gen. Zine el Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 2 April 1989
(next to be held April 1994);
results--RCD 80.7%, independents/Islamists 13.7%, MDS 3.2%, other 2.4%;
seats--(141 total) RCD 141

Communists: a small number of nominal Communists, mostly students

Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Habib LAZREG;
Chancery at 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20005;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Robert H. PELLETREAU, Jr.; Embassy at 144 Avenue de la Liberte,
1002 Tunis-Belvedere; telephone [phone]

Flag: red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent
nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are
traditional symbols of Islam

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy depends primarily on petroleum, phosphates,
tourism, and exports of light manufactures for continued growth.
Following two years of drought-induced economic decline, the economy
made a strong recovery in 1990 as a result of a bountiful harvest,
continued export growth, and higher domestic investment. Continued
high inflation and unemployment have eroded popular support for the
government, however, and forced Tunis to slow the pace of economic
reform. Nonetheless, the government appears committed to implementing
its IMF-supported structural adjustment program and to servicing
its foreign debt.

GDP: $10 billion, per capita $1,235; real growth rate 6.5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 15.4% (1989)

Budget: revenues $3.8 billion; expenditures $4.9 billion,
including capital expenditures of $970 million (1991 est.)

Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and chemicals;

partners--EC 73%, Middle East 9%, US 1%, Turkey, USSR

Imports: $4.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%,
food 12%, consumer goods;

partners--EC 68%, US 7%, Canada, Japan, USSR, China, Saudi Arabia, Algeria

External debt: $7.4 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1989); accounts for 38% of GDP,
including petroleum

Electricity: 1,493,000 kW capacity; 4,210 million kWh produced,
530 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore),
textiles, footwear, food, beverages

Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP and one-third of labor force;
output subject to severe fluctuations because of frequent droughts;
export crops--olives, dates, oranges, almonds; other products--grain,
sugar beets, wine grapes, poultry, beef, dairy; not self-sufficient in
food; fish catch of 99,200 metric tons (1987)

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $730
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $684 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $410 million

Currency: Tunisian dinar (plural--dinars);
1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1--0.8408 (January
1991), 0.8783 (1990), 0.9493 (1989), 0.8578 (1988), 0.8287 (1987),
0.7940 (1986), 0.8345 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,154 km total; 465 km 1.435-meter standard gauge;
1,689 km 1.000-meter gauge

Highways: 17,700 km total; 9,100 km bituminous; 8,600 km improved
and unimproved earth

Pipelines: 797 km crude oil; 86 km refined products; 742 km natural gas

Ports: Bizerte, Gabes, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, La Goulette, Zarzis

Merchant marine: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 160,172
GRT/218,970 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 4 cargo, 2
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6
chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk

Civil air: 13 major transport aircraft

Airports: 29 total, 28 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: the system is above the African average;
facilities consist of open-wire lines, multiconductor cable, and radio
relay; key centers are Safaqis, Susah, Bizerte, and Tunis;
233,000 telephones; stations--18 AM, 4 FM, 14 TV; 4 submarine cables;
earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT with
back-up control station; coaxial cable to Algeria; radio relay to
Algeria, Libya, and Italy

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,052,191; 1,180,614 fit for
military service; 90,218 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $315 million, 2.6% of GDP (1990 est.)



  * TURKEY

TURKEY
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 780,580 km2; land area: 770,760 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries: 2,715 km total; Bulgaria 240 km, Greece 206 km,
Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km, USSR 617 km

Coastline: 7,200 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only--to the maritime
boundary agreed upon with the USSR;

Territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea, 12 nm in Black Sea and
Mediterranean Sea

Disputes: complex maritime and air (but not territorial)
disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Hatay question
with Syria; ongoing dispute with downstream riparians (Syria and
Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers; Kurdish question among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and
the USSR

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters;
harsher in interior

Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central
plateau (Anatolia)

Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper,
borate, sulphur, iron ore

Land use: arable land 30%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and
pastures 12%; forest and woodland 26%; other 28%; includes
irrigated 3%

Environment: subject to severe earthquakes, especially along
major river valleys in west; air pollution; desertification

Note: strategic location controlling the Turkish straits
(Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean
Seas; Turkey and Norway only NATO members having a land boundary
with the USSR

PEOPLE
Population: 58,580,993 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 54 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Turk(s); adjective--Turkish

Ethnic divisions: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 17%, other 3% (est.)

Religion: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 99.8%, other (Christian and Jews) 0.2%

Language: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic

Literacy: 81% (male 90%, female 71%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 18,800,000; agriculture 56%, services 30%,
industry 14%; about 1,000,000 Turks work abroad (1987)

Organized labor: 10-15% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Turkey

Type: republican parliamentary democracy

Capital: Ankara

Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (iller, singular--il);
Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya,
Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis,
Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli,
Diyarbakir, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep,
Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Isparta,
Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu,
Kayseri, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya,
Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu,
Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat,
Trabzon, Tunceli, Urfa, Usak, Van, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Independence: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman
Empire)

Constitution: 7 November 1982

Legal system: derived from various continental legal systems;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic,
29 October (1923)

Executive branch: president, Presidential Council, prime minister,
deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Grand National Assembly (Buyuk Millet Meclisi)

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Turgut OZAL (since 9 November 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Mesut YILMAZ (since 30
June 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Ekrem PAKDAMIRLI (since 30 June
1991)

Political parties and leaders:
Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut YILMAZ;
Social Democratic People's Party (SHP), Erdal INONU;
Correct Way Party (DYP), Suleyman DEMIREL;
People's Labor Party (HEP), Fehmi ISIKLAR;
Socialist Unity Party (SBP), leader NA;
Democratic Center Party (DMP), Bedrettin DALAN;
Great Anatolia Party (BAP), leader NA;
Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bulent ECEVIT;
Refah Party (RP), Necmettin ERBAKAN;
Democratic Center Party (DSP), Bedrettin DALAN;
Grand National Party (GNP), leader NA

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections:

Grand National Assembly--last held 29 November 1987
(next to be held November 1992);
results--ANAP 36%, SHP 25%, DYP 19%, other 20%;
seats--(450 total) ANAP 275, SHP 82, DYP 60, HEP 9, SBP 4,
DMP 2, BAP 1, independent 6, vacant 11

Communists: strength and support negligible

Member of: AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), COCOM, CSCE, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NATO, NEA, OECD, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIIMOG, UNRWA, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Nuzhet KANDEMIR; Chancery at
1606 23rd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];
there are Turkish Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
and New York;

US--Ambassador Morton ABRAMOWITZ; Embassy at 110 Ataturk Boulevard,
Ankara (mailing address is APO New York 09257-0006);
telephone  90  (4) 126 54 70; there are US Consulates General in
Istanbul and Izmir, and a Consulate in Adana

Flag: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is
toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside
the crescent opening

ECONOMY
Overview: The economic reforms that Turkey launched in 1980
continue to bring an impressive stream of benefits. The economy has grown
steadily since the early 1980s, with real growth in per capita GDP
increasing more than 6% annually. Agriculture remains the most important
economic sector, employing about 55% of the labor force, accounting for
almost 20% of GDP, and contributing about 20% to exports. Impressive
growth in recent years has not solved all of the economic problems facing
Turkey. Inflation and interest rates remain high, and a large budget
deficit will continue to provide difficulties for a country undergoing a
substantial transformation from a centrally controlled to a free market
economy. The government has launched a multimillion-dollar development
program in the southeastern region, which includes the building of a
dozen dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to generate electric power
and irrigate large tracts of farmland. The planned tapping of huge
additional quantities of Euphrates water has raised serious concern in
the downstream riparian nations of Syria and Iraq.

GDP: $178.0 billion, per capita $3,100; real growth rate 7.6% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 10.4% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $27.6 billion; expenditures $34.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $6.6 billion (1991)

Exports: $11.8 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--industrial products 78%, crops and livestock products 20%;

partners--FRG 18%, Italy 8%, Iraq 8%, US 8%, UK 5%, France 4%

Imports: $16.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, metals,
pharmaceuticals, dyes, plastics, rubber, mineral fuels, fertilizers,
chemicals;

partners--FRG 15%, US 11%, Iraq 10%, Italy 7%, France 6%, UK 5%

External debt: $42.8 billion (June 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 32% of GDP

Electricity: 14,315,000 kW capacity; 41,000 million kWh produced,
720 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: textiles, food processing, mining (coal, chromite,
copper, boron minerals), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP and employs majority of
population; products--tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets,
pulses, citrus fruit, variety of animal products; self-sufficient in
food most years

Illicit drugs: one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate
products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy
cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.3
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $8.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $665 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $4.5 billion

Currency: Turkish lira (plural--liras); 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--2,873.9 (December
1990), 2,608.6 (1990), 2,121.7 (1989), 1,422.3 (1988), 857.2 (1987),
674.5 (1986), 522.0 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 8,401 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; 479 km electrified

Highways: 49,615 km total; 26,915 km bituminous; 16,500 km gravel
or crushed stone; 4,000 km improved earth; 2,200 km unimproved earth (1985)

Inland waterways: about 1,200 km

Pipelines: 1,738 km crude oil; 2,321 km refined products;
708 km natural gas

Ports: Iskenderun, Istanbul, Mersin, Izmir

Merchant marine: 340 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,583,720
GRT/6,220,642 DWT; includes 8 short-sea passenger,
1 passenger-cargo, 190 cargo, 1 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
3 refrigerated cargo, 1 livestock carrier, 37 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 7
combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 72 bulk, 4 combination bulk

Civil air: 39 major transport aircraft (1990)

Airports: 115 total, 109 usable; 64 with permanent-surface runways;
3 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 26 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair domestic and international systems; trunk
radio relay network; 3,400,000 telephones; stations--15 AM; 45 (60
repeaters) FM; 67 (504 repeaters) TV; satellite communications
ground stations operating in the INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT
systems; 1 submarine telephone cable

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Land Forces, Navy (including Naval Air and Naval
Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,861,358; 9,083,559 fit for
military service; 606,871 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $5.6 billion, 5% of GDP (1990)



  * TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 430 km2; land area: 430 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 389 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch

Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 0%; other 98%

Environment: 30 islands (eight inhabited); subject to frequent hurricanes

Note: located 190 km north of the Dominican Republic in the North
Atlantic Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 9,983 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 25 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: no noun or adjectival forms

Ethnic divisions: majority of African descent

Religion: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)

Language: English (official)

Literacy: 98% (male 99%, female 98%)
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Labor force: NA; majority engaged in fishing and tourist
industries; some subsistence agriculture

Organized labor: Saint George's Industrial Trade Union

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, and a
Constitutional Commission is currently reviewing its contents

Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales with a small
number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),
represented by Governor Michael J. BRADLEY (since 1987);

Head of Government--Chief Minister Oswald O. SKIPPINGS (since 3 March 1988)

Political parties and leaders:
People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Oswald SKIPPINGS;
Progressive National Party (PNP), Dan MALCOLM and Norman SAUNDERS;
National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel MISSICK

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Legislative Council--last held on 3 March 1988
(next to be held NA);
results--PDM 60%, PNP 30%, other 10%;
seats--(20 total, 13 elected) PDM 11, PNP 2

Communists: none

Member of: CDB

Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK, the
interests of the Turks and Caicos Islands are represented in the US by
the UK;

US--none

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and offshore
banking. Subsistence farming--corn and beans--exists only on the Caicos
Islands, so that most foods, as well as nonfood products, must be
imported.

GDP: $44.9 million, per capita $5,000; real growth rate NA% (1986)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 12% (1989)

Budget: revenues $12.4 million; expenditures $15.8 million,
including capital expenditures of $2.6 million (FY87)

Exports: $2.9 million (f.o.b., FY84);

commodities--lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells;

partners--US, UK

Imports: $26.3 million (c.i.f., FY84);

commodities--foodstuffs, drink, tobacco, clothing;

partners--US, UK

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 9,050 kW capacity; 11.1 million kWh produced,
1,140 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: fishing, tourism, offshore financial services

Agriculture: subsistence farming prevails, based on corn and beans;
fishing more important than farming; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $100 million

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 121 km, including 24 km tarmac

Ports: Grand Turk, Salt Cay, Providenciales, Cockburn Harbour

Civil air: Air Turks and Caicos (passenger service) and Turks Air Ltd.
(cargo service)

Airports: 7 total, 7 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair cable and radio services; 1,446
telephones; stations--3 AM, no FM, several TV; 2 submarine cables;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



  * TUVALU

TUVALU
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 26 km2; land area: 26 km2

Comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 24 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November);
westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: severe tropical storms are rare

Note: located 3,000 km east of Papua New Guinea in the South
Pacific Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 9,317 (July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 33 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 63 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Tuvaluans(s); adjective--Tuvaluan

Ethnic divisions: 96% Polynesian

Religion: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.06%

Language: Tuvaluan, English

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: none

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: democracy

Capital: Funafuti

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK; formerly Ellice Islands)

Constitution: 1 October 1978

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general,
prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Palamene)

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Tupua LEUPENA (since 1 March 1986);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 16 October 1989);
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Alesana SELUKA (since October 1989)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Parliament--last held 28 September 1989
(next to be held by September 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(12 total)

Member of: ACP, C (special), ESCAP, SPC, SPF, UPU

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant);

US--none

Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with
nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

ECONOMY
Overview: Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls
with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few
exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic
activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development of
a tourist industry. Government revenues largely come from the sale of
stamps and coins and worker remittances. Substantial income is received
annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by
Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South
Korea.

GNP: $4.6 million, per capita $530; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1984)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $4.3 million; expenditures $4.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exports: $1.0 million (f.o.b., 1983 est.);

commodities--copra;

partners--Fiji, Australia, NZ

Imports: $2.8 million (c.i.f., 1983 est.);

commodities--food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods;

partners--Fiji, Australia, NZ

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA

Electricity: 2,600 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced,
330 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: fishing, tourism, copra

Agriculture: coconuts, copra

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $96 million

Currency: Tuvaluan dollar and Australian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A)
per US$1--1.2834 (January 1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989),
1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: NA

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 8 km gravel

Ports: Funafuti, Nukufetau

Merchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
1,043 GRT/450 DWT

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV; 300
radiotelephones; 4,000 radios; 108 telephones

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Police Force

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * UGANDA

UGANDA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 236,040 km2; land area: 199,710 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: 2,698 km total; Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km,
Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km, Zaire 765 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons
(December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Natural resources: copper, cobalt, limestone, salt

Land use: arable land 23%; permanent crops 9%; meadows and pastures 25%;
forest and woodland 30%; other 13%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: straddles Equator; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 18,690,070 (July 1991), growth rate 3.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 51 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 94 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 52 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ugandan(s); adjective--Ugandan

Ethnic divisions: African 99%, European, Asian, Arab 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%,
rest indigenous beliefs

Language: English (official); Luganda and Swahili widely used;
other Bantu and Nilotic languages

Literacy: 48% (male 62%, female 35%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 4,500,000 (est.); subsistence agriculture 94%, wage
earners (est.) 6%; 50% of population of working age (1983)

Organized labor: 125,000 union members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Uganda

Type: republic

Capital: Kampala

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Busoga, Central, Eastern,
Karamoja, Nile, North Buganda, Northern, South Buganda, Southern, Western

Independence: 9 October 1962 (from UK)

Constitution: 8 September 1967, in process of constitutional
revision

Legal system: government plans to restore system based on English
common law and customary law and reinstitute a normal judicial system;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Executive branch: president, prime minister,
three deputy prime ministers, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Resistance Council

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI
(since 29 January 1986); Vice President Samson Babi Mululu KISEKKA
(since NA January 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister George Cosmas ADYEBO
(since NA January 1991)

Political parties and leaders: only party--National Resistance
Movement (NRM); note--the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), Ugandan
People's Congress (UPC), Democratic Party (DP), and Conservative Party
(CP) are all proscribed from conducting public political activities

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

National Resistance Council--last held 11-28 February 1989
(next to be held after January 1995);
results--NRM is the only party;
seats--(278 total, 210 indirectly elected) 210 members elected
without party affiliation

Other political parties or pressure groups:
Uganda People's Front (UPF),
Uganda People's Christian Democratic Army (UPCDA),
Ruwenzori Movement

Communists: possibly a few sympathizers

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Stephen Kapimpina
KATENTA-APULI; 5909 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20011; telephone (202)
726-7100 through 7102;

US--Ambassador James CARSON; Embassy at Parliament
Avenue, Kampala (mailing address is P. O. Box 7007, Kampala);
telephone [phone], 259793, 259795

Flag: six equal horizonal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black,
yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts
a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the staff side

ECONOMY
Overview: Uganda has substantial natural resources, including
fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper
and cobalt. The economy has been devastated by much political
instability, mismanagement, and civil war since independence in 1962,
keeping Uganda poor with a per capita income of about $300. (GDP remains
below the levels of the early 1970s, as does industrial production.)
Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over
80% of the work force. Coffee is the major export crop and accounts
for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986 the government has
acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking
currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing
petroleum prices, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes
are especially aimed at dampening inflation, which was running at over
300% in 1987, and boosting production and export earnings.

GDP: $4.9 billion, per capita $290 (1988); real growth rate 6.1% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (FY90)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $365 million; expenditures $545 million,
including capital expenditures of $165 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $273 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--coffee 97%, cotton, tea;

partners--US 25%, UK 18%, France 11%, Spain 10%

Imports: $652 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--petroleum products, machinery, cotton piece goods,
metals, transportation equipment, food;

partners--Kenya 25%, UK 14%, Italy 13%

External debt: $1.9 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 15.0% (1989 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP

Electricity: 173,000 kW capacity; 312 million kWh produced,
18 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement

Agriculture: accounts for 57% of GDP and 83% of labor force; cash
crops--coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco; food crops--cassava, potatoes, corn,
millet, pulses; livestock products--beef, goat meat, milk, poultry;
self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $145
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $169 million

Currency: Ugandan shilling (plural--shillings);
1 Ugandan shilling (USh) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1--563.18 (January
1991), 428.85 (1990), 223.09 (1989), 106.14 (1988), 42.84 (1987),
14.00 (1986), 6.72 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,300 km, 1.000-meter-gauge single track

Highways: 26,200 km total; 1,970 km paved; 5,849 km crushed stone,
gravel, and laterite; remainder earth roads and tracks

Inland waterways: Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake
George, Lake Edward; Victoria Nile, Albert Nile; principal inland water
ports are at Jinja and Port Bell, both on Lake Victoria

Merchant marine: 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 1,697 GRT

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airports: 37 total, 28 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 10 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: fair system with radio relay and radio
communications stations; 61,600 telephones; stations--10 AM, no FM, 9 TV;
satellite communications ground stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, about 3,980,637; about 2,162,241
fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $68 million, 1.5% of GDP (1988)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 83,600 km2; land area: 83,600 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries: 1,016 km total; Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 586 km,
Qatar 20 km

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant line

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm (assumed), 12 nm for Ash Shariqah
(Sharjah)

Disputes: boundary with Qatar is in dispute; no defined boundary
with Saudi Arabia; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but
Administrative Line in far north; claims three islands in the Persian
Gulf occupied by Iran (Jazireh-ye Abu Musa or Abu
Musa, Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye
Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb)

Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand
dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Natural resources: crude oil and natural gas

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 2%;
forest and woodland NEGL%; other 98%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: frequent dust and sand storms; lack of natural
freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification

Note: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz,
a vital transit point for world crude oil

PEOPLE
Population: 2,389,759 (July 1991), growth rate 5.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 30 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 30 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Emirian(s), adjective--Emirian

Ethnic divisions: Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian
(fluctuating) 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East
Asians) 8%; less than 20% of the population are UAE citizens (1982)

Religion: Muslim 96% (Shia 16%); Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

Language: Arabic (official); Persian and English widely spoken in
major cities; Hindi, Urdu

Literacy: 68% (male 70%, female 63%)
age 10 and over but definition of literacy not available (1980)

Labor force: 580,000 (1986 est.); industry and commerce 85%,
agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 5%; 80% of labor force is foreign

Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: United Arab Emirates (no short-form name); abbreviated UAE

Type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central
government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat,
singular--imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), Ajman, Al Fujayrah,
Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, Ras al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK; formerly Trucial States)

Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)

Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government
and in several member shaykhdoms; Islamic law remains influential

National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Supreme Council of
Rulers, prime minister, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihad)

Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan Al NUHAYYAN,
(since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Dhabi;
Vice President Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid al-MAKTUM (since 8 October 1990),
ruler of Dubayy;

Head of Government--Prime Minister Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid
al-MAKTUM (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy;
Deputy Prime Minister Sultan bin Zayid Al NUHAYYAN
(since 20 November 1990)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: NA

Other political or pressure groups: a few small clandestine
groups are active

Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77,
GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC,
OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdullah bin Zayid
Al NUHAYYAN; Chancery at Suite 740, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20037; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.; Embassy at Al-Sudan Street,
Abu Dhabi (mailing address is P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi); telephone  971
(2) 336691; there is a US Consulate General in Dubayy (Dubai)

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black
with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's
highest incomes per capita outside the OECD nations. This wealth is based
on oil and gas, and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices
of those commodities. Since 1973, when petroleum prices shot up, the UAE
has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of
small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of
living. At present levels of production, crude oil reserves should last
for over 100 years.

GDP: $27.3 billion, per capita $12,100; real growth rate 10% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3-4% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NEGL (1988)

Budget: revenues $3.8 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Exports: $15.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--crude oil 65%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates;

partners--US, EC, Japan

Imports: $9.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--food, consumer and capital goods;

partners--EC, Japan, US

External debt: $11.0 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 9.3% (1986)

Electricity: 5,773,000 kW capacity; 15,400 million kWh produced,
6,830 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction
materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GNP and 5% of labor force; cash
crop--dates; food products--vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs,
dairy, fish; only 25% self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: donor--pledged $9.1 billion in bilateral aid to less
developed countries (1979-89)

Currency: Emirian dirham (plural--dirhams);
1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils

Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1--3.6710 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 2,000 km total; 1,800 km bituminous, 200 km gravel and graded earth

Pipelines: 830 km crude oil; 870 km natural gas, including natural gas liquids

Ports: Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali,
Mina Khalid, Mina Rashid, Mina Saqr, Mina Zayid

Merchant marine: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 925,424
GRT/1,543,716 DWT; includes 22 cargo, 8 container, 2 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 20 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 bulk

Civil air: 8 major transport aircraft

Airports: 38 total, 35 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways;
7 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways
1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate system of radio relay and coaxial
cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubayy; 386,600 telephones;
stations--8 AM, 3 FM, 12 TV; satellite communications ground
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1
ARABSAT; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan;
tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; radio relay to Saudi Arabia

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 940,130; 516,218 fit for
military service



  * UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 83,600 km2; land area: 83,600 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries: 1,016 km total; Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 586 km,
Qatar 20 km

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant line

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm (assumed), 12 nm for Ash Shariqah (Sharjah)

Disputes: boundary with Qatar is in dispute; no defined boundary
with Saudi Arabia; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but
Administrative Line in far north; claims three islands in the Persian
Gulf occupied by Iran (Jazireh-ye Abu Musa or Abu
Musa, Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye
Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb)

Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand
dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Natural resources: crude oil and natural gas

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 2%;
forest and woodland NEGL%; other 98%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: frequent dust and sand storms; lack of natural freshwater
resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification

Note: strategic location along southern approaches to
Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

PEOPLE
Population: 2,389,759 (July 1991), growth rate 5.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 30 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 30 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Emirian(s), adjective--Emirian

Ethnic divisions: Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian
(fluctuating) 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East
Asians) 8%; less than 20% of the population are UAE citizens (1982)

Religion: Muslim 96% (Shia 16%); Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

Language: Arabic (official); Persian and English widely spoken in
major cities; Hindi, Urdu

Literacy: 68% (male 70%, female 63%)
age 10 and over but definition of literacy not available (1980)

Labor force: 580,000 (1986 est.); industry and commerce 85%,
agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 5%; 80% of labor force is foreign

Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: United Arab Emirates (no short-form name);
abbreviated UAE

Type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central
government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat,
singular--imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), Ajman, Al Fujayrah,
Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, Ras al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK; formerly Trucial States)

Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)

Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE
Government and in several member shaykhdoms; Islamic law remains
influential

National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Supreme Council of
Rulers, prime minister, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihad)

Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan Al NUHAYYAN,
(since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Dhabi;
Vice President Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid al-MAKTUM (since 8 October 1990),
ruler of Dubayy;

Head of Government--Prime Minister Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid
al-MAKTUM (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy;
Deputy Prime Minister Sultan bin Zayid Al NUHAYYAN (since 20 November 1990)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Communists: NA

Other political or pressure groups: a few small clandestine
groups are active

Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77,
GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC,
OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdullah bin Zayid
Al NUHAYYAN; Chancery at Suite 740, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20037; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.; Embassy at Al-Sudan Street,
Abu Dhabi (mailing address is P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi); telephone  971
(2) 336691; there is a US Consulate General in Dubayy (Dubai)

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black
with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side

ECONOMY
Overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's
highest incomes per capita outside the OECD nations. This wealth is based
on oil and gas, and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices
of those commodities. Since 1973, when petroleum prices shot up, the UAE
has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of
small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of
living. At present levels of production, crude oil reserves should last
for over 100 years.

GDP: $27.3 billion, per capita $12,100; real growth rate 10% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3-4% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NEGL (1988)

Budget: revenues $3.8 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Exports: $15.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--crude oil 65%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates;

partners--US, EC, Japan

Imports: $9.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--food, consumer and capital goods;

partners--EC, Japan, US

External debt: $11.0 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 9.3% (1986)

Electricity: 5,773,000 kW capacity; 15,400 million kWh produced,
6,830 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction
materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GNP and 5% of labor force; cash
crop--dates; food products--vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs,
dairy, fish; only 25% self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: donor--pledged $9.1 billion in bilateral aid to less
developed countries (1979-89)

Currency: Emirian dirham (plural--dirhams);
1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils

Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1--3.6710 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 2,000 km total; 1,800 km bituminous, 200 km gravel and
graded earth

Pipelines: 830 km crude oil; 870 km natural gas, including natural
gas liquids

Ports: Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali,
Mina Khalid, Mina Rashid, Mina Saqr, Mina Zayid

Merchant marine: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 925,424
GRT/1,543,716 DWT; includes 22 cargo, 8 container, 2 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 20 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 bulk

Civil air: 8 major transport aircraft

Airports: 38 total, 35 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways;
7 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways
1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate system of radio relay and coaxial
cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubayy; 386,600 telephones;
stations--8 AM, 3 FM, 12 TV; satellite communications ground
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1
ARABSAT; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan;
tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; radio relay to Saudi Arabia

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Police Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 940,130; 516,218 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $1.59 billion, 6.8% of GDP (1988)



  * UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED KINGDOM
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 244,820 km2; land area: 241,590 km2; includes Rockall
and Shetland Islands

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundary: Ireland 360 km

Coastline: 12,429 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
accordance with agreed upon boundaries;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Northern Ireland question with Ireland; Gibraltar
question with Spain; Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas);
Argentina claims South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Mauritius
claims island of Diego Garcia in British Indian Ocean Territory;
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland
(Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall
area); territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory)

Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over
the North Atlantic Current; more than half of the days are overcast

Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling
plains in east and southeast

Natural resources: coal, crude oil, natural gas, tin,
limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica

Land use: arable land 29%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 48%;
forest and woodland 9%; other 14%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: pollution control measures improving air, water quality;
because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km
from tidal waters

Note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from
France and now being linked by tunnel under the English Channel

PEOPLE
Population: 57,515,307 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Briton(s), British (collective pl.); adjective--British

Ethnic divisions: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh
1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%

Religion: Anglican 27.0 million, Roman Catholic 5.3 million,
Presbyterian 2.0 million, Methodist 760,000, Jewish 410,000

Language: English, Welsh (about 26% of population of Wales),
Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)

Labor force: 28,966,000; services 60.6%, manufacturing and construction 27.2%,
government 8.9%, energy 2.1%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1990)

Organized labor: 35.7% of labor force (1989)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
abbreviated UK

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: London

Administrative divisions: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties,
26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands areas;

England--39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford,
Berkshire, Buckingham, Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria,
Derby, Devon, Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater
London*, Greater Manchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester,
Hertford, Humberside, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester,
Lincoln, Merseyside*, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland,
North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire, Somerset, South
Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear*, Warwick, West
Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire;

Northern Ireland--26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena,
Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine,
Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady,
Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey,
North Down, Omagh, Strabane;

Scotland--9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfries
and Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*,
Strathclyde, Tayside, Western Isles*;

Wales--8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan,
Powys, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan

Independence: 1 January 1801, United Kingdom established

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice

Dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,
Guernsey, Hong Kong (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region
of China in 1997), Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands,
Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and
Caicos Islands

Legal system: common law tradition with early Roman and modern
continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday in June), 10 June 1989

Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or House of Lords and a lower house or House of Commons

Judicial branch: House of Lords

Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the Queen, born 14 November 1948);

Head of Government--Prime Minister John MAJOR (since 28 November 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Conservative and Unionist Party, John MAJOR;
Labor Party, Neil KINNOCK;
Social and Liberal Democratic Party (SLDP; formed from the merger of the
Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party), Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN;
Scottish National Party, Alex SALMOND;
Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru), Dafydd THOMAS;
Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), James MOLYNEAUX;
Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), Rev. Ian PAISLEY;
Ulster Popular Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), James KILFEDDER;
Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP, Northern Ireland), John HUME;
Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland), Gerry ADAMS;
Alliance Party (Northern Ireland), John ALDERDICE;
Communist Party, Nina TEMPLE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Commons--last held 11 June 1987
(next to be held by June 1992);
results--Conservative 43%, Labor 32%, Liberal/Social Democratic
23%, other 2%;
seats--(650 total) Conservative 376, Labor 228,
Liberal/Social Democratic 22,
Ulster Unionist (Northern Ireland) 9,
Scottish National 4,
Welsh National 3,
Democratic Unionist (Northern Ireland) 3,
Social Democratic and Labor (Northern Ireland) 3,
Ulster Popular Unionist (Northern Ireland) 1,
Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) 1;
note--the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party merged
to become the Social and Liberal Democratic Party in 1988

Communists: 15,961

Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress, Confederation
of British Industry, National Farmers' Union, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, C,
CCC, CDB, CE, CERN, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE,
ECLAC, EIB, ESCAP, ESA, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OECD,
PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UN Security Council,
UN Trusteeship Council, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Sir Antony ACLAND; Chancery
at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
462-1340; there are British Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco,
and Consulates in Dallas, Miami, and Seattle;

US--Ambassador Raymond SEITZ; Embassy at 24/31 Grosvenor Square,
London, W.1A1AE, (mailing address is FPO New York 09509); telephone
44 (71) 499-9000; there are US Consulates General in Belfast and Edinburgh

Flag: blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England)
edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick
(patron saint of Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white
cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag
or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been
the basis for a number of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth
countries, and others

ECONOMY
Overview: The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and
financial centers, and its economy ranks among the four largest in
Europe. The economy is essentially capitalistic with a generous admixture
of social welfare programs and government ownership. Over the last decade
the Thatcher government halted the expansion of welfare measures and
promoted extensive reprivatization of the government economic sector.
Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European
standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor
force. Industry is a mixture of public and private enterprises, employing
about 27% of the work force and generating 22% of GDP. The UK is an
energy-rich nation with large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves;
primary energy production accounts for 12% of GDP, one of the highest
shares of any industrial nation. In mid-1990 the economy fell into
recession after eight years of strong economic expansion, which had
raised national output by one quarter. Britain's inflation rate, which
has been consistently well above those of her major trading partners,
is expected to decline in 1991. Between 1986 and 1990 unemployment
fell from 11% to about 6%, but it is now rising rapidly because of
the economic slowdown. As a major trading nation, the UK will continue
to be greatly affected by world boom or recession, swings in the
international oil market, productivity trends in domestic industry,
and the terms on which the economic integration of Europe proceeds.

GDP: $858.3 billion, per capita $15,000; real growth rate 0.8% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1990)

Budget: revenues $385.0 billion; expenditures $385.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $35.0 billion (FY91 est.)

Exports: $188.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals,
semifinished goods, transport equipment;

partners--EC 50.7% (FRG 11.9%, France 10.2%, Netherlands 7.0%), US 13.1%

Imports: $222 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods;

partners--EC 52.6% (FRG 16.6%, France 8.9%, Netherlands 7.9%), US 10.8%

External debt: $10.5 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1990)

Electricity: 98,000,000 kW capacity; 316,500 million kWh produced,
5,520 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: machinery and transportation equipment, metals, food processing,
paper and paper products, textiles, chemicals, clothing, other consumer goods,
motor vehicles, aircraft, shipbuilding, petroleum, coal

Agriculture: accounts for only 1.5% of GNP and 1% of labor force;
highly mechanized and efficient farms; wide variety of crops and
livestock products produced; about 60% self-sufficient in food and
feed needs; fish catch of 665,000 metric tons (1987)

Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $21.0 billion

Currency: British pound or pound sterling (plural--pounds);
1 British pound (L) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$1--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987),
0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: Great Britain--16,629 km total; British Railways (BR)
operates 16,629 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (4,205 km electrified
and 12,591 km double or multiple track); several additional small
standard-gauge and narrow-gauge lines are privately owned and operated;
Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) operates 332 km 1.600-meter gauge,
190 km double track

Highways: UK, 362,982 km total; Great Britain, 339,483 km paved
(including 2,573 km limited-access divided highway); Northern Ireland,
23,499 km (22,907 paved, 592 km gravel)

Inland waterways: 2,291 total; British Waterways Board, 606 km;
Port Authorities, 706 km; other, 979 km

Pipelines: 933 km crude oil, almost all insignificant; 2,993 km
refined products; 12,800 km natural gas

Ports: London, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Tees and Hartlepool,
Dover, Sullom Voe, Southampton

Merchant marine: 251 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
4,643,056 GRT/6,214,450 DWT; includes 7 passenger, 21 short-sea
passenger, 39 cargo, 34 container, 22 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
10 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 1 railcar carrier,
74 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker,
9 liquefied gas, 1 combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 25 bulk,
2 combination bulk

Civil air: 618 major transport aircraft

Airports: 520 total, 388 usable; 252 with permanent-surface
runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 37 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
133 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern, efficient domestic and international system;
30,200,000 telephones; excellent countrywide broadcast systems; stations--
223 AM, 165 (401 relays) FM, 207 (3,210 relays) TV; 40 coaxial submarine
cables; satellite communication ground stations operating in INTELSAT
(7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), MARISAT, and EUTELSAT systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,475,433; 12,167,324 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $41 billion, 4.8% of GDP (FY90)



  * UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 9,372,610 km2; land area: 9,166,600 km2; includes only
the 50 states and District of Colombia

Comparative area: about four-tenths the size of USSR; about
one-third the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America
(or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller than China; about
two and one-half times the size of Western Europe

Land boundaries: 12,248 km total; Canada 8,893 km (including
2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,326 km, Cuba (US naval base at
Guantanamo) 29 km

Coastline: 19,924 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: not specified;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary disputes with Canada; US Naval Base at
Guantanamo is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US
abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims Navassa
Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved
the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other
nation; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island

Climate: mostly temperate, but varies from tropical (Hawaii) to
arctic (Alaska); arid to semiarid in west with occasional warm, dry
chinook wind

Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska;
rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates,
uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten,
zinc, crude oil, natural gas, timber

Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 26%; forest and woodland 29%; other 25%; includes irrigated 2%

Environment: pollution control measures improving air and water
quality; acid rain; agricultural fertilizer and pesticide pollution;
management of sparse natural water resources in west; desertification;
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin;
continuous permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to
development

Note: world's fourth-largest country (after USSR, Canada, and China)

PEOPLE
Population: 252,502,000 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--American(s); adjective--American

Ethnic divisions: white 85%, black 12%, other 3% (1985)

Religion: Protestant 61% (Baptist 21%, Methodist 12%, Lutheran 8%,
Presbyterian 4%, Episcopalian 3%, other Protestant 13%), Roman Catholic
25%, Jewish 2%, other 5%, none 7%

Language: predominantly English; sizable Spanish-speaking minority

Literacy: 97% (male 97%, female 97%)
age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1980)
zzzz
Labor force: 126,424,000 (includes armed forces and unemployed);
civilian labor force 124,787,000 (1990)

Organized labor: 16,729,000 members; 16.1% of total wage and
salary employment which was 103,905,000 (1990)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: United States of America; abbreviated US or USA

Type: federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Capital: Washington, DC

Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama,
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)

Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789

Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland
Island; Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands,
Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands, Wake Island.
Since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship
with three of the four political units.  The Northern Mariana Islands is
a Commonwealth associated with the US (effective 3 November 1986).  Palau
concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US that was approved by
the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed in
Palau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands.  The Federated States of Micronesia
signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November
1986). The Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free
Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986).

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President George BUSH
(since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Clayton YEUTTER, national committee chairman;
Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman;
Democratic Party, Ronald H. BROWN, national committee chairman;
several other groups or parties of minor political significance

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 8 November 1988
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--George BUSH (Republican Party) 53.37%,
Michael DUKAKIS (Democratic Party) 45.67%, other 0.96%;

Senate--last held 6 November 1990
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--Democratic Party 51%, Republican Party 47%, other 2%;
seats--(100 total) Democratic Party 56, Republican Party 44;

House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 44%, other 4%;
seats--(435 total) Democratic Party 267, Republican Party 167,
Socialist 1

Communists: Communist Party (claimed 15,000-20,000 members), Gus
HALL, general secretary; Socialist Workers Party (claimed 1,800 members),
Jack BARNES, national secretary

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, BIS,
CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8,
G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NATO, NEA, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UN
Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: US Representative to the UN,
Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING; Mission at 799 United Nations Plaza,
New York, NY 10017; telephone [phone] (afternoon hours)

Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset
horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of
five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes
represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and
colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile,
Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

ECONOMY
Overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and
technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GNP
of $21,800, the largest among major industrial nations. In 1989 the
economy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, the
longest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in
wage and consumer price increases and a steady reduction in
unemployment to 5.2% of the labor force. In 1990, however, growth
slowed to 1% because of a combination of factors, such as the
worldwide increase in interest rates, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in
August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and a general decline
in business and consumer confidence. Ongoing problems for the
1990s include inadequate investment in education and other economic
infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and
trade deficits.

GNP: $5,465 billion, per capita $21,800; real growth rate 1.0% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 5.5% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1,106 billion; expenditures $1,272 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)

Exports: $393.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and
raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products;

partners--Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)

Imports: $516.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--crude and partly refined petroleum, machinery,
automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and
beverages;

partners--Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)

External debt: $581 billion (December 1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.0% (1990)

Electricity: 776,550,000 kW capacity; 3,020,000 million kWh
produced, 12,080 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly
diversified; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace,
telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer
goods, fishing, lumber, mining

Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GNP and 2.8% of labor force;
favorable climate and soils support a wide variety of crops and livestock
production; world's second-largest producer and number-one exporter of
grain; surplus food producer; fish catch of 5.0 million metric tons (1988)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for domestic
consumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons
or about 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program
aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production

Economic aid: donor--commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89),
$115.7 billion

Currency: United States dollar (plural--dollars);
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$--0.5171 (January
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987),
0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985);

Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$--1.1559 (January 1991), 1.1668
(1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987), 1.3895 (1986),
1.3655 (1985);

French francs (F) per US$--5.1307 (January 1991), 5.4453 (1990),
6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852
(1985);

Italian lire (Lit) per US$--1,134.4 (January 1991), 1,198.1 (1990),
1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4
(1985);

Japanese yen (Y) per US$--133.88 (January 1991), 144.79 (1990),
137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987), 168.52 (1986), 238.54
(1985);

German deutsche marks (DM) per US$--1.5100 (January 1991), 1.6157
(1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988), 1.7974 (1987), 2.1715 (1986),
2.9440 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 270,312 km

Highways: 6,365,590 km, including 88,641 km expressways

Inland waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive
of the Great Lakes (est.)

Pipelines: 275,800 km petroleum, 305,300 km natural gas (1985)

Ports: Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston,
Cleveland, Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston,
Jacksonville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans,
New York, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San
Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Wilmington

Merchant marine: 404 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling NA
GRT/NA DWT); includes 3 passenger-cargo, 44 cargo, 23 bulk,
180 tanker, 13 tanker tug-barge, 11 liquefied gas, 130
intermodal; in addition there are 231 government-owned vessels

Civil air: 3,297 commercial multiengine transport aircraft,
including 2,989 jet, 231 turboprop, 77 piston (1985)

Airports: 14,177 total, 12,417 usable; 4,820 with permanent
surface-runways; 63 with runways over 3,659 m; 325 with runways
2,440-3,659 m; 2,524 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 182,558,000 telephones; stations--4,892 AM,
5,200 FM (including 3,915 commercial and 1,285 public broadcasting),
7,296 TV (including 796 commercial, 300 public broadcasting, and 6,200
commercial cable); 495,000,000 radio receivers (1982); 150,000,000 TV
sets (1982); satellite communications ground stations--45 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including
Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 66,458,000; NA fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $312.9 billion, 5.7% of GNP (1990)



  * URUGUAY

URUGUAY
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 176,220 km2; land area: 173,620 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State

Land boundaries: 1,564 km total; Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Coastline:  660 km

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm)

Disputes: short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute;
two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute (Arroyo
de la Invernada area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence
of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay)

Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Natural resources: soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals

Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 78%; forest and woodland 4%; other 10%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods

PEOPLE
Population: 3,121,101 (July 1990), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Uruguayan(s); adjective--Uruguayan

Ethnic divisions: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%

Religion: Roman Catholic (less than half adult population attends church
regularly) 66%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%

Language: Spanish

Literacy: 96% (male 97%, female 96%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,300,000; government 25%, manufacturing 19%,
agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport,
and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Organized labor: Interunion Workers' Assembly/National Workers'
Confederation (PIT/CNT) Labor Federation

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Type: republic

Capital: Montevideo

Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular--
departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno,
Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro,
Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres

Independence: 25 August 1828 (from Brazil)

Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended
27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1828)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)
consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de
Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Camera de
Representantes)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Luis Alberto
LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President Gonzalo AGUIRRE (since
1 March 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
National (Blanco) Party, Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera;
Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez;
Broad Front Coalition, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera--includes Communist Party
led by Jaime PEREZ
and National Liberation Movement (MLN) or Tupamaros
led by Eleuterio FERNANDEZ Huidobro;
New Space Coalition consists of the Party of the Government of the People (PGP), Hugo BATALLA;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Hector LESCANO;
and Civic Union, Humberto CIGANDA

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 26 November 1989
(next to be held November 1994);
results--Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE
Ibanez (Colorado) 29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20%;

Chamber of Senators--last held 26 November 1989
(next to be held November 1994);
results--Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%;
seats--(30 total) Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2;

Chamber of Representatives--last held NA November 1989
(next to be held November 1994);
results--Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%,
other 1%;
seats--(99 total) number of seats by party NA

Communists: 50,000

Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,  NAM
(observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UNMOGIP, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLICUDDEY;
Chancery at 1918 F Street NW, Washington DC 20006; telephone (202)
331-1313 through 1316; there are Uruguayan Consulates General in Los
Angeles, Miami, and New York, and a Consulate in New Orleans;

US--Ambassador Richard C. BROWN; Embassy at Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
(mailing address is APO Miami 34035); telephone [phone]

Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom)
alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side
corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May
and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is slowly recovering from the deep recession
of the early 1980s. In 1988 real GDP grew by only 0.5% and in 1989 by
1.5%. The recovery was led by growth in the agriculture and fishing
sectors, agriculture alone contributing 20% to GDP, employing about 11%
of the labor force, and generating a large proportion of export earnings.
Raising livestock, particularly cattle and sheep, is the major
agricultural activity. In 1990, despite healthy exports and an improved
current account, domestic growth remained weak because of government
concentration on the external sector, adverse weather conditions, and
prolonged strikes. Bringing down high inflation, reducing a large fiscal
deficit, and avoiding frequent strikes remain major economic problems
for the government.

GDP: $9.2 billion, per capita $2,970; real growth rate 1% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 129% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 8.8% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of $165 million (1988)

Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%,
fish 7%, rice 4%;

partners--Brazil 17%, US 15%, FRG 10%, Argentina 10% (1987)

Imports: $1.28 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--fuels and lubricants 15%, metals, machinery,
transportation equipment, industrial chemicals;

partners--Brazil 24%, Argentina 14%, US 8%, FRG 8% (1987)

External debt: $4.2 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 2.1% (1989 est.)

Electricity: 1,950,000 kW capacity; 5,274 million kWh produced,
1,740 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear,
leather apparel, tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wine

Agriculture: large areas devoted to extensive livestock grazing;
wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $293 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million

Currency: new Uruguayan peso (plural--pesos);
1 new Uruguayan peso (N$Ur) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates: new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1--1,626.4
(January 1991), 1,171.0 (1990), 605.5 (1989), 359.44 (1988), 226.67
(1987), 151.99 (1986), 101.43 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,000 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge and government owned

Highways: 49,900 km total; 6,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, 40,200 km earth

Inland waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft

Ports: Montevideo, Punta del Este

Merchant marine: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 65,212
GRT/116,613 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum, oils,
and lubricants (POL) tanker

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

Airports: 91 total, 86 usable; 16 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
17 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: most modern facilities concentrated in
Montevideo; new nationwide radio relay network; 337,000 telephones;
stations--99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth stations

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm and Marines), Air
Force, Coast Guard, Grenadier Guards, Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 735,971; 597,302 fit for
military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $168 million, 2.2% of GDP (1988)



  * VANUATU

VANUATU
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 14,760 km2; land area: 14,760 km2; includes more than 80 islands

Comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundary: none

Coastline: 2,528 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures
2%; forest and woodland 1%; other 91%

Environment: subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
volcanism causes minor earthquakes

Note: located 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific
Ocean about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia

PEOPLE
Population: 170,319 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 36 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 36 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural);
adjective--Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic divisions: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, remainder
Vietnamese, Chinese, and various Pacific Islanders

Religion: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%,
indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ
3.8%, other 15.7%

Language: English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama
or Bichelama)

Literacy: 53% (male 57%, female 48%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1979)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: 7 registered trade unions--largest include Oil
and Gas Workers' Union, Vanuatu Airline Workers' Union

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Vanuatu

Type: republic

Capital: Port-Vila

Administrative divisions: 11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo,
Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula, Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo,
Shepherd, Tafea

Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK; formerly New Hebrides)

Constitution: 30 July 1980

Legal system: unified system being created from former dual French
and British systems

National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament; note--the National
Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Frederick TIMAKATA
(since 30 January 1989);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Father Walter Hadye LINI (since
30 July 1980); Deputy Prime Minister (vacant)

Political parties and leaders:
National Party (Vanua'aku Pati), Donald KALPOKAS;
Union of Moderate Parties, Maxine CARLOT;
Melanesian Progressive Party, Barak SOPE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Parliament--last held 30 November 1987 (next to be held by November 1991);
byelections were held in December 1988 to fill vacancies resulting from
the expulsion of opposition members for boycotting sessions;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(46 total)
National Party 26, Union of Moderate Parties 19, independent 1

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington;

US--the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green (bottom)
with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated
by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the
two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele leaves, all in yellow

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming
that provides a living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and
tourism are the other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are
negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small
light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come
mainly from import duties.

GDP: $137 million, per capita $860; real growth rate 4.3% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $90.0 million; expenditures $103.0 million,
including capital expenditures of $45.0 million (1989 est.)

Exports: $14.5 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4%;

partners--Netherlands 34%, France 27%, Japan 17%, Belgium 4%, New
Caledonia 3%, Singapore 2% (1987)

Imports: $58.4 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%,
basic manufactures 18%, raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6%;

partners--Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 5% (1987)

External debt: $30 million (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced,
180 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food and fish freezing, forestry processing, meat canning

Agriculture: export crops--copra, cocoa, coffee, and fish;
subsistence crops--copra, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, and vegetables

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $565 million

Currency: vatu (plural--vatu); 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1--109.62 (January 1991), 116.57
(1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988), 109.85 (1987), 106.08 (1986),
106.03 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: none

Highways: 1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads

Ports: Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu

Merchant marine: 129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,242,850
GRT/3,447,671 DWT; includes 33 cargo, 13 refrigerated cargo, 8 container,
11 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 5 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 55 bulk,
1 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry; the USSR
has 2 ships under the Vanuatu flag

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airports: 32 total, 28 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: stations--2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones;
satellite communications ground stations--1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: no military forces; Vanuatu Police Force, paramilitary force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 41,183; NA fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * VATICAN CITY

VATICAN CITY
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 0.438 km2; land area: 0.438 km2

Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundary: 3.2 km with Italy

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with
hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain: low hill

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: urban

Note: landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state;
outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo
(the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

PEOPLE
Population: 778 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

Nationality: no noun or adjectival forms

Ethnic divisions: primarily Italians but also Swiss and other
nationalities

Religion: Roman Catholic

Language: Italian, Latin, and various other languages

Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: high dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000
lay workers who live outside the Vatican

Organized labor: Association of Vatican Lay Workers, 1,800 members (1987)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: State of the Vatican City; note--the Vatican City
is the physical seat of the Holy See, which is the central government of
the Roman Catholic Church

Type: monarchical-sacerdotal state

Capital: Vatican City

Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II),
22 October (1978); note--Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

Executive branch: pope

Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy

Leaders:

Chief of State--Pope JOHN PAUL II
(Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978);

Head of Government--Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo SODANO

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Elections:

Pope--last held 16 October 1978
(next to be held after the death of the current pope);
results--Karol WOJTYlA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals

Communists: NA

Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence
exercised by church officers)

Member of: CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM
(observer), ITU, OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU,
WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop
Agostino CACCIAVILLAN; 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador Thomas P. MELADY; Embassy at Villino Pacelli,
Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome (mailing address is APO New York 09794);
telephone  [phone]

Flag: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed
keys of Saint Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported
financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman
Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps, tourist
mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications.
The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to,
or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city
of Rome.

Budget: revenues $76.6 million; expenditures $168 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Electricity: 5,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by Italy

Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics
and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Currency: Vatican lira (plural--lire);
1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,134.4 (January
1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987),
1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985); note--the Vatican lira is at par with the
Italian lira which circulates freely

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 850 m, 750 mm gauge (links with Italian network near the
Rome station of Saint Peter's)

Highways: none; all city streets

Telecommunications: stations--3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line
automatic telephone exchange; no communications satellite systems

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards
are posted at entrances to the Vatican City



  * VENEZUELA

VENEZUELA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 912,050 km2; land area: 882,050 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: 4,993 km total; Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km,
Guyana 743 km

Coastline: 2,800 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 15 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo river;
maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain: Andes mountains and Maracaibo lowlands in northwest;
central plains (llanos); Guyana highlands in southeast

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite,
other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
20%; forest and woodland 39%; other 37%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic
droughts; increasing industrial pollution in Caracas and Maracaibo

Note: on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

PEOPLE
Population: 20,189,361 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Venezuelan(s); adjective--Venezuelan

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2%

Religion: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%

Language: Spanish (official); Indian dialects spoken by about
200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior

Literacy: 88% (male 87%, female 90%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

Labor force: 5,800,000; services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16%
(1985)

Organized labor: 32% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Venezuela

Type: republic

Capital: Caracas

Administrative divisions: 20 states (estados, singular--estado),
2 territories* (territorios, singular--territorio), 1 federal district**
(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependence*** (dependencia federal);
Amazonas*, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo,
Cojedes, Delta Amacuro*, Dependencias Federales***, Distrito Federal**,
Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta,
Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia; note--the federal
dependence consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total
of 72 individual islands

Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)

Constitution: 23 January 1961

Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of
legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic
(Congreso de la Republica) consists of an upper chamber or Senate
(Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de
Diputados)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica)

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Carlos Andres
PEREZ (since 2 February 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
Social Christian Party (COPEI), Eduardo FERNANDEZ, secretary general;
Democratic Action (AD), Gonzalo BARRIOS, president, and Humberto CELLI,
secretary general;
Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and
Freddy MUNOZ, secretary general

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18, though poorly
enforced

Elections:

President--last held 4 December 1988
(next to be held December 1993);
results--Carlos Andres PEREZ (AD) 54.6%,
Eduardo FERNANDEZ (COPEI) 41.7%, other 3.7%;

Senate--last held 4 December 1988
(next to be held December 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(49 total) AD 23, COPEI 22, other 4;
note--3 former presidents (1 from AD, 2 from COPEI) hold lifetime
senate seats;

Chamber of Deputies--last held 4 December 1988
(next to be held December 1993);
results--AD 43.7%, COPEI 31.4%, MAS 10.3%, other 14.6%;
seats--(201 total) AD 97, COPEI 67, MAS 18, other 19

Communists: 10,000 members (est.)

Other political or pressure groups: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative
business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers, the Democratic
Action-dominated labor organization

Member of: AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-19, G-24, G-77,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Simon Alberto CONSALVI
Bottaro; Chancery at 2445 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone]; there are Venezuelan Consulates General in
Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico);

US--Ambassador Michael Martin SKOL; Embassy at Avenida Francisco
de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracas (mailing address
is P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO Miami 34037);
telephone  58  (2) 285-3111 or 2222; there is a US Consulate in Maracaibo

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red
with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of
seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

ECONOMY
Overview: Petroleum is the cornerstone of the economy and accounted
for 21% of GDP, 60% of central government revenues, and 81% of export
earnings in 1989. President Perez introduced an economic readjustment
program when he assumed office in February 1989. Lower tariffs and
price supports, a free market exchange rate, and market-linked interest
rates have thrown the economy into confusion, causing about an 8%
decline in GDP in 1989, but the economy recovered part way in 1990.

GDP: $42.4 billion, per capita $2,150; real growth rate 4.4%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40.7% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 10.4% (1990)

Budget: revenues $8.4 billion; expenditures $8.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (1989)

Exports: $12.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum 81%, bauxite and aluminum, iron ore,
agricultural products, basic manufactures;

partners--US 50.7%, Europe 13.7%, Japan 4.0% (1989)

Imports: $8.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--foodstuffs, chemicals, manufactures, machinery and
transport equipment;

partners--US 44%, FRG 8.0%, Japan 4%, Italy 7%, Canada 2% (1989)

External debt: $33.2 billion (1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 11% (1989 est.); accounts for
one-fourth of GDP, including petroleum

Electricity: 19,733,000 kW capacity; 54,660 million kWh produced,
2,780 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials,
food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force;
products--corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee,
beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf
for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large
quantities of cocaine do transit the country

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488
million; Communist countries (1970-89), $10 million

Currency: bolivar (plural--bolivares);
1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1--51.331 (January 1991),
46.900 (1990), 34.6815 (1989), 14.5000 (fixed rate 1987-88),
8.0833 (1986), 7.5000 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all
single track, government owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned

Highways: 77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel,
14,450 km earth roads, and 15,835 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo
accept oceangoing vessels

Pipelines: 6,370 km crude oil; 480 km refined products;
4,010 km natural gas

Ports: Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira,
Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz

Merchant marine: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 811,650
GRT/1,294,077 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo,
22 cargo, 1 container, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 17 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 9 bulk,
1 vehicle carrier, 1 combination bulk

Civil air: 58 major transport aircraft

Airports: 296 total, 277 usable; 137 with permanent-surface
runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
88 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; stations--
181 AM, no FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite
communications ground stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Ground Forces (Army), Naval Forces (including Navy,
Marines, Coast Guard), Air Forces, Armed Forces of Cooperation (National
Guard)

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,220,183; 3,782,548 fit for
military service; 216,132 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.9 billion, 4.3% of GDP (1991)



  * VIETNAM


VIETNAM
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 329,560 km2; land area: 325,360

Comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: 3,818 km total; Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km,
Laos 1,555 km

Coastline: 3,444 km (excluding islands)

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: offshore islands and three sections of the boundary with
Cambodia are in dispute; maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined;
occupied Cambodia on 25 December 1978; sporadic border clashes with
China; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
Malaysia, Philippines, and Taiwan; unresolved maritime boundary with
Thailand; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin;
Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan;
unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand

Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season
(mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)

Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands;
hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate,
offshore oil deposits, forests

Land use: arable land 22%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 1%;
forest and woodland 40%; other 35%; includes irrigated 5%

Environment: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding

PEOPLE
Population: 67,568,033 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Vietnamese (sing. and pl.);
adjective--Vietnamese

Ethnic divisions: predominantly Vietnamese 85-90%; Chinese 3%;
ethnic minorities include Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham; other
mountain tribes

Religion: Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous
beliefs, Islamic, Protestant

Language: Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer,
tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy: 88% (male 92%, female 84%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 32.7 million; agricultural 65%, industrial and
service 35% (1990 est.)

Organized labor: reportedly over 90% of wage and salary earners are
members of the Vietnam Federation of Trade Unions (VFTU)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam; abbreviated SRV

Type: Communist state

Capital: Hanoi

Administrative divisions: 41 provinces (tinh, singular and plural),
3 municipalities* (thanh pho, singular and plural); An Giang,
Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Cao Bang, Cuu Long, Dak Lak, Dong Nai,
Dong Thap, Gia Lai-Kon Tum, Ha Bac, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ha Nam Ninh,
Ha Noi*, Ha Son Binh, Ha Tuyen, Hau Giang, Hoang Lien Son, Ho Chi Minh*,
Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Long An, Minh Hai,
Nghe Tinh, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai,
Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Song Be, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa,
Thua Thien, Thuan Hai, Tien Giang, Vinh Phu, Vung Tau-Con Dao;
note--diacritical marks are not included

Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)

Constitution: 18 December 1980

Legal system: based on Communist legal theory and French civil law
system

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Executive branch: chairman of the Council of State, Council of
State, chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--Chairman of the Council of State Vo Chi CONG (since
18 June 1987);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Premier)
Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991)

Political parties and leaders: only party-- Vietnam Communist Party
(VCP), Nguyen Van LINH

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

National Assembly--last held 19 April 1987
(next to be held April 1992);
results--VCP is the only party;
seats--(496 total) VCP or VCP-approved 496

Communists: nearly 2 million

Member of: ACCT, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IIB, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

ECONOMY
Overview: This is a centrally planned, developing economy with
extensive government ownership and control of productive facilities.
The economy is primarily agricultural; the sector employs about 65% of
the labor force and accounts for almost half of GNP. Rice is the staple
crop; substantial amounts of maize, sorghum, cassava, and sweet potatoes
are also grown. The government permits sale of surplus grain on the open
market. Most of the mineral resources are located in the north,
including coal, which is an important export item. Oil was discovered
off the southern coast in 1986 with production reaching 54,000 b/d in
1990 and expected to increase in the years ahead. Following the
end of the war in 1975, heavy-handed government measures undermined
efforts at an efficient merger of the agricultural resources of the
south and the industrial resources of the north. The economy remains
heavily dependent on foreign aid and has received assistance from
Communist countries, Sweden, and UN agencies. Inflation, although down
from recent triple-digit levels, is still a major weakness and is
showing signs of accelerating upwards again. Per capita output is among
the world's lowest. Since late 1986 the government has sponsored a
broad reform program that seeks to turn more economic activity over to
the private sector.

GNP: $15.2 billion, per capita $230; real growth rate 2.4% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 65% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 33% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $892 million; expenditures $1.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $344 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--agricultural and handicraft products, coal, minerals,
crude petroleum, ores, seafood;

partners--USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, Singapore

Imports: $2.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--petroleum products, steel products, railroad
equipment, chemicals, medicines, raw cotton, fertilizer, grain;

partners--USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, Singapore

External debt: $16.8 billion (1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1989); accounts for 30% of GNP

Electricity: 2,740,000 kW capacity; 7,500 million kWh produced,
110 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: food processing, textiles, machine building, mining,
cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, fishing

Agriculture: accounts for half of GNP; paddy rice, corn, potatoes
make up 50% of farm output; commercial crops (rubber, soybeans, coffee,
tea, bananas) and animal products other 50%; since 1989 self-sufficient
in food staple rice; fish catch of 943,100 metric tons (1989 est.)

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-74), $3.1
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $61 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $12.0 billion

Currency: new dong (plural--new dong); 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu

Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1--7,530 (May 1991),
7,280 (December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990), 2,047 (1988), 225 (1987),
18 (1986), 12 (1985); note--1985-89 figures are end of year

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,059 km total; 2,454 1.000-meter gauge, 151 km
1.435-meter standard gauge, 230 km dual gauge (three rails),
and 224 km not restored to service

Highways: about 85,000 km total; 9,400 km bituminous, 48,700 km
gravel or improved earth, 26,900 km unimproved earth

Pipelines: 150 km, refined products

Inland waterways: about 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km
navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 meter draft

Ports: Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City

Merchant marine: 87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 364,596 GRT/539,174 DWT; includes 2 short-sea
passenger, 69 cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
1 vehicle carrier, 8 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 bulk;
note--Vietnam owns 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 106,759 DWT
under the registry of Panama and Malta

Civil air: controlled by military

Airports: 100 total, 100 usable; 50 with permanent-surface runways;
10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 35,000 telephones in Ho Chi Minh City (1984);
stations--16 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; 2,300,000 TV sets; 6,000,000 radio
receivers; at least 2 satellite earth stations, including 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines and Naval Infantry), Air
Force

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 16,260,120; 10,377,105 fit for
military service; 809,617 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, 19.4% of GNP (1986 est.)



  * VIRGIN ISLANDS

VIRGIN ISLANDS
(territory of the US)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 352 km2; land area: 349 km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 188 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low
humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November

Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use: arable land 15%; permanent crops 6%; meadows and pastures 26%;
forest and woodland 6%; other 47%

Environment: rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent
severe droughts, floods, earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources

Note: important location 1,770 km southeast of Miami and 65 km east
of Puerto Rico, along the Anegada Passage--a key shipping lane for the
Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors
in the Caribbean

PEOPLE
Population: 99,404 (July 1991), growth rate 0.7% (1991)

Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Virgin Islander(s); adjective--Virgin Islander

Ethnic divisions: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and
29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto
Rican 5%, other 8%; black 80%, white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14%

Religion: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

Language: English (official), but Spanish and Creole are widely spoken

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 45,500 (1988)

Organized labor: 90% of the government labor force

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Virgin Islands of the United States

Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office
of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 serves as the
constitution

Legal system: based on US

National holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to US), 31 March (1917)

Executive branch: US president, governor, lieutenant governor

Legislative branch: unicameral Senate

Judicial branch: US District Court handles civil matters over
$50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases;
Territorial Court handles civil matters up to $50,000 small claims,
juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President George BUSH
(since 20 January 1989), represented by Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY
(since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE (since 5 January 1987)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON;
Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin BROWN;
Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Elections:

Governor--last held NA 1986 (next to be held NA 1990);
results--Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) defeated
Adelbert BRYAN (ICM);

Senate--last held 6 November 1990
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA;

US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative

Member of: ECLAC (associate), IOC

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the
large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding
an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a
superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

ECONOMY
Overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for
more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector
consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly
plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported.
International business and financial services are a small but growing
component of the economy. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at
Saint Croix.

GDP: $1.0 billion, per capita $9,000; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 2.0% (1990)

Budget: revenues $470 million; expenditures $322 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--refined petroleum products;

partners--US, Puerto Rico

Imports: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials;

partners--US, Puerto Rico

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate 12%

Electricity: 358,000 kW capacity; 532 million kWh produced,
5,360 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum
distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Agriculture: truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit,
sorghum, Senepol cattle

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $34.5 million

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 856 km total

Ports: Saint Croix--Christiansted, Frederiksted;
Saint Thomas--Long Bay, Crown Bay, Red Hook; Saint John--Cruz Bay

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways
1,220-2,439 m; international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix

Telecommunications: 44,280 telephones; stations--4 AM, 6 FM, 3 TV;
modern system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio,
and satellite facilities; 90,000 radios; 56,000 TVs

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * WAKE ISLAND

WAKE ISLAND
(territory of the US)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 6.5 km2; land area: 6.5 km2

Comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 19.3 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Climate: tropical

Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater
volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim;
average elevation less than four meters

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment: subject to occasional typhoons

Note: strategic location 3,700 km west of Honolulu in the North
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and the
Northern Mariana Islands; emergency landing location for transpacific
flights

PEOPLE
Population: 195 (January 1990); no indigenous inhabitants;
302 temporary population

Note: population peaked about 1970 with over 1,600 persons during
the Vietnam conflict

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air
Force (under an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since
24 June 1972

Flag: the US flag is used

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to US
military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by US military

COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; because of the reefs, there are only two offshore
anchorages for large ships

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440 to 3,659 m

Telecommunications: underwater cables to Guam and through Midway
to Honolulu; AFRTS radio and television service provided by satellite;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Note: formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used only
by US military and some commercial cargo planes

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



  * WALLIS AND FUTUNA

WALLIS AND FUTUNA
(overseas territory of France)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 274 km2; land area: 274 km2; includes Ile Uvea
(Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20
islets

Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 129 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool,
dry season (May to October)

Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops 20%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 75%

Environment: both island groups have fringing reefs

Note: located 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific
Ocean about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

PEOPLE
Population: 16,590 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 8 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 71 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna
Islanders; adjective--Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic divisions: almost entirely Polynesian

Religion: largely Roman Catholic

Language: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Literacy: 50% (male 50%, female 51%)
at all ages can read and write (1969)

Labor force: NA

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands

Type: overseas territory of France

Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France)

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French

National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch: French president, high administrator; note--there
are three traditional kings with limited powers

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly
(Assemblee Territoriale)

Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French
law by the chief administrator, but the three traditional kings
administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND
(since 21 May 1981);

Head of Government--Chief Administrator Roger DUMEC
(since 15 July 1988)

Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR);
Union Populaire Locale (UPL);
Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF);
Lua kae tahi (Giscardians);
Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG)

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections:

Territorial Assembly--last held 15 March 1987
(next to be held March 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(20 total) RPR 7, UPL 6, UDF and Lua kae tahi 7;

French Senate--last held NA September 1989
(next to be held by September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) RPR 1;

French National Assembly--last held 12 June 1988
(next to be held by September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) MRG 1

Member of: FZ, SPC

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France,
local interests are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence
agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood
from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs),
and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government.
Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing
rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from
expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food,
fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports
are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

GDP: $7.5 million, per capita $470; real growth rate NA% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $2.7 million; expenditures $2.7 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1983)

Exports: negligible;

commodities--copra, handicrafts;

partners--NA

Imports: $6.9 million (c.i.f., 1983);

commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation
equipment, fuel;

partners--France, Australia, New Zealand

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 1,200 kW capacity; 1 million kWh produced,
70 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Agriculture: dominated by coconut production, with subsistence
crops of yams, taro, bananas, and herds of pigs and goats

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $118 million

Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs);
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--93.28 (January 1991), 99.0 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988),
109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: NA

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 100 km on Ile Uvea, 16 km sealed; 20 km earth surface
on Ile Futuna

Inland waterways: none

Ports: Mata-Utu, Leava

Airports: 2 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 225 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of France



  * WEST BANK

WEST BANK
Note: The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended
with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai,
and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and
reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace initiative, the
final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with
their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be
negotiated among the concerned parties. Camp David further specifies
that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending
the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the view
of the US, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the
Jordan River under Jordanian administration before the 1967
Arab-Israeli war. However, with respect to negotiations envisaged in the
framework agreement, it is US policy that a distinction must be made
between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because of the city's
special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for
the final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that
of the rest of the West Bank.

GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 5,860 km2; land area: 5,640 km2; includes West Bank,
East Jerusalem, Latrun Salient, Jerusalem No Man's Land, and the
northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus

Comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware

Land boundaries: 404 km total; Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km;

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: Israeli occupied with status to be determined

Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with
altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west,
but barren in east

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land 27%, permanent crops 0%, meadows and pastures
32%, forest and woodland 1%, other 40%

Environment: highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers

Note: landlocked; there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank
and 14 Israeli-built Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem

PEOPLE
Population: 1,086,081 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991);
in addition, there are 90,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and
120,000 in East Jerusalem (1990 est.)

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 69 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: NA

Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 88%, Jewish 12%

Religion: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 80%, Jewish 12%,
Christian and other 8%

Language: Arabic, Israeli settlers speak Hebrew, English widely understood

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: NA; excluding Israeli Jewish settlers--small industry,
commerce, and business 29.8%, construction 24.2%, agriculture 22.4%,
service and other 23.6% (1984)

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Note: The West Bank is currently governed by Israeli military
authorities and Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the
final status of the West Bank will be determined by negotiations among
the concerned parties. These negotiations will determine how the area
is to be governed.

ECONOMY
Overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by
Israeli military occupation and the effects of the Palestinian uprising.
Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable financial
resources have been discouraged by a lack of financial resources and
Israeli policy. Capital investment has largely gone into residential
housing, not into productive assets that could compete with Israeli
industry. A major share of GNP is derived from remittances of workers
employed in Israel and neighboring Gulf states but remittances from the
Gulf dropped dramatically in the wake of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in
August 1990. Israeli reprisals against Palestinian unrest in the West
Bank since 1987 have pushed unemployment up and lowered living standards.
The Persian Gulf crisis of 1990-91 also dealt a blow to the economy.
Many Palestinians returned from the Gulf, exacerbating unemployment.
Export revenues have plunged because of the loss of export markets in
Jordan and the Gulf.

GNP: $1.0 billion, per capita $1,000; real growth rate - 15% (1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 40% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $47.4 million; expenditures $45.7 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (FY86)

Exports: $150 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--NA;
partners--Jordan, Israel

Imports: $410 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--NA;
partners--Jordan, Israel

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: power supplied by Israel

Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement,
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in
the settlements and industrial centers

Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, beef,
and dairy products

Economic aid: none

Currency: new Israeli shekel (plural--shekels) and Jordanian dinar
(plural--dinars); 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot and
1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--2.35 (May
1991), 2.0161 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987), 1.4878
(1986), 1.1788 (1985); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1--0.6670 (January
1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988), 0.3387 (1987), 0.3499
(1986), 0.3940 (1985)

Fiscal year: previously 1 April-31 March; FY91 will be
1 April-31 December and starting 1 January 1992 the fiscal year will
conform to the calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: small indigenous road network, Israelis developing
east-west axial highways

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: open-wire telephone system currently being
upgraded; stations--no AM, no FM, no TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: NA

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 257,740; NA fit for military
service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * WESTERN SAHARA

WESTERN SAHARA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 266,000 km2; land area: 266,000 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries: 2,046 km total; Algeria 42 km, Mauritania
1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

Coastline: 1,110 km

Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

Disputes: claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is
unresolved and guerrilla fighting continues in the area

Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore currents
produce fog and heavy dew

Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or
sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast

Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore

Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 19%; forest and woodland 0%; other 81%

Environment: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time,
often severely restricting visibility; sparse water and arable land

PEOPLE
Population: 196,737 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 23 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 177 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 39 years male, 41 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.3 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Saharan(s), Moroccan(s); adjective--Saharan, Moroccan

Ethnic divisions: Arab and Berber

Religion: Muslim

Language: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force: 12,000; 50% animal husbandry and subsistence farming

Organized labor: NA

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none

Type: legal status of territory and question of sovereignty
unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular
Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which
in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government in exile of the
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between
Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern
two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas,
abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to
occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted
administrative control; the Polisario's government in exile was seated as
an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continue sporadically.

Capital: none

Administrative divisions: none (under de facto control of Morocco)

Leaders: none

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation: none

ECONOMY
Overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources
and having little rainfall, has a per capita GDP of just a few hundred
dollars. Fishing and phosphate mining are the principal industries and
sources of income. Most of the food for the urban population must be
imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the
Moroccan Government.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA

Exports: $8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.);

commodities--phosphates 62%;

partners--Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so
trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Imports: $30 million (c.i.f., 1982 est.);

commodities--fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs;

partners--Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so
trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 60,000 kW capacity; 79 million kWh produced,
425 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: phosphate, fishing, handicrafts

Agriculture: limited largely to subsistence agriculture; some
barley is grown in nondrought years; fruit and vegetables are grown in
the few oases; food imports are essential; camels, sheep, and goats are
kept by the nomadic natives; cash economy exists largely for the garrison
forces

Economic aid: NA

Currency: Moroccan dirham (plural--dirhams);
1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1--8.071 (January
1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988), 8.359 (1987), 9.104
(1986), 10.062 (1985)

Fiscal year: NA

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 6,100 km total; 1,350 km surfaced, 4,750 km improved and
unimproved earth roads and tracks

Ports: El Aaiun, Ad Dakhla

Airports: 16 total, 14 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: sparse and limited system; tied into Morocco's
system by radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and 2 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations linked to Rabat, Morocco; 2,000 telephones;
stations--2 AM, no FM, 2 TV

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: NA

Manpower availability: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * WESTERN SAMOA

WESTERN SAMOA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,860 km2; land area: 2,850 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 403 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season
(May to October)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged
mountains in interior

Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish

Land use: arable land 19%; permanent crops 24%; meadows and
pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 47%; other 10%

Environment: subject to occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Note: located 4,300 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific
Ocean about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

PEOPLE
Population: 190,346 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 69 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Western Samoan(s); adjective--Western Samoan

Ethnic divisions: Samoan; Euronesians (persons of European and
Polynesian blood) about 7%, Europeans 0.4%

Religion: Christian 99.7% (about half of population associated with
the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic,
Methodist, Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Language: Samoan (Polynesian), English

Literacy: 97% (male 97%, female 97%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1971)

Labor force: 38,000; 22,000 employed in agriculture (1987 est.)

Organized labor: Public Service Association (PSA)

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Independent State of Western Samoa

Type: constitutional monarchy under native chief

Capital: Apia

Administrative divisions: 11 districts; Aana, Aiga-i-le-Tai,
Atua, Faasaleleaga, Gagaemauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupaitea,
Tuamasaga, Vaa-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

Independence: 1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered
by New Zealand)

Constitution: 1 January 1962

Legal system: based on English common law and local customs;
judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of
the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 1 June

Executive branch: monarch, Executive Council, prime minister,
Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State--Susuga Malietoa TANUMAFILI II (Co-Chief of State
from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole Chief of State on 5 April 1963);

Head of Government--Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988)

Political parties and leaders:
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti, chairman;
Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), VA'AI Kolone, chairman

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA, but only matai (head of family)
are able to run for the Legislative Assembly

Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held NA February 1991
(next to be held by February 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(47 total) HRPP 30, SNDP 14, independent 3

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IMF, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Fili (Felix) Tuaopepe
WENDT; Chancery (temporary) at the Western Samoan Mission to the UN,
820 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10017 [phone];

US--the ambassador to New Zealand, Della Newman, is accredited to Western Samoa
(mailing address is P.O. Box 3430, Apia); telephone [phone]

Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant
bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture employs more than half of the labor force,
contributes 50% to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk
of export earnings comes from the sale of coconut oil and copra. The
economy depends on emigrant remittances and foreign aid to support a
level of imports about five times export earnings. Tourism has become the
most important growth industry, and construction of the first
international hotel is under way.

GDP: $115 million, per capita $620; real growth rate - 4.5% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%; shortage of skilled labor

Budget: revenues $70 million; expenditures $73 million,
including capital expenditures of $41 million (1990)

Exports: $9.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--coconut oil and cream 54%, taro 12%, copra 9%, cocoa 3%;

partners--NZ 28%, EC 23%, American Samoa 23%, Australia 11%,
US 6% (1990)

Imports: $87 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%;

partners--New Zealand 31%, Australia 20%, Japan 15%, Fiji 15%,
US 5%, EC 4% (1987)

External debt: $83 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 4.3% (1990 est.); accounts for
14% of GDP

Electricity: 29,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced,
240 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing

Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; coconuts, fruit (including
bananas, taro, yams)

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $18
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $291 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million

Currency: tala (plural--tala); 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene

Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1--2.3170 (January 1991), 2.3095
(1990), 2.2686 (1989), 2.0790 (1988), 2.1204 (1987), 2.2351 (1986),
2.2437 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 2,042 km total; 375 km sealed; remainder mostly gravel,
crushed stone, or earth

Ports: Apia

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,930
GRT/34,135 DWT; includes 2 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 7,500 telephones; 70,000 radios;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Department of Police and Prisons

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 49,119; NA fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * YEMEN

YEMEN
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 527,970 km2; land area: 527,970 km2; includes Perim,
Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and
the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)

Comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries: 1,746 km total; Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Coastline: 1,906 km

Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: North--18 nm; South--24 nm;

Continental shelf: North--200 meters (depth); South--edge of
continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: North--no claim; South 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: undefined section of boundary with Saudi Arabia;
Administrative Line with Oman

Climate: desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in
western mountains; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east

Terrain: narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and
rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into
the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula

Natural resources: crude oil, fish, rock salt, marble; small
deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west

Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 30%;
forest and woodland 7%; other 57%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: subject to sand and dust storms in summer; scarcity of
natural freshwater resources; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Note: controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and
the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

PEOPLE
Population: 10,062,633 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 51 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 121 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 51 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.4 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Yemeni(s); adjective--Yemeni

Ethnic divisions:
North--Arab 90%, Afro-Arab (mixed) 10%;
South--almost all Arabs; a few Indians, Somalis, and Europeans

Religion:
North--Muslim 100% (Sunni and Shia);
South--Sunni Muslim, some Christian and Hindu

Language: Arabic

Literacy: 38% (male 53%, female 26%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force:
North--NA number of workers with agriculture and herding 70%, and
expatriate laborers 30% (est.);
South--477,000 with agriculture 45.2%, services 21.2%, construction
13.4%, industry 10.6%, commerce and other 9.6% (1983)

Organized labor:
North--NA;
South--348,200 and the General Confederation of Workers of the
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen had 35,000 members

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Yemen

Type: republic

Capital: Sanaa

Administrative divisions: 17 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Abyan, Adan, Al Bayda,
Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Dhamar,
Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Marib, Sadah, Sana,
Shabwah, Taizz

Independence: Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990
with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or North
Yemen} and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen
{Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen}; previously North Yemen had become
independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South
Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK); the
union is to be solidified during a 30-month transition period, which
coincides with the remainder of the five-year terms of both legislatures

Constitution: 16 April 1991

Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common
law, and local customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)

Executive branch: five-member Presidential Council (president,
vice president, two members from northern Yemen and one member from
southern Yemen), prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives;
note--northern Yemen's Consultative Assembly (Majlis Chura) and
southern Yemen's Supreme People's Council (Majlis al-Shab al-Ala)
will combine to form the basis for the new unicameral House of
Representatives

Judicial branch: North--State Security Court; South--Federal
High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government President Ali Abdallah
SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen); Vice
President Ali Salim al-BIDH (since 22 May 1990, secretary general of the
Yemeni Socialist Party); Presidential Council Member Salim Salih
MUHAMMED (southern Yemen); Presidential Council Member Kadi Abdul-Karim
al-ARASHI (northern Yemen); Presidential Council Member Abdul-Aziz
ABDUL-GHANI (northern Yemen); Prime Minister Haydar Abu Bakr
al-ATTAS (since 22 May 1990, former president of South Yemen)

Political parties and leaders:
General People's Congress, Ali Abdallah SALIH;
Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP; formerly South Yemen's ruling party--a
coalition of National Front, Bath, and Communist Parties), Ali Salim
al-BIDH

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

House of Representatives--last held NA
(next to be held 26-27 May, 12 June, and 24 July 1991);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(301); number of seats by party NA; note--the 301 members of
the new House of Representatives will come from North Yemen's
Consultative Assembly (159 members), South Yemen's Supreme People's
Council (111 members), and appointments by the New Presidential Council
(31 members)

Communists: small number in North, greater but unknown number
in South

Other political or pressure groups: conservative tribal groups,
Muslim Brotherhood, leftist factions--pro-Iraqi Bathists, Nasirists,
National Democratic Front (NDF)

Member of: ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Muhsin Ahmad al-AYNI;
Chancery at Suite 840, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone [phone] or 4761; there is a Yemeni Consulate General in
Detroit and a Consulate in San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Charles F. DUNBAR; Embassy at Dhahr Himyar Zone,
Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa (mailing address is P. O. Box 22347 Sanaa,
Republic of Yemen or Sanaa--Department of State, Washington, D. C.
20521-6330); telephone  967  (2) 238-842 through 238-852

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
similar to the flag of Syria which has two green stars and of
Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a
horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

ECONOMY
Overview: Whereas the northern city Sanaa is the political
capital of a united Yemen, the southern city Aden, with its refinery
and port facilities, is the economic and commercial capital. Future
economic development depends heavily on Western-assisted development
of promising oil resources. South Yemen's willingness to merge stemmed
partly from the steady decline in Soviet economic support.

North--The low level of domestic industry and agriculture have made
northern Yemen dependent on imports for virtually all of its essential
needs. Large trade deficits have been made up for by remittances from
Yemenis working abroad and foreign aid. Once self-sufficient in food
production, northern Yemen has been a major importer. Land once used for
export crops--cotton, fruit, and vegetables--has been turned over to
growing qat, a mildly narcotic shrub chewed by Yemenis that has no
significant export market. Oil export revenues started flowing in late
1987 and boosted 1988 earnings by about $800 million.

South--This has been one of the poorest Arab countries, with a per
capita GNP of about $500. A shortage of natural resources, a widely
dispersed population, and an arid climate have made economic development
difficult. The economy has grown at an average annual rate of only 2-3%
since the mid-1970s. The economy had been organized along socialist
lines, dominated by the public sector. Economic growth has been
constrained by a lack of incentives, partly stemming from centralized
control over production decisions, investment allocation, and import
choices.

GDP: $5.3 billion, per capita $545; real growth rate NA%
(1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

North--16.9% (1988);

South--0% (1989)

Unemployment rate:

North--13% (1986);

South--NA%

Budget:

North--revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $2.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $590 million (1988 est.);

South--revenues and grants $435 million; expenditures $1.0 billion,
including capital expenditure of $460 million (1988 est.)

Exports:

North--$606 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables;

partners--FRG 29%, US 26%, Netherlands 12%;

South--$113.8 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--cotton, hides, skins, dried and salted fish;

partners--Japan, North Yemen, Italy

Imports:

North--$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--textiles and other manufactured consumer goods,
petroleum products, sugar, grain, flour, other foodstuffs, and cement;

partners--Saudi Arabia 12%, France 6%, US 5%, Australia 5%
(1985);

South--$553.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--grain, consumer goods, crude oil, machinery,
chemicals;

partners--USSR, UK, Ethiopia

External debt: $5.75 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production:

North--growth rate 2% in manufacturing (1988);

South--growth rate NA% in manufacturing

Electricity: 670,000 kW capacity; 1,100 million kWh produced,
110 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining;
small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food
processing; handicrafts; fishing; small aluminum products factory; cement

Agriculture:

North--accounted for 26% of GDP and 70% of labor force; farm
products--grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee,
cotton, dairy, poultry, meat, goat meat; not self-sufficient in grain;

South--accounted for 17% of GNP and 45% of labor force;
products--grain, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, fish, livestock;
fish and honey major exports; most food imported

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $389
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.2 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4 billion

Currency:

North Yemeni riyal (plural--riyals); 1 North Yemeni riyal
(YR) = 100 fils;

South Yemeni dinar (plural--dinars); 1 South Yemeni dinar
(YD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates:

North Yemeni riyals (YR) per US$1--9.7600 (January 1990), 9.7600 (1989),
9.7717 (1988), 10.3417 (1987), 9.6392 (1986), 7.3633 (1985);

South Yemeni dinars (YD) per US$1--0.3454 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 15,500 km; 4,000 km bituminous, 11,500 km natural
surface (est.)

Pipelines: crude oil, 424 km; refined products, 32 km

Ports: Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Khalf, Mocha, Nishtun,
Ras Kathib, Salif

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
4,309 GRT/6,568 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker

Civil air: 15 major transport aircraft

Airports: 49 total, 40 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: the North has a poor but improving system with
new radio relay and cable networks, while the South has a small system of
open-wire, radio relay, multiconductor cable, and radio communications
stations; 65,000 telephones (est.); stations--4 AM, no FM, 22 TV;
satellite earth stations--2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, 2 ARABSAT; radio relay to Saudi Arabia, and
Djibouti

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,906,887;
1,084,122 fit for military service;
134,158 reach military age (14) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.06 billion, 20% of GDP (1990)




  * YUGOSLAVIA



YUGOSLAVIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 255,800 km2; land area: 255,400 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Wyoming

Land boundaries: 2,961 km total; Albania 486 km, Austria 311 km,
Bulgaria 539 km, Greece 246 km, Hungary 631 km, Italy 202 km, Romania
546 km

Coastline: 3,935 km (including 2,414 km offshore islands)

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Kosovo question with Albania; Macedonia question with
Bulgaria and Greece

Climate: temperate; hot, relatively dry summers with mild, rainy
winters along coast; warm summer with cold winters inland

Terrain: mostly mountains with large areas of karst topography;
plain in north

Natural resources: coal, copper, bauxite, timber, iron ore,
antimony, chromium, lead, zinc, asbestos, mercury, crude oil, natural
gas, nickel, uranium

Land use: arable land 28%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
25%; forest and woodland 36%; other 8%; includes irrigated 1%

Environment: subject to frequent and destructive earthquakes

Note: controls the most important land routes from
central and western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish straits

PEOPLE
Population: 23,976,040 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)

Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Yugoslav(s); adjective--Yugoslav

Ethnic divisions: Serb 36.3%, Croat 19.7%, Muslim 8.9%, Slovene
7.8%, Albanian 7.7%, Macedonian 5.9%, Yugoslav 5.4%, Montenegrin 2.5%,
Hungarian 1.9%, other 3.9% (1981 census)

Religion: Eastern Orthodox 50%, Roman Catholic 30%, Muslim 9%,
Protestant 1%, other 10%

Language: Serbo-Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian (all official);
Albanian, Hungarian

Literacy: 90% (male 96%, female 84%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force: 9,600,000; agriculture 22%, mining and manufacturing
27%; about 5% of labor force are guest workers in Western Europe (1986)

Organized labor: badly fractured labor movement, with no unified
national labor federation; several republics have competing union
federations within their borders

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;
abbreviated SFRY

Type: federal republic in form; four of six republics have
non-Communist governments

Capital: Belgrade

Administrative divisions: 6 republics (republike, singular--republika);
Bosna i Hercegovina (Bosnia and Hercegovina),
Crna Gora (Montenegro), Hrvatska (Croatia), Makedonija (Macedonia),
Slovenija (Slovenia), Srbija (Serbia);
note--there are two nominally autonomous provinces (autonomne pokajine,
singular--autonomna pokajina) within Srbija--Kosovo and Vojvodina

Independence: 1 December 1918; independent monarchy established
from the Kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro, parts of the Turkish Empire,
and the Austro-Hungarian Empire; SFRY proclaimed 29 November 1945

Constitution: 21 February 1974, amendments to the Constitution
have passed the Federal Assembly and are being considered at the
republic level

Legal system: mixture of civil law system and Communist legal
theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; a new legal
code is being formulated

National holiday: Proclamation of the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, 29 November (1945)

Executive branch: president of the Presidency, vice president of
the Presidency, Presidency, president of the Federal Executive
Council, two vice presidents of the Federal Executive Council, Federal
Executive Council

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal (Skupstina) consists of
an upper chamber or Chamber of Republics and Provinces (Vece Republika
i Pokrajina) and a lower chamber or Federal Chamber

Judicial branch: Federal Court (Savezna Sud), Constitutional Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President of the Presidency Stjepan MESIC
from Hrvatska (Croatia), one-year term expires 15 May 1992;
Vice President of the Presidency Branko KOSTIC from Crna Gora
(Montenegro), one-year term expires 15 May 1992; note--the offices of
president and vice president rotate annually among members of the
Presidency with the current vice president assuming the
presidency and a new vice president selected from area which has gone the
longest without filling the position (the current sequence is
Hrvatska, Crna Gora, Vojvodina, Kosovo, Makedonija, Bosna i
Hercegovina, Slovenija, and Srbija);

Head of Government--President of the Federal Executive Council
Ante MARKOVIC (since 16 March 1989); Vice President of the Federal
Executive Council Aleksandar MITROVIC (since 16 March 1989);
Vice President of the Federal Executive Council Zivko PREGL
(since 16 March 1989)

Political parties and leaders: there are over 100 political
parties operating, some only in one republic and others country-wide

Suffrage: at age 16 if employed, universal at age 18

Elections: direct federal elections may never be held because of
inter-republic differences over Yugoslavia's future structure

Other political or pressure groups: there are no national
political groups; all significant groups are found within the republics

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), BIS, CCC, CERN (observer),
CSCE, ECE, FAO, G-9, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OECD (special), PCA, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dzevad MUJEZINOVIC;
Chancery at 2410 California Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
[phone]; there are Yugoslav Consulates General in Chicago,
Cleveland, New York, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco;

US--Ambassador Warren ZIMMERMAN; mailing address Box 5070,
Belgrade or APO New York 09213-5070; telephone  38  (11) 645-655; there
is a US Consulate General in Zagreb

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red
with a large red five-pointed star edged in yellow superimposed in the
center over all three bands

ECONOMY
Overview: For 20 years Communist Yugoslavia had been trying to
replace the Stalinist command economy with a decentralized semimarket
system that features worker self-management councils in all large plants.
This hybrid system neared collapse in late 1989 when inflation soared.
The government applied shock therapy in 1990 under an IMF standby
program that provides tight control over monetary expansion, a freeze
on wages, the pegging of the dinar to the deutsche mark, and a partial
price freeze on energy, transportation, and communal services. This
program brought hyperinflation to a halt and encouraged a rise in
foreign investment. Since June 1990, however, inflation has
rebounded and threatens to rise further in 1991. Estimated annual
inflation for 1990 is 164%. Other huge problems remain: rising
unemployment, the low quality of industrial output, and striking
differences in income between the poorer southern regions and the
comparatively well-off northern areas. Even so, political issues far
outweigh economic problems in importance.

GNP: $120.1 billion, per capita $5,040; real growth rate - 6.3% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 164% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 16% (1990)

Budget: revenues $6.4 billion; expenditures $6.4 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

Exports: $13.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--raw materials and semimanufactures 50%, consumer goods
31%, capital goods and equipment 19%;

partners--EC 53%, USSR and Eastern Europe 27%,
less developed countries 12.9%, US 4.8%, other 2.3%

Imports: $17.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--raw materials and semimanufactures 79%,
capital goods and equipment 15%, consumer goods 6%;

partners--EC 53.5%, USSR and Eastern Europe 22.8%,
less developed countries 15.4%, US 4.6%, other 3.7%

External debt: $18.0 billion, medium and long term (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate - 10.9% (1990)

Electricity: 21,000,000 kW capacity; 83,400 million kWh produced,
3,500 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: metallurgy, machinery and equipment, petroleum,
chemicals, textiles, wood processing, food processing, pulp and paper,
motor vehicles, building materials

Agriculture: diversified, with many small private holdings and large combines;
main crops--corn, wheat, tobacco, sugar beets, sunflowers; occasionally a net
exporter of corn, tobacco, foodstuffs, live animals

Economic aid: donor--about $3.5 billion in bilateral aid to
non-Communist less developed countries (1966-89)

Currency: Yugoslav dinar (plural--dinars);
1 Yugoslav dinar (YD) = 100 paras; note--on 1 January 1990, Yugoslavia
began issuing a new currency with 1 new dinar equal to 10,000 YD

Exchange rates: Yugoslav dinars (YD) per US$1--13.605 (January
1991), 11.318 (1990), 2.876 (1989), 0.252 (1988), 0.074 (1987), 0.038
(1986), 0.027 (1985); note--as of January 1991 the new dinar is linked to
the German deutsche mark at the rate of 9 new dinars per 1 deustche mark

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 9,349 km total; (all 1.435-meter standard gauge)
including 931 km double track, 3,760 km electrified (1988)

Highways: 122,062 km total; 73,527 km asphalt, concrete, stone
block; 33,663 km macadam, asphalt treated, gravel, crushed stone;
14,872 km earth (1988)

Inland waterways: 2,600 km (1982)

Pipelines: 1,373 km crude oil; 2,900 km natural gas; 150 km refined
products

Ports: Rijeka, Split, Koper, Bar, Ploce; inland port is Belgrade

Merchant marine: 277 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,780,095
GRT/6,031,359 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 4 short-sea passenger, 133
cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 19 container, 10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3
multifunction large-load carrier, 9 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 2 combination ore/oil, 75 bulk, 11 combination
bulk; note--Yugoslavia owns 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 253,400
GRT/429,613 DWT under the registry of Liberia, Panama, and Cyprus

Civil air: 57 major transport aircraft

Airports: 179 total, 179 usable; 54 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 23 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 1.6 million telephones (97% automatic); 7,500
public telephone booths; stations--85 AM, 69 FM, 103 TV; 4.65 million
radios; 4.1 million TVs (1990); 92% of country receives No. 1 television
program (1990)

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Yugoslav People's Army--Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Territorial Defense Force, Civil Defense

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,176,693; 5,001,024 fit for
military service; 189,886 reach military age (19) annually

Defense expenditures: 70.85 billion dinars, 4-6% of GDP (1991 est.);
note--conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the official
administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading results



  * ZAIRE

ZAIRE
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 2,345,410 km2; land area: 2,267,600 km2

Comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of US

Land boundaries: 10,271 km total; Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km,
Central African Republic 1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan
628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km

Coastline: 37 km

Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no
longer be indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of
the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along
the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands
has been made)

Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler
and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands;
north of Equator--wet season April to October, dry season December to
February; south of Equator--wet season November to March, dry season
April to October

Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, crude oil, industrial
and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium,
radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential

Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 4%;
forest and woodland 78%; other 15%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment: dense tropical rainforest in central river basin and
eastern highlands; periodic droughts in south

Note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land is only outlet
to South Atlantic Ocean

PEOPLE
Population: 37,832,407 (July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 99 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 56 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Zairian(s); adjective--Zairian

Ethnic divisions: over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are
Bantu; four largest tribes--Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the
Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population

Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%,
Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%

Language: French (official), Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba

Literacy: 72% (male 84%, female 61%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 15,000,000; agriculture 75%, industry 13%, services
12%; wage earners 13% (1981); population of working age 51% (1985)

Organized labor: National Union of Zairian Workers (UNTZA) was
the only officially recognized trade union until April 1990; other unions
are now in process of seeking official recognition

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Zaire

Type: republic with a strong presidential system

Capital: Kinshasa

Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions,
singular--region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Zaire,
Equateur, Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*,
Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-Kivu

Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium; formerly Belgian Congo,
then Congo/Leopoldville, then Congo/Kinshasa)

Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978;
amended 1990; new constitution to be promulgated in 1991

Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic),
24 November (1965)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Executive Council
(cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (Conseil
Legislatif)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa
Za Banga (since 24 November 1965);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Bernadin MUNGUL DIAKA
(since 23 October 1991)

Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January 1991--
Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include
Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba;
Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC),
Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI);
and Congolese National Movement-Lumumba (MNC-L)

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 29 July 1984
(next to be held before December 1991);
results--President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition;

Legislative Council--last held 6 September 1987
(next to be held in 1991, probably on a multiparty basis);
results--MPR was the only party;
seats--(210 total) MPR 210; note--MPR still holds majority of seats
but some deputies have joined other parties

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, CIPEC, ECA,
FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador TATANENE Manata;
Chancery at 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009;
telephone [phone] or 7691;

US--Ambassador Melissa F. WELLS; Embassy at 310 Avenue des
Aviateurs, Kinshasa (mailing address is APO New York 09662);
telephone [phone]; there is a US Consulate General in Lubumbashi

Flag: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black
arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away
from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

ECONOMY
Overview: In 1990, in spite of large mineral resources and one
of the most developed and diversified economies in Sub-Saharan Africa,
Zaire had a GDP per capita of only about $200, one of the lowest on the
continent. The country's chronic economic problems worsened in 1990,
with copper production down 20% to a 20-year low, inflation near
250% compared with 100% in 1987-89, and IMF and most World Bank support
suspended until the institution of agreed-on changes. Agriculture, a key
sector of the economy, employs 75% of the population but generates
under 25% of GDP. The main potential for economic development has been
the extractive industries. Mining and mineral processing account for
about one-third of GDP and two-thirds of total export earnings.
Zaire is the world's largest producer of diamonds.

GDP: $6.6 billion, per capita $180; real growth rate - 2% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 242% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $685 million; expenditures $1.1 billion, does
not include capital expenditures mostly financed by donors (1990)

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--copper 37%, coffee 24%, diamonds 12%, cobalt, crude oil;

partners--US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa

Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery,
transport equipment, fuels;

partners--South Africa, US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, Japan, UK

External debt: $7.9 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 3.1%; accounts for 30%
of GDP (1988)

Electricity: 2,575,000 kW capacity; 5,550 million kWh produced,
150 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products
(including textiles, footwear, and cigarettes), processed foods and
beverages, cement, diamonds

Agriculture: cash crops--coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food
crops--cassava, bananas, root crops, corn

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic
consumption

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.1
billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $6.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $263 million

Currency: zaire (plural--zaire); 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta

Exchange rates: zaire (Z) per US$1--2,113.55 (January 1991),
718.58 (1990), 381.445 (1989), 187.070 (1988), 112.403 (1987), 59.625
(1986), 49.873 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 5,254 km total; 3,968 km 1.067-meter gauge (851 km
electrified); 125 km 1.000-meter gauge; 136 km 0.615-meter gauge;
1,025 km 0.600-meter gauge

Highways: 146,500 km total; 2,550 km bituminous, 46,450 km gravel
and improved earth; remainder unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries,
and unconnected lakes

Pipelines: refined products 390 km

Ports: Matadi, Boma, Banana

Merchant marine: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,802
GRT/60,496 DWT; includes 1 passenger cargo, 3 cargo

Civil air: 38 major transport aircraft

Airports: 308 total, 255 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
71 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: barely adequate wire and radio relay service;
31,200 telephones; stations--10 AM, 4 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 14 domestic

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary National Gendarmerie,
paramilitary Civil Guard

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 8,240,412; 4,192,991 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $49 million, 0.8% of GDP (1988)



  * ZAMBIA

ZAMBIA
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 752,610 km2; land area: 740,720 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries: 5,664 km total; Angola 1,110 km, Malawi 837 km,
Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zaire 1,930 km,
Zimbabwe 797 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in
disagreement; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no
longer be indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of
the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled

Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to
April)

Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds,
gold, silver, uranium, hydropower potential

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 47%; forest and woodland 27%; other 19%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 8,445,724 (July 1991), growth rate 3.5% (1991)

Birth rate: 49 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 79 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 58 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Zambian(s); adjective--Zambian

Ethnic divisions: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%

Religion: Christian 50-75%, Muslim and Hindu, remainder indigenous
beliefs 1%

Language: English (official); about 70 indigenous languages

Literacy: 73% (male 81%, female 65%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 2,455,000; 85% agriculture; 6% mining, manufacturing,
and construction; 9% transport and services

Organized labor: about 238,000 wage earners are unionized

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Zambia

Type: multiparty system; on 17 December 1990, President Kenneth
KAUNDA signed into law the constitutional amendment that officially
reintroduced the multiparty system in Zambia and ending 17 years of
one-party rule

Capital: Lusaka

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt,
Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Independence: 24 October 1964 (from UK; formerly Northern Rhodesia)

Constitution: 25 August 1973

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State--President Dr. Kenneth David KAUNDA (since 24 October 1964);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Gen. Malimba MASHEKE (since 15 March 1989)

Political parties and leaders:
United National Independence Party (UNIP), Kenneth KAUNDA;
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Frederick CHILUBA;
National Democratic Alliance (NADA), leader NA;
Democratic Party, leader NA; note--the first Extraordinary
Congress of UNIP began on 6 August 1991

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

President--last held 26 October 1988
(next to be held mid-1991);
results--President Kenneth KAUNDA was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 26 October 1988
(next to be held mid-1991);
results--UNIP was the only party;
seats--(136 total, 125 elected) UNIP 125

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-19, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Paul J. F. LUSAKA;
Chancery at 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone [phone] through 9721;

US--Ambassador Gordon L. STREET; Embassy at corner of Independence
Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusaka (mailing address is P. O. Box
31617, Lusaka); telephone  [phone], 228-596, 228-598, 228-601,
228-602, 228-603, 251-419

Flag: green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist
side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer
edge of the flag

ECONOMY
Overview: The economy has been in decline for more than a decade
with falling imports and growing foreign debt. Economic difficulties
stem from a sustained drop in copper production and ineffective economic
policies. In 1990 real GDP stood only slightly higher than that of 10
years before, while an annual population growth of more than 3% has
brought a decline in per capita GDP of 25% during the same period. A high
inflation rate has also added to Zambia's economic woes in recent years.

GDP: $4.7 billion, per capita $580; real growth rate - 2% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 80% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.5 billion,
including capital expenditures of $300 million (1991 est.)

Exports: $1.1 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco;

partners--EC, Japan, South Africa, US

Imports: $1.1 million (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs,
fuels, manufactures;

partners--EC, Japan, South Africa, US

External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.9% (1990); accounts for
one-third of GDP

Electricity: 1,900,000 kW capacity; 8,245 million kWh produced,
1,050 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: copper mining and processing, transport, construction,
foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, and fertilizer

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and 85% of labor force;
crops--corn (food staple), sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower, tobacco,
cotton, sugarcane, cassava; cattle, goats, beef, eggs;
marginally self-sufficient in corn

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $484
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $4.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $533 million

Currency: Zambian kwacha (plural--kwacha);
1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee

Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1--43.2900 (January
1991), 28.9855 (1990), 12.9032 (1989), 8.2237 (1988), 8.8889 (1987),
7.3046 (1986), 2.7137 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 1,266 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 13 km double track

Highways: 36,370 km total; 6,500 km paved, 7,000 km crushed stone,
gravel, or stabilized soil; 22,870 km improved and unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula Rivers,
Lake Tanganyika

Pipelines: 1,724 km crude oil

Ports: Mpulungu (lake port)

Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft

Airports: 121 total, 106 usable; 13 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 23 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan
Africa; high-capacity radio relay connects most larger towns and cities;
71,700 telephones; stations--11 AM, 3 FM, 9 TV; satellite earth
stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,755,585; 920,878 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



  * ZIMBABWE

ZIMBABWE
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 390,580 km2; land area: 386,670 km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Montana

Land boundaries: 3,066 km total; Botswana 813 km, Mozambique
1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in
disagreement

Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to
March)

Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high
veld); mountains in east

Natural resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel,
copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 12%; forest and woodland 62%; other 19%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

Environment: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare;
deforestation; soil erosion; air and water pollution

Note: landlocked

PEOPLE
Population: 10,720,459 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)

Birth rate: 41 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 61 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 64 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Zimbabwean(s); adjective--Zimbabwean

Ethnic divisions: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%);
white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%

Religion: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%,
Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, a few Muslim

Language: English (official); Shona, Sindebele

Literacy: 67% (male 74%, female 60%)
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 3,100,000; agriculture 74%, transport and services
16%, mining, manufacturing, construction 10% (1987)

Organized labor: 17% of wage and salary earners have union
membership

GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Republic of Zimbabwe

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Harare

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Manicaland, Mashonaland
Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria),
Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK; formerly Southern Rhodesia)

Constitution: 21 December 1979

Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Executive branch: executive president, 2 vice presidents, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Executive President Robert
Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987);
Co-Vice President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987);
Co-Vice President Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990)

Political parties and leaders:
Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert MUGABE;
Zimbabwe African National Union-Sithole (ZANU-S), Ndabaningi SITHOLE;
Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM), Edgar TEKERE

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:

Executive President--last held 28-30 March 1990
(next to be held NA March 1995);
results--Robert MUGABE 78.3%; Edgar TEKERE 21.7%;

Parliament--last held 28-30 March 1990
(next to be held NA March 1995);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(150 total, 120 elected) ZANU 117, ZUM 2, ZANU-S 1

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Counselor (Political Affairs), Head of
Chancery, Ambassador Stanislaus Garikai CHIGWEDERE; Chancery at
2852 McGill Terrace NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone [phone];

US--Ambassador (vacant); Embassy at 172 Herbert Chitapo
Avenue, Harare (mailing address is P. O. Box 3340, Harare);
telephone  263  (4) 794-521

Flag: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black,
red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black
based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red
five-pointed star in the center of the triangle

ECONOMY
Overview: Agriculture employs three-fourths of the labor force and
supplies almost 40% of exports. The manufacturing sector, based on
agriculture and mining, produces a variety of goods and contributes 35%
to GDP. Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment, but
supplies of minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Wide
year-to-year fluctuations in agricultural production over the past six
years have resulted in an uneven growth rate, one that on average matched
the 3% annual increase in population.

GDP: $5.6 billion, per capita $540; real growth rate 4.2% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1989)

Unemployment rate: at least 20% (1990 est.)

Budget: revenues $2.7 billion; expenditures $3.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of $330 million (FY91)

Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--agricultural 35% (tobacco 20%, other 15%),
manufactures 20%, gold 10%, ferrochrome 10%, cotton 5%;

partners--Europe 55% (EC 40%, Netherlands 5%, other 10%),
Africa 20% (South Africa 10%, other 10%), US 5%

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--machinery and transportation equipment 37%, other
manufactures 22%, chemicals 16%, fuels 15%;

partners--EC 31%, Africa 29% (South Africa 21%, other 8%), US 8%,
Japan 4%

External debt: $2.96 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1988 est.); accounts
for 35% of GDP

Electricity: 2,036,000 kW capacity; 5,460 million kWh produced,
540 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals,
foodstuffs, fertilizer, beverage, transportation equipment, wood products

Agriculture: accounts for about 15% of GDP and employs 74% of
population; 40% of land area divided into 4,500 large commercial farms
and 42% in communal lands; crops--corn (food staple), cotton, tobacco,
wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; livestock--cattle, sheep, goats, pigs;
self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $389
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $36 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $134 million

Currency: Zimbabwean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1--2.6724 (January
1991), 2.4480 (1990), 2.1133 (1989), 1.8018 (1988), 1.6611 (1987), 1.6650
(1986), 1.6119 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 2,745 km 1.067-meter gauge; 42 km double track; 355 km
electrified

Highways: 85,237 km total; 15,800 km paved, 39,090 km crushed
stone, gravel, stabilized soil: 23,097 km improved earth; 7,250 km
unimproved earth

Inland waterways: Lake Kariba is a potential line of communication

Pipelines: 8 km, refined products

Civil air: 12 major transport aircraft

Airports: 499 total, 415 usable; 23 with permanent-surface runways;
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 35 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: system was once one of the best in Africa, but
now suffers from poor maintenance; consists of radio relay links,
open-wire lines, and radio communications stations; 247,000 telephones;
stations--8 AM, 18 FM, 8 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Police
Support Unit, Paramilitary Police, People's Militia

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,263,724; 1,399,354 fit for
military service

Defense expenditures: $412.4 million, NA% of GDP (FY91 est.)



Appendix A: The United Nations System

The UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous subordinate
agencies and bodies as follows:

1) Secretariat

2) General Assembly:
UNCHS    United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat)
UNCTAD   United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDP     United Nations Development Program
UNEP     United Nations Environment Program
UNFPA    United Nations Population Fund
UNHCR    United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF   United Nations Children's Fund
UNITAR   United Nations Institute for Training and Research
UNRWA    United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East
UNSF     United Nations Special Fund
UNU      United Nations University
WFC      World Food Council
WFP      World Food Program

3) Security Council:
UNAVEM   United Nations Angola Verification Mission
UNDOF    United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
UNFICYP  United Nations Force in Cyprus
UNIFIL   United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNIIMOG  United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group
UNMOGIP  United Nations Military Observer Group in India and
Pakistan
UNTSO    United Nations Truce Supervision Organization

4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
Specialized agencies
FAO      Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
IBRD     International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO     International Civil Aviation Organization
IDA      International Development Association
IFAD     International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC      International Finance Corporation
ILO      International Labor Organization
IMF      International Monetary Fund
IMO      International Maritime Organization
ITU      International Telecommunication Union
UNESCO   United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization
UNIDO    United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UPU      Universal Postal Union
WHO      World Health Organization
WIPO     World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO      World Meteorological Organization
Related organizations
GATT     General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
IAEA     International Atomic Energy Agency
Regional commissions
ECA      Economic Commission for Africa
ECE      Economic Commission for Europe
ECLAC    Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
ESCAP    Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESCWA    Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Functional commissions
Commission on Human Rights
Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Commission for Social Development
Commission on the Status of Women
Population Commission
Statistical Commission

5) Trusteeship Council

6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)




Appendix B: Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups

ABEDA    Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
ACC      Arab Cooperation Council
ACCT     Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation
ACP      African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries
AfDB     African Development Bank
AFESD    Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
AG       Andean Group
AL       Arab League
ALADI    Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion; see Latin
American Integration Association (LAIA)
AMF      Arab Monetary Fund
AMU      Arab Maghreb Union
ANZUS    Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty
APEC     Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
AsDB     Asian Development Bank
ASEAN    Association of Southeast Asian Nations

BAD      Banque Africaine de Developpement;
see African Development Bank (AfDB)
BADEA    Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique;
see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
BCIE     Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico; see Central
American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
BDEAC    Banque de Developpment des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale; see
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
Benelux  Benelux Economic Union
BID      Banco Interamericano de Desarvollo; see Inter-American
Development Bank (IADB)
BIS      Bank for International Settlements
BOAD     Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement; see West African
Development Bank (WADB)

C        Commonwealth
CACM     Central American Common Market
CAEU     Council of Arab Economic Unity
CARICOM  Caribbean Community and Common Market
CCC      Customs Cooperation Council
CDB      Caribbean Development Bank
CE       Council of Europe
CEAO     Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest; see West
African Economic Community (CEAO)
CEEAC    Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale; see
Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
CEMA     Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; also known as CMEA or
Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
CEPGL    Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs; see Economic
Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
CERN     Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire; see European
Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
CG       Contadora Group
CMEA     Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as
Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
COCOM    Coordinating Committee on Export Controls
Comecon  Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as
CMEA; abolished 1 January 1991
CP       Colombo Plan
CSCE     Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe

DC       developed country

EADB     East African Development Bank
EBRD     European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
EC       European Community
ECA      Economic Commission for Africa
ECAFE    Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; see Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
ECE      Economic Commission for Europe
ECLA     Economic Commission for Latin America; see Economic Commission
for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
ECLAC    Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
ECOSOC   Economic and Social Council
ECOWAS   Economic Community of West African States
ECWA     Economic Commission for Western Asia; see Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
EFTA     European Free Trade Association
EIB      European Investment Bank
Entente  Council of the Entente
ESA      European Space Agency
ESCAP    Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESCWA    Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

FAO      Food and Agriculture Organization
FLS      Front Line States
FZ       Franc Zone

G-2      Group of 2
G-3      Group of 3
G-5      Group of 5
G-6      Group of 6 (not to be confused with the Big Six)
G-7      Group of 7
G-8      Group of 8
G-9      Group of 9
G-10     Group of 10
G-11     Group of 11
G-19     Group of 19
G-24     Group of 24
G-30     Group of 30
G-33     Group of 33
G-77     Group of 77
GATT     General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GCC      Gulf Cooperation Council

Habitat  see United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS)

IADB     Inter-American Development Bank
IAEA     International Atomic Energy Agency
IBEC     International Bank for Economic Cooperation
IBRD     International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO     International Civil Aviation Organization
ICC      International Chamber of Commerce
ICEM     Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; see
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
ICFTU    International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
ICJ      International Court of Justice
ICM      Intergovernmental Committee for Migration; see
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
ICRC     International Committee of the Red Cross
IDA      International Development Association
IDB      Islamic Development Bank
IEA      International Energy Agency
IFAD     International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC      International Finance Corporation
IGADD    Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development
IIB      International Investment Bank
ILO      International Labor Organization
IMCO     Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization; see
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
IMF      International Monetary Fund
IMO      International Maritime Organization
INMARSAT International Maritime Satellite Organization
INTELSAT International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
INTERPOL International Criminal Police Organization
IOC      International Olympic Committee
IOM      International Organization for Migration
ISO      International Organization for Standardization
ITU      International Telecommunication Union

LAES     Latin American Economic System
LAIA     Latin American Integration Association
LAS      League of Arab States; see Arab League (AL)
LDC      less developed country
LLDC     least developed country
LORCS    League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

NAM      Nonaligned Movement
NATO     North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NC       Nordic Council
NEA      Nuclear Energy Agency
NIB      Nordic Investment Bank
NIC      newly industrializing country; see newly industrializing
economy (NIE)
NIE      newly industrializing economy

OAPEC    Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OAS      Organization of American States
OAU      Organization of African Unity
OECD     Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECS     Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
OIC      Organization of the Islamic Conference
OPANAL   Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America
and the Caribbean
OPEC     Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

PCA      Permanent Court of Arbitration

RG       Rio Group

SAARC    South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACU     Southern African Customs Union
SADCC    Southern African Development Coordination Conference
SELA     Sistema Economico Latinoamericana; see Latin American Economic
System (LAES)
SPC      South Pacific Commission
SPF      South Pacific Forum

UDEAC    Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale; see
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
UN       United Nations
UNAVEM   United Nations Angola Verification Mission
UNCHS    United National Center for Human Settlements (also
known as Habitat)
UNCTAD   United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDOF    United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
UNDP     United Nations Development Program
UNEP     United Nations Environment Program
UNESCO   United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization
UNFICYP  United Nations Force in Cyprus
UNFPA    United Nations Fund for Population Activities; see UN Population
Fund (UNFPA)
UNHCR    United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF   United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund; see
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNIDO    United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIFIL   United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNIIMOG  United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group
UNMOGIP  United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
UNRWA    United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East
UNTSO    United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
UPU      Universal Postal Union
USSR/EE  USSR/Eastern Europe

WADB     West African Development Bank
WCL      World Confederation of Labor
WEU      Western European Union
WFC      World Food Council
WFP      World Food Program
WFTU     World Federation of Trade Unions
WHO      World Health Organization
WIPO     World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO      World Meteorological Organization
WP       Warsaw Pact (members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance)
WTO      World Tourism Organization

note: not all international organizations and groups have abbreviations




Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
advanced developing countries--another term for those less
developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial
development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP)

established--1 April 1976;

aim--members have a preferential economic and aid relationship with
the EC;

members--(66) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati,
Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa,
Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
African Development Bank (AfDB), also known as Banque Africaine de
Developpement (BAD);

established--4 August 1963;

aim--to promote economic and social development;

regional members--(50) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina,
Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco,
Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo,
Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe;

nonregional members--(25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT)--see Agency
for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)--acronym
from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique;

established--21 March 1970;

aim--to promote cultural and technical cooperation among
French-speaking countries;

members--(30) Belgium, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica,
France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mali,
Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia,
Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zaire;

associate members--(7) Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Laos,
Mauritania, Morocco, Saint Lucia;

participating governments--(2) New Brunswick (Canada),
Quebec (Canada)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
Caribbean (OPANAL)--acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de
las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL);

established--14 February 1967;

aim--to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit
nuclear weapons;

members--(25) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,
Uruguay, Venezuela;

observer--(1) Cuba
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andean Group (AG)

established--26 May 1969, effective 16 October 1969;

aim--to promote harmonious development through economic
integration;

members--(5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela;

associate member--(1) Panama;

observers--(26) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA), also known as
Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA);

established--18 February 1974, effective 16 September 1974;

aim--to promote economic development;

members--(17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE,
Palestine Liberation Organization; note--these are all the members of the
Arab League except Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab Cooperation Council (ACC)

established--16 February 1989;

aim--to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly
leading to an Arab Common Market;

members--(4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)

established--16 May 1968;

aim--to promote economic and social development;

members--(20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation
Organization
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab League (AL), also known as League of Arab States (LAS);

established--22 March 1945;

aim--to promote economic, social, political, and military
cooperation;

members--(20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)

established--17 February 1989;

aim--to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states
of northern Africa;

members--(5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF)

established--27 April 1976, effective 2 February 1977;

aim--to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in
monetary and economic affairs;

members--(19 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE,
Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

established--NA November 1989;

aim--to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin;

members--(12) all ASEAN members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) plus Australia, Canada, Japan,
South Korea, NZ, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Development Bank (AsDB)

established--19 December 1966;

aim--to promote regional economic cooperation;

regional members--(34) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,
Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal,
NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands,
Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western
Samoa;

nonregional members--(15) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)--see
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

established--9 August 1967;

aim--regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the
non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia;

members--(6) Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand;

observer--(1) Papua New Guinea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)

established--1 September 1951, effective 29 April 1952;

aim--trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US
suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986;

members--(3) Australia, NZ, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico (BCIE)--see
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banco Interamericano de Desarvollo (BID)--see Inter-American
Development Bank (IADB)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

established--20 January 1930, effective 17 March 1930;

aim--to promote cooperation among central banks in international
financial settlements;

members--(29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada,
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US,
Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)--see African Development
Bank (AfDB)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)--see
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
(BDEAC)--see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)--see West African
Development Bank (WADB)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux)--acronym from Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg;

established--3 February 1958, effective 1 November 1960;

aim--to develop closer economic cooperation and integration;

members--(3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Seven--membership is the same as the Group of 7;

established--NA;

aim--to discuss and coordinate major economic policies;

members--(7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK)
plus the US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Six--not to be confused with the Group of 6;

established--NA;

aim--economic cooperation;

members--(6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)

established--4 July 1973, effective 1 August 1973;

aim--to promote economic integration and development, especially
among the less developed countries;

members--(13) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago;

observers--(7) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands,
Dominican Republic, Haiti, Netherlands Antilles, Suriname
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)

established--18 October 1969, effective 26 January 1970;

aim--to promote economic development and cooperation;

regional members--(20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela;

nonregional members--(3) Canada, France, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cartagena Group--see Group of 11
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)--acronym from
Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale;

established--8 December 1964, effective 1 January 1966;

aim--to promote the establishment of a Central African Common
Market;

members--(6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)--acronym from
Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale;

established--3 December 1975;

aim--to provide loans for economic development;

members--(9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)--acronym from
Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico;

established--13 December 1960;

aim--to promote economic integration and development;

members--(5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central American Common Market (CACM)

established--13 December 1960, effective 3 June 1961;

aim--to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market;

members--(5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
centrally planned economies--a term applied mainly to the
traditionally Communist states that looked to the USSR for leadership;
many are now evolving toward more democratic and market-oriented systems;
also known formerly as the Second World or as the Communist countries;
through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia,
China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia,
Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colombo Plan (CP)

established--1 July 1951;

aim--to promote economic and social development in Asia and
the Pacific;

members--(26) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma,
Cambodia, Canada, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos,
Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commission for Social Development

established--21 June 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed
29 July 1966;

aim--ECOSOC organization dealing with social development programs;

members--(32) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commission on Human Rights

established--18 February 1946;

aim--ECOSOC organization dealing with human rights;

members--(43) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commission on Narcotic Drugs

established--16 February 1946;

aim--ECOSOC organization dealing with illicit drugs;

members--(40) selected on a rotating basis from all regions with
emphasis on producing and processing countries
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commission on the Status of Women

established--21 June 1946;

aim--ECOSOC organization dealing with women's rights;

members--(32) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commonwealth (C)

established--31 December 1931;

aim--voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire and
that seeks to foster multinational cooperation and assistance;

members--(48) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica,
The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati,
Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, NZ,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe;

special members--(2) Nauru, Tuvalu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO)--see
West African Economic Community (CEAO)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
(CEEAC)--see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL)--see
Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communist countries--traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with
authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet
model; see centrally planned economies
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)

established--NA November 1972;

aim--discusses issues of mutual concern and reviews implementation
of the Helsinki Agreement;

members--(35) Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus,
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, USSR, Vatican City, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN)--see
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contadora Group (CG) was established 5 January 1983 (on the
Panamanian island of Contadora) to reduce tensions and conflicts in
Central America but evolved into the Rio Group (RG); members included
Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf--see
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM)

established--NA 1949;

aim--compiles strategic embargo list of goods not to be sold by the
West to Eastern bloc countries;

members--(15) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Turkey, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA), also known as
CMEA or Comecon, was established 25 January 1949 to promote the
development of socialist economies and was abolished 1 January 1991;
members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had not participated
since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba,
Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer),
Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania,
USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)

established--3 June 1957, effective 30 May 1964;

aim--to promote economic integration among Arab nations;

members--(11) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania,
Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Council of Europe (CE)

established--5 May 1949, effective 3 August 1949;

aim--to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe;

members--(24) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Council of the Entente (Entente)

established--29 May 1959;

aim--to promote economic, social, and political coordination;

members--(5) Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Niger, Togo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)

established--15 December 1950;

aim--to promote international cooperation in customs matters;

members--(104) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi,
Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
developed countries (DCs)--the top group in the comprehensive but
mutually exclusive hierarchy of developed countries (DCs),
USSR/Eastern Europe (USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs);
includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations
in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known
as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial
countries; generally have a per capita GNP/GDP in excess of $10,000
although some OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under
$10,000 and three of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of $10,000
or more;

the 34 DCs are--Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda,
Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta,
Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Vatican City
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
developing countries--an imprecise term for the less developed
countries with growing economies; see less developed countries (LDCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
East African Development Bank (EADB)

established--6 June 1967, effective 1 December 1967;

aim--to promote economic development;

members--(3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

established--28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and
the Far East (ECAFE);

aim--to promote economic development as a regional commission for
the UN's ECOSOC;

members--(38) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei,
Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan,
South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore,
Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, USSR,
Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa;

associate members--(9) Cook Islands, Guam, Hong Kong, Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue,
Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

established--9 August 1973 as Economic Commission for Western Asia
(ECWA);

aim--to promote economic development as a regional commission for
the UN's ECOSOC;

members--(12) Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

established--26 June 1945, effective 24 October 1945;

aim--to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes
five regional commissions (see Economic Commission for Africa, Economic
Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific,
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and six functional
commissions (see Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human
Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women,
Population Commission, and Statistical Commission);

members--(54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

established--29 April 1958;

aim--to promote economic development as a regional commission of
the UN's ECOSOC;

members--(51) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo,
Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique,
Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo,
Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe;

associate members--(3) France, Namibia, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE)--see
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)

established--28 March 1947;

aim--to promote economic development as a regional commission of
the UN's ECOSOC;

members--(33) Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Byelorussian
Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,
US, USSR, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)--see Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

established--25 February 1948 as Economic Commission for
Latin America (ECLA);

aim--to promote economic development as a regional commission of
the UN's ECOSOC;

members--(41) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela;

associate members--(5) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat,
Netherlands Antilles, Virgin Islands
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)--see Economic and
Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)--acronym from
Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale;

established--18 October 1983;

aim--to promote regional economic cooperation and establish a
Central African Common Market;

members--(10) Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad,
Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zaire;

observer--(1) Angola
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)--acronym
from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs;

established--26 September 1976;

aim--to promote regional economic cooperation and integration;

members--(3) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

established--28 May 1975;

aim--to promote regional economic cooperation;

members--(16) Benin, Burkina, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

established--15 April 1991;

aim--to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned
economies in Europe (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania,
USSR, and Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its
loans to privatization;

members--(34) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark,
European Community (EC), Egypt, European Investment Bank (EIB),
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Morocco,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
UK, US; note--includes all 12 members of the EC as individual countries
and the EC itself as an institution
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Community (EC)

established--8 April 1965, effective 1 July 1967;

aim--a fusing of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom),
the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), and the European Economic
Community (EEC or Common Market); the EC plans to establish a completely
integrated common market in 1992 and an eventual federation of Europe;

members--(12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

established--4 January 1960, effective 3 May 1960;

aim--to promote expansion of free trade;

members--(7) Austria, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,
Sweden, Switzerland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Investment Bank (EIB)

established--25 March 1957, effective 1 January 1958;

aim--to promote economic development of the EC;

members--(12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)--acronym retained
from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche
Nucleaire;

established--1 July 1953, effective 29 September 1954;

aim--to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only;

members--(14) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece,
Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK;

observers--(3) Poland (scheduled to become a member 1 July 1991),
Turkey, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Space Agency (ESA)

established--31 July 1973, effective 1 May 1975;

aim--to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and
technology;

members--(13) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK;

associate member--(1) Finland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
First World--another term for countries with advanced,
industrialized economies; see developed countries (DCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

established--16 October 1945;

aim--UN specialized agency to raise living standards and increase
availability of agricultural products;

members--(157) all UN members except Brunei, Byelorussian Soviet
Socialist Republic, Liechtenstein, Singapore, South Africa, Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR; other members are Cook Islands,
North Korea, South Korea, Switzerland, Tonga
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four Dragons the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs)
that have experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the
Four Tigers; this group includes Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore,
Taiwan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four Tigers--another term for the Four Dragons; see Four Dragons
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Franc Zone (FZ)

established--NA;

aim--monetary union among countries whose currencies are linked to
the French franc;

members--(15) Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
Chad, Comoros, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Ivory Coast,
Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo; note--France includes metropolitan France,
the four overseas departments of France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Reunion), the two territorial collectivities of France
(Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon), and the three overseas territories
of France (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Front Line States (FLS)

established--NA;

aim--to achieve black majority rule in South Africa;

members--(7) Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

established--30 October 1947, effective 1 January 1948;

aim--to promote the expansion of international trade on a
nondiscriminatory basis;

members--(101) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan,
Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 2 (G-2)

established--informal term that came into use about 1986;

aim--bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful
economic giants;

members--(2) Japan, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 3 (G-3)

established--NA October 1990;

aim--mechanism for policy coordination;

members--(3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 5 (G-5)

established--22 September 1985;

aim--the five major non-Communist economic powers;

members--(5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 6 (G-6)--not to be confused with the Big Six;

established--22 May 1984;

aim--seeks to achieve nuclear disarmament;

members--(6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 7 (G-7)--membership is the same as the Big Seven;

established--22 September 1985;

aim--the seven major non-Communist economic powers;

members--(7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus
Canada and Italy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 8 (G-8)

established--NA October 1975;

aim--the developed countries (DCs) that participated in the
Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), held in several
sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977;

members--(8) Australia, Canada, EC (as one member), Japan, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 9 (G-9)

established--NA;

aim--informal group that meets occasionally on matters of mutual
interest;

members--(9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary,
Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 10 (G-10), also known as the Paris Club;

established--NA October 1962;

aim--wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the money
to be loaned and act as the informal steering committee; name persists in
spite of the addition of Switzerland on NA April 1984;

members--(11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 11 (G-11), also known as the Cartagena Group;

established--22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia;

aim--forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America;

members--(11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 19 (G-19)

established--NA October 1975;

aim--the less developed countries (LDCs) that participated in the
Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC) held in several
sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977;

members--(19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru,
Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 24 (G-24)

established--NA January 1972;

aim--to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa,
Asia, and Latin America within the IMF;

members--(24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Lebanon,
Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria,
Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 30 (G-30)

established--NA 1979;

aim--to discuss and propose solutions to the world's economic
problems;

members--(30) informal group of 30 leading international bankers,
economists, financial experts, and businessmen organized by Johannes
Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 33 (G-33)

established--NA 1987;

aim--to promote solutions to international economic problems;

members--(33) leading economists from 13 countries
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of 77 (G-77)

established--NA October 1967;

aim--to promote economic cooperation among developing countries;
name persists in spite of increased membership;

members--(123 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,
Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon,
The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica,
Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine
Liberation Organization
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), also known as the Cooperation
Council for the Arab States of the Gulf;

established--25-26 May 1981;

aim--to promote regional cooperation in economic, social,
political, and military affairs;

members--(6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Habitat--see United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
high-income countries--another term for the industrialized
countries with high per capita GNPs/GDPs; see developed countries (DCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
industrial countries--another term for the developed countries; see
developed countries (DCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), also known as
Banco Interamericano de Desarollo (BID);

established--8 April 1959; effective 30 December 1959;

aim--to promote economic and social development in Latin America;

members--(44) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium,
Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal,
Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)

established--NA January 1986;

aim--to promote cooperation on drought-related matters;

members--(6) Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

established--26 October 1956, effective 29 July 1957;

aim--to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy;

members--(111) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma,
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia,
Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, UAE, UK,
US, USSR, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC)

established--22 October 1963;

aim--to promote economic cooperation and development;

members--(9) Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Mongolia,
Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), also
known as the World Bank;

established--22 July 1944, effective 27 December 1945;

aim--UN specialized agency that initially promoted economic
rebuilding after World War II and now provides economic development
loans;

members--(152) all UN members except Albania, Angola, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cuba, Czechoslovakia,
Liechtenstein, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR; other members
are Kiribati, South Korea, Tonga
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

established--NA 1919;

aim--to promote free trade, private enterprise, and represent
business interests at national and international levels;

members--(60 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark,
Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan,
South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco,
Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,
Yugoslavia, Zaire
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

established--7 December 1944, effective 4 April 1947;

aim--UN specialized agency to promote international cooperation in
civil aviation;

members--(161) all UN members except Albania, Belize, Byelorussian
Soviet Socialist Republic, Dominica, Liechtenstein, Namibia, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Western Samoa; other
members are Cook Islands, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru,
San Marino, Switzerland, Tonga
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

established--NA 1863;

aim--to provide humanitarian aid in wartime;

members--(25 individuals) all Swiss nationals
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)

established--NA December 1949;

aim--to promote the trade union movement;

members--(142 national organizations in the following 95 areas)
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina,
Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico,
Montserrat, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Puerto Rico, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US,
USSR, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Western Samoa
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the
World Court;

established--26 June 1945, effective 24 October 1945;

aim--primary judicial organ of the UN;

members--(15 judges) elected by the General Assembly and Security
Council to represent all principal legal systems
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)

established--13 June 1956;

aim--to promote international cooperation between criminal police
authorities;

members--(151) Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo,
Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,
Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar,
Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, USSR, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Development Association (IDA)

established--26 January 1960, effective 24 September 1960;

aim--UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides
economic loans for low income countries;

members--(136);

Part I--(22 more economically advanced countries) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, South Africa,
Sweden, UAE, UK, US;

Part II--(114 less developed nations) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina,
Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina,
Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cyprus,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jordan,
Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Energy Agency (IEA)

established--15 November 1974;

aim--established by the OECD to promote cooperation on energy
matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil
consumers and oil producers;

members--(21) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Finance Corporation (IFC)

established--25 May 1955, effective 20 July 1956;

aim--UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that helps private
enterprise sector in economic development;

members--(133) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon,
Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati,
South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,
Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

established--NA November 1974;

aim--UN specialized agency that promotes agricultural development;

members--(144);

Category I--(21 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US;

Category II--(12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Venezuela;

Category III--(111 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Israel, Ivory Coast,
Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam,
Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Investment Bank (IIB)

established--7 July 1970;

aim--to promote economic development;

members--(9) Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Mongolia,
Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Labor Organization (ILO)

established--11 April 1919 (affiliated with the UN
14 December 1946);

aim--UN specialized agency concerned with world labor issues;

members--(148) all UN members except Albania, Bhutan, Brunei,
The Gambia, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Oman, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Vanuatu, Vietnam,
Western Samoa; other members are San Marino, Switzerland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Maritime Organization (IMO)--name changed from
Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on
22 May 1982;

established--17 March 1958;

aim--UN specialized agency concerned with world maritime affairs;

members--(132) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,
Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia,
Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, US, USSR, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire;

associate member--(1) Hong Kong
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT)

established--3 September 1976, effective 26 July 1979;

aim--to provide worldwide communications for maritime and other
applications;

members--(55) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Chile,
China, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon,
Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia,
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, UAE, UK, US, USSR
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Monetary Fund (IMF)

established--22 July 1944, effective 27 December 1945;

aim--UN specialized agency concerned with world monetary stability
and economic development;

members--(154) all UN members except Albania, Brunei, Bulgaria,
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cuba, Liechtenstein, Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR; other members are Kiribati, South Korea,
Tonga
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Olympic Committee (IOC)

established--23 June 1894;

aim--to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic
games:

1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France (8-23 February);

1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain (25 July-9 August);

1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway (12-27 February);

1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States (20 July-4 August):

1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (date NA);

members--(165) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa,
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia,
Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin
Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada,
Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar,
Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, USSR, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Western Samoa, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Organization for Migration (IOM)--established as
Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants
from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration
(ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for
Migration (ICM) on NA November 1980; current name adopted
14 November 1989;

established--5 December 1951;

aim--to facilitate orderly international emigration and
immigration;

members--(35) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel,
Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela;

observers--(22) Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Egypt, Finland,
France, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Mexico, NZ, San Marino, Somalia,
Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK,
Vatican City, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

established--NA February 1947;

aim--to promote the development of international standards;

members--(72 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark,
Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica,
Japan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia,
Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, USSR,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia;

correspondent members--(14) Bahrain, Barbados, Brunei, Guinea,
Hong Kong, Iceland, Jordan, Kuwait, Malawi, Mauritius, Oman, Senegal,
UAE, Uruguay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

established--NA 1928;

aim--to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and League
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS) in peacetime;

members--(9) 2 representatives from ICRC, 2 from LORCS, and 5 from
national societies elected by the international conference of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

established--9 December 1932, effective 1 January 1934, affiliated
with the UN 15 November 1947;

aim--UN specialized agency concerned with world telecommunications;

members--(164) all UN members except Dominica, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Seychelles; other members are Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Monaco, Nauru, San Marino, Switzerland,
Tonga, Vatican City
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)

established--20 August 1971, effective 12 February 1973;

aim--to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications
satellite system;

members--(118) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia,
Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar,
Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK,
US, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Islamic Development Bank (IDB)

established--15 December 1973;

aim--to promote Islamic economic aid and social development;

members--(43 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina,
Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Latin American Economic System (LAES), also known as
Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA);

established--17 October 1975;

aim--to promote economic and social development through regional
cooperation;

members--(26) Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA), also known as
Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI);

established--12 August 1980, effective 18 March 1981;

aim--to promote freer regional trade;

members--(11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela;

observers--(13) Andean Group, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Organization of
American States, Panama, Portugal, Spain, UN Development Program,
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
League of Arab States (LAS)--see Arab League (AL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)

established--5 May 1919;

aim--to provide humanitarian aid in peacetime;

members--(147) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy,
Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, USSR, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe;

associate members--(2) Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
least developed countries (LLDCs)--that subgroup of the less
developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General
Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita
GNPs/GDPs normally less than $500, and low literacy rates; also known
as the undeveloped countries;

the 41 LLDCs are--Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana,
Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali,
Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe,
Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu,
Western Samoa, Yemen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
less developed countries (LDCs)--the bottom group in the
comprehensive but mutually exclusive hierarchy of developed countries
(DCs), USSR/Eastern Europe (USSR/EE), and less developed countries
(LDCs); mainly countries with low levels of output, living standards,
and technology; per capita GNPs/GDPs are generally below $5,000 and
often less than $1,000; includes the advanced developing countries,
developing countries, Four Dragons (Four Tigers), least developed
countries (LLDCs), low-income countries, middle-income countries,
newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the South, Third World,
underdeveloped countries, undeveloped countries;

the 173 LDCs are--Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola,
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,
Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Guiana,
French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana, Gibraltar,
Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Isle of Man,
Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana
Islands, Oman, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands,
Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE,
Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands,
Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Western Samoa, Yemen,
Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
low-income countries--another term for the less developed
countries with below-average per capita GNPs/GDPs; see less developed
countries (LDCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
middle-income countries--another term for the less developed
countries with above-average per capita GNPs/GDPs; see less develped
countries (LDCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
newly industrializing countries (NICs)--former term for the newly
industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
newly industrializing economies (NIEs)--that subgroup of the less
developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced particularly rapid
industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the newly
industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing
countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea,
Singapore, Taiwan) plus Brazil and Mexico
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonaligned Movement (NAM)

established--1-6 September 1961;

aim--political and military cooperation apart from the traditional
East or West blocs;

members--(102 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast,
Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Palestine Liberation Organization;

observers--(9) Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominica,
El Salvador, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Uruguay;

guests--(11) Australia, Austria, Dominican Republic, Finland,
Greece, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nordic Council (NC)

established--16 March 1952, effective 12 February 1953;

aim--to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental
cooperation;

members--(5) Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden;
note--Denmark includes Faroe Islands and Greenland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)

established--4 December 1975, effective 1 June 1976;

aim--to promote economic cooperation and development;

members--(5) Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North--a popular term for the rich industrialized countries
generally located in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the
counterpart of the South; see developed countries (DCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

established--17 September 1949;

aim--mutual defense and cooperation in other areas;

members--(16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey,
UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

established--NA 1958;

aim--associated with OECD, seeks to promote the peaceful uses of
nuclear energy;

members--(23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la
America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)--see Agency for the Prohibition
of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

established--14 December 1960, effective 30 September 1961;

aim--to promote economic cooperation and development;

members--(24) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US;

special member--(1) Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization of African Unity (OAU)

established--25 May 1963;

aim--to promote unity and cooperation among African states;

members--(51) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo,
Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization of American States (OAS)

established--30 April 1948, effective 13 December 1951;

aim--to promote peace and security as well as economic and social
development;

members--(35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Cuba (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela;

observers--(22) Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, EC, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia,
Spain, Switzerland, Vatican City
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)

established--9 January 1968;

aim--to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry;

members--(10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

established--18 June 1981, effective 4 July 1981;

aim--to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation;

members--(7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;

associate member--(1) British Virgin Islands
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

established--14 September 1960;

aim--to coordinate petroleum policies;

members--(13) Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)

established--22-25 September 1969;

aim--to promote Islamic solidarity and cooperation in economic,
social, cultural, and political affairs;

members--(44 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina,
Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation
Organization; note--Afghanistan was suspended in January 1980, but in
March 1989 the self-proclaimed Afghan Interim Government based in
Pakistan was given membership;

observer--(1) Turkish-Cypriot administered area of Cyprus
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paris Club--see Group of 10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

established--NA 1899;

aim--to facilitate the settlement of international disputes;

members--(75) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lebanon,
Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Senegal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic, UK, US, USSR, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Population Commission

established--3 October 1946;

aim--ECOSOC organization dealing with population matters;

members--(27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rio Group (RG)

established--NA 1988;

aim--a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues;

members--(11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela; note--Panama was expelled
in 1988
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second World--another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist
states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the
Soviet model; see centrally planned economies
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
socialist countries--in general, countries in which the government
owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note--the
term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
South--a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries
generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of
the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

established--8 December 1985;

aim--to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation;

members--(7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Pacific Commission (SPC)

established--6 February 1947, effective 29 July 1948;

aim--to promote regional cooperation in economic and social
matters;

members--(27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji,
France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue,
Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau),
Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga,
Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Pacific Forum (SPF)

established--5 August 1971;

aim--to promote regional cooperation in political matters;

members--(15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue,
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa;

observer--(1) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

established--11 December 1969;

aim--to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters;

members--(9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia,
South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)

established--1 April 1980;

aim--to promote regional economic development and reduce
dependence on South Africa;

members--(10) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statistical Commission

established--21 June 1946;

aim--ECOSOC organization dealing with development and
standardization of national statistics;

members--(24) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Third World--another term for the less developed countries;
see less developed countries (LDCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
underdeveloped countries--refers to those less developed countries
with the potential for above-average economic growth; see less developed
countries (LDCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
undeveloped countries--refers to those extremely poor less
developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth;
see least developed countries (LLDCs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale
(UDEAC)--see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations (UN)

established--26 June 1945, effective 24 October 1945;

aim--to maintain international peace and security as well as
promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian
problems;

members--(159) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet
Socialist Republic, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,
Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, UAE, UK, US, USSR, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe;
note--all UN members are represented in the General Assembly;

observers--(4) Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican City
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM)

established--20 December 1988;

aim--established by the UN Security Council to verify the
withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola;

members--(10) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Czechoslovakia,
India, Jordan, Norway, Spain, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS or Habitat)

established--12 October 1978;

aim--to assist in solving human settlement problems;

members--(88) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)--acronym retained from the
predecessor organization UN International Children's Emergency Fund;

established--11 December 1946;

aim--to help establish child health and welfare services;

members--(41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

established--30 December 1964;

aim--to promote international trade;

members--(166) all UN members plus North Korea, South Korea,
Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, Tonga, Vatican City
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

established--22 November 1965;

aim--to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and
social development;

members--(48) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

established--31 May 1974;

aim--established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1973
Arab-Israeli ceasefire;

members--(4) Austria, Canada, Finland, Poland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)

established--16 November 1945, effective 4 November 1946;

aim--to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture;

members--(159) all UN members except Brunei, Liechtenstein,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, UK, US, Vanuatu; other members
are Cook Islands, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Monaco, San Marino,
Switzerland, Tonga;

associate members--(3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands,
Netherlands Antilles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

established--15 December 1972;

aim--to promote international cooperation on all environmental
matters;

members--(58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)

established--4 March 1964;

aim--established by the UN Security Council to serve as a
peacekeeping force beween Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus;

members--(8) Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland,
Sweden, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations General Assembly

established--26 June 1945, effective 24 October 1945;

aim--primary deliberative organ in the UN;

members--(159) all UN members are represented in the General
Assembly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

established--17 November 1966, effective 1 January 1967;

aim--UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development
especially among the members;

members--(150) all UN members except Antigua and Barbuda,
Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Chad, Djibouti, Iceland, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Western Samoa;
other members are North Korea, South Korea, Switzerland, Tonga
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

established--19 March 1978;

aim--established by the UN Security Council to confirm the
withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore peace, and reestablish Lebanese
authority in southern Lebanon;

members--(9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal,
Norway, Sweden
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG)

established--9 August 1988;

aim--established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1988
Iran-Iraq ceasefire;

members--(26) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy,
Kenya, Malaysia, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Senegal, Sweden,
Turkey, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Zambia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
(UNMOGIP)

established--13 August 1948;

aim--established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1949
India-Pakistan ceasefire;

members--(8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway,
Sweden, Uruguay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

established--3 December 1949, effective 1 January 1951;

aim--to try to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and
find permanent solutions to refugee problems;

members--(43) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar,
Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Somalia, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, UK, US, Vatican City, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)--acronym retained from
predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities;

established--NA July 1967;

aim--to promote assistance in dealing with population problems;

members--(48) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA)

established--8 December 1949;

aim--to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees;

members--(10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria, Turkey, UK, US
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Secretariat

established--26 June 1945, effective 24 October 1945;

aim--primary administrative organ of the UN;

members--Secretary General appointed for a five-year term by the
General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Security Council

established--26 June 1945, effective 24 October 1945;

aim--to maintain international peace and security;

permanent members--(5) China, France, UK, US, USSR;

nonpermanent members--(10) elected for two year terms by the
UN General Assembly; Austria (1991-92), Belgium (1991-92),
Cuba (1990-91), Ecuador (1991-92), India (1991-92),
Ivory Coast (1990-91), Romania (1990-91), Yemen (1990-91),
Zaire (1990-91), Zimbabwe (1991-92)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

established--NA May 1948;

aim--initially established by the UN Security Council to supervise
the 1948 Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently extended to work
in the Sinai, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan;

members--(16) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile,
Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Sweden, US, USSR
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Trusteeship Council

established--26 June 1945, effective 24 October 1945;

aim--to supervise the administration of the UN trust territories;
only one of the original 11 trusteeships remains--the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands (Palau);

members--(5) China, France, UK, US, USSR
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Universal Postal Union (UPU)

established--9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN
15 November 1947, effective 1 July 1948;

aim--UN specialized agency that promotes international postal
cooperation;

members--(168) all UN members except Antigua and Barbuda, Namibia,
South Africa; other members are Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,
Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, San Marino, Switzerland, Tonga,
Tuvalu, UK Overseas Territories, Vatican City
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
USSR/Eastern Europe (USSR/EE)--the middle group in the
comprehensive but mutually exclusive hierarchy of developed countries
(DCs), USSR/Eastern Europe (USSR/EE), and less developed countries
(LDCs); these countries are in political and economic transition; this
group includes Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland,
Romania, USSR, Yugoslavia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warsaw Pact (WP)--was established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual
defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance;
member states--Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and
the USSR--are now in the process of ratifying this agreement
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
West African Development Bank (WADB), also known as Banque
Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD);

established--14 November 1973;

aim--to promote economic development and integration;

members--(7) Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal,
Togo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
West African Economic Community (CEAO)--acronym from Communaute
Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest;

established--3 June 1972;

aim--to promote regional economic development;

members--(7) Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
Senegal;

observers--(2) Guinea, Togo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western European Union (WEU)

established--23 October 1954, effective 6 May 1955;

aim--mutual defense and progressive political unification;

members--(9) Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Bank--see International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Confederation of Labor (WCL)

established--19 June 1920 as the International Federation of
Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968;

aim--to promote the trade union movement;

members--(93 national organizations) Algeria, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France,
French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadaloupe, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy,
Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico,
Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Court--see International Court of Justice (ICJ)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

established--NA 1945;

aim--to promote the trade union movement;

members--(74 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, China, Congo, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Ethiopia, France, French Guiana, The Gambia, Germany, Guadaloupe,
Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos,
Lebanon, Madagascar, Martinique, Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, New
Caledonia, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, USSR, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Food Council (WFC)

established--17 December 1974;

aim--ECOSOC organization that studies world food problems and
recommends solutions;

members--(36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Food Program (WFP)

established--24 November 1961;

aim--ECOSOC organization that provides food aid to assist in
development or disaster relief;

members--(30) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Health Organization (WHO)

established--22 July 1946, effective 7 April 1948;

aim--UN specialized agency concerned with health matters;

members--(165) all UN members except Belize, Liechtenstein;
other members are Cook Islands, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,
Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, Tonga
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

established--14 July 1967, effective 26 April 1970;

aim--UN specialized agency concerned with the protection of
literary, artistic, and scientific works;

members--(124) Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon,
Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo,
Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt,
El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, UAE, UK, US, USSR, Uruguay,
Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

established--11 October 1947, effective 4 April 1951;

aim--specialized UN agency concerned with meteorological
cooperation;

members--(159) all UN members except Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea,
Grenada, Liechtenstein, Namibia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Western Samoa; South Africa is included although
WMO membership is suspended; other members are British Caribbean
Territories, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, North Korea, South Korea,
Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Switzerland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Tourism Organization (WTO)

established--2 January 1975;

aim--promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic
development, international understanding, and peace;

members--(104) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel,
Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco,
Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,
Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, US, USSR, Uruguay, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe;

associate members--(4) Aruba, Macau, Netherlands Antilles,
Puerto Rico;

permanent observer--(1) Vatican City
-------------------------------------------------------------------------




Appendix D:  Weights and Measure

Mathematical Notation

Mathematical Power                 Name
10 +18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000  one quintillion
10 +15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000      one quadrillion
10 +12 or 1,000,000,000,000          one trillion
10 +9  or 1,000,000,000              one billion
10 +6  or 1,000,000                  one million
10 +3  or 1,000                      one thousand
10 +2  or 100                        one hundred
10 +1  or 10                         ten
10 +0  or 1                          one
10 -1  or 0.1                        one tenth
10 -2  or 0.01                       one hundredth
10 -3  or 0.001                      one thousandth
10 -6  or 0.000 001                  one millionth
10 -9  or 0.000 000 001              one billionth
10 -12 or 0.000 000 000 001          one trillionth
10 -15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001      one quadrillionth
10 -18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 001  one quintillionth

Metric Interrelationships

Conversions from a multiple or submultiple to the basic units of meters,
liters, or grams can be done using the table.  For example, to convert
from kilometers to meters, multiply by 1,000 (9.26 kilometers equals
9,260 meters) or to convert from meters to kilometers, multiply by 0.001
(9,260 meters equals 9.26 kilometers)

Length,
weight,
Prefix        Symbol    capacity  Area    Volume
exa           E         10 +18    10 +36    10 +54
peta          P         10 +15    10 +30    10 +45
tera          T         10 +12    10 +24    10 +36
giga          G         10 +9     10 +18    10 +27
mega          M         10 +6     10 +12    10 +18
hectokilo     hk        10 +5     10 +10    10 +15
myria         ma        10 +4     10 +8     10 +12
kilo          k         10 +3     10 +6     10 +9
hecto         h         10 +2     10 +4     10 +6
deka          da        10 +1     10 +2     10 +3
basic unit    -         1 meter,  1 meter2  1 meter3
1 gram,
1 liter
deci          d         10 -1     10 -2     10 -3
centi         c         10 -2     10 -4     10 -6
milli         m         10 -3     10 -6     10 -9
decimilli     dm        10 -4     10 -8     10 -12
centimilli    cm        10 -5     10 -10    10 -15
micro         u         10 -6     10 -12    10 -18
nano          n         10 -9     10 -18    10 -27
pico          p         10 -12    10 -24    10 -36
femto         f         10 -15    10 -30    10 -45
atto          a         10 -18    10 -36    10 -54

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

EQUIVALENTS

The exponents 2 and 3 are used for square and cubic, respectively.

Unit                    Metric Equivalent        US Equivalent
acre                    0.404 685 64 hectares    43,560 feet2
acre                    4,046,856 4 meters2      4,840 yards2
acre                    0.004 046 856 4          0.001 562 5 miles2,
kilometers2              statute
are                     100 meters2              119.599 yards2
barrel  (petroleum, US) 158.987 29 liters        42 gallons
(proof spirits, US) 151.416 47 liters        40 gallons
(beer, US) 117.347 77 liters        31 gallons
bushel                  35.239 07 liters         4 pecks
cable                   219.456 meters           120 fathoms
chain (surveyor's)      20.116 8 meters          66 feet
cord (wood)             3.624 556 meters3        128 feet3
cup                     0.236 588 2 liters       8 ounces, liquid (US)
degrees, celsius        (water boils at 100      multiply by 1.8 and add
degrees C, freezes at    32 to obtain degrees F
0 degrees C)
degrees, fahrenheit     subtract 32 and divide   (water boils at 212
by 1.8 to obtain         degrees F, freezes at
degrees C                32 degrees F)
dram, avoirdupois       1.771 845 2 grams        0.062 5 ounces, avoirdupois
dram, troy              3.887 934 6 grams        0.125 ounces, troy
dram, liquid (US)       3.696 69 milliliters     0.125 ounces, liquid
fathom                  1.828 8 meters           6 feet
foot                    30.48 centimeters        12 inches
foot                    0.304 8 meters           0.333 333 3 yards
foot                    0.000 304 8 kilometers   0.000 189 39 miles, statute
foot2                   929.030 4 centimeters2   144 inches2
foot 2                  0.092 903 04 meters2     0.111 111 1 yards2
foot3                   28.316 846 592 liters    7.480 519 gallons
foot3                   0.028 316 847 meters3    1,728 inches3
furlong                 201.168 meters           220 yards
gallon, liquid (US)     3.785 411 784 liters     4 quarts, liquid
gill (US)               118.294 118 milliliters  4 ounces, liquid
grain                   64.798 91 milligrams     0.002 285 71 ounces, advp.
gram                    1,000 milligrams         0.035 273 96 ounces, advp.
hand (height of horse)  10.16 centimeters        4 inches
hectare                 10,000 meters2           2.471 053 8 acres
hundredweight, long     50.802 345 kilograms     112 pounds, avoirdupois
hundredweight, short    45.359 237 kilograms     100 pounds, avoirdupois
inch                    2.54 centimeters         0.083 333 33 feet
inch2                   6.451 6 centimeters2     0.006 944 44 feet2
inch3                   16.387 064 centimeters3  0.000 578 7 feet3
inch3                   16.387 064 milliliters   0.029 761 6 pints, dry
inch3                   16.387 064 milliliters   0.034 632 0 pints, liquid
kilogram                0.001 tons, metric       2.204 623 pounds, avoirdupois
kilometer               1,000 meters             0.621 371 19 miles, statute
kilometer2              100 hectares             247.105 38 acres
kilometer2              1,000,000 meters2        0.386 102 16 miles2, statute
knot (1 nautical mi/hr) 1.852 kilometers/hour    1.151 statute miles/hour
league, nautical        5.559 552 kilometers     3 miles, nautical
league, statute         4.828.032 kilometers     3 miles, statute
link (surveyor's)       20.116 8 centimeters     7.92 inches
liter                   0.001 meters3            61.023 74 inches3
liter                   0.1 dekaliter            0.908 083 quarts, dry
liter                   1,000 milliliters        1.056 688 quarts, liquid
meter                   100 centimeters          1.093 613 yards
meter2                  10,000 centimeters2      1.195 990 yards2
meter3                  1,000 liters             1.307 951 yards3
micron                  0.000 001 meter          0.000 039 4 inches
mil                     0.025 4 millimeters      0.001 inch
mile, nautical          1.852 kilometers         1.150 779 4 miles, statute
mile2, nautical         3.429 904 kilometers2    1.325 miles2, statute
mile, statute           1.609 344 kilometers     5,280 feet or 8 furlongs
mile2, statute          258.998 811 hectares     640 acres or 1 section
mile2, statute          2.589 988 11 kilometers2 0.755 miles2, nautical
minim (US)              0.061 611 52 milliliters 0.002 083 33 ounces, liquid
ounce, avoirdupois      28.349 523 125 grams     437.5 grains
ounce, liquid (US)      29.573 53 milliliters    0.062 5 pints, liquid
ounce, troy             31.103 476 8 grams       480 grains
pace                    76.2 centimeters         30 inches
peck                    8.809 767 5 liters       8 quarts, dry
pennyweight             1.555 173 84 grams       24 grains
pint, dry (US)          0.550 610 47 liters      0.5 quarts, dry
pint, liquid (US)       0.473 176 473 liters     0.5 quarts, liquid
point (typographical)   0.351 459 8 millimeters  0.013 837 inches
pound, avoirdupois      453.592 37 grams         16 ounces, avourdupois
pound, troy             373.241 721 6 grams      12 ounces, troy
quart, dry (US)         1.101 221 liters         2 pints, dry
quart, liquid (US)      0.946 352 946 liters     2 pints, liquid
quintal                 100 kilograms            220.462 26 pounds, avdp.
rod                     5.029 2 meters           5.5 yards
scruple                 1.295 978 2 grams        20 grains
section (US)            2.589 988 1 kilometers2  1 mile2, statute or 640 acres
span                    22.86 centimeters        9 inches
stere                   1 meter3                 1.307 95 yards3
tablespoon              14.786 76 milliliters    3 teaspoons
teaspoon                4.928 922 milliliters    0.333 333 tablespoons
ton, long or deadweight 1,016.046 909 kilograms  2,240 pounds, avoirdupois
ton, metric             1,000 kilograms          2,204.623 pounds, avoirdupois
ton, metric             1,000 kilograms          32,150.75 ounces, troy
ton, register           2.831 684 7 meters3      100 feet3
ton, short              907.184 74 kilograms     2,000 pounds, avoirdupois
township (US)           93.239 572 kilometers2   36 miles2, statute
yard                    0.914 4 meters           3 feet
yard2                   0.836 127 36 meters2     9 feet2
yard3                   0.764 554 86 meters3     27 feet3
yard3                   764.554 857 984 liters   201.974 gallons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix E:  Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

This list indicates where various names including all United States
Foreign Service Posts, alternate names, former names, and political or
geographical portions of larger entities can be found in The World
Factbook. Spellings are not necessarily those approved by the United
States Board on Geographic Names (BGN).  Alternate names are included in
parentheses; additional information is included in brackets.

Name                              Entry in The World Factbook

Abidjan US Embassy                Ivory Coast
Abu Dhabi US Embassy              United Arab Emirates
Acapulco US Consular Agency       Mexico
Accra US Embassy                  Ghana
Adana US Consulate                Turkey
Addis Ababa US Embassy            Ethiopia
Adelaide US Consular Agency       Australia
Adelie Land (Terre Adelie)        Antarctica
claimed by France
Aden                              Yemen
Aden, Gulf of                     Indian Ocean
Admiralty Islands                 Papua New Guinea
Adriatic Sea                      Atlantic Ocean
Aegean Islands                    Greece
Aegean Sea                        Atlantic Ocean
Afars and Issas, French           Djibouti
Territory of the (F.T.A.I.)
Agalega Islands                   Mauritius
Aland Islands                     Finland
Alaska                            United States
Alaska, Gulf of                   Pacific Ocean
Aldabra Islands                   Seychelles
Alderney                          Guernsey
Aleutian Islands                  United States
Alexander Island                  Antarctica
Alexandria US Consulate General   Egypt
Algiers US Embassy                Algeria
Alhucemas, Penon de               Spain
Alphonse Island                   Seychelles
Amami Strait                      Pacific Ocean
Amindivi Islands                  India
Amirante Isles                    Seychelles
Amman US Embassy                  Jordan
Amsterdam US Consulate General    Netherlands
Amsterdam Island                  French Southern and Antarctic Lands
(Ile Amsterdam)
Amundsen Sea                      Pacific Ocean
Amur                              China; Soviet Union
Andaman Islands                   India
Andaman Sea                       Indian Ocean
Anegada Passage                   Atlantic Ocean
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan              Sudan
Anjouan                           Comoros
Ankara US Embassy                 Turkey
Annobon                           Equatorial Guinea
Antananarivo US Embassy           Madagascar
Antipodes Islands                 New Zealand
Antwerp US Consulate General      Belgium
Aozou Strip claimed by Libya      Chad
Aqaba, Gulf of                    Indian Ocean
Arabian Sea                       Indian Ocean
Arafura Sea                       Pacific Ocean
Argun                             China; Soviet Union
Ascension Island                  Saint Helena
Assumption Island                 Seychelles
Asuncion US Embassy               Paraguay
Asuncion Island                   Northern Mariana Islands
Atacama                           Chile
Athens US Embassy                 Greece
Attu                              United States
Auckland US Consulate General     New Zealand
Auckland Islands                  New Zealand
Australes Iles (Iles Tubuai)      French Polynesia
Axel Heiberg Island               Canada
Azores                            Portugal
Azov, Sea of                      Atlantic Ocean

Bab el Mandeb                     Indian Ocean
Babuyan Channel                   Pacific Ocean
Babuyan Islands                   Philippines
Baffin Bay                        Arctic Ocean
Baffin Island                     Canada
Baghdad US Embassy                Iraq
Balabac Strait                    Pacific Ocean
Balearic Islands                  Spain
Balearic Sea (Iberian Sea)        Atlantic Ocean
Bali US Consular Agency           Indonesia
Bali Sea                          Indian Ocean
Balintang Channel                 Pacific Ocean
Balintang Islands                 Philippines
Balleny Islands                   Antarctica
Balochistoan                      Pakistan
Baltic Sea                        Atlantic Ocean
Bamako US Embassy                 Mali
Banaba (Ocean Island)             Kiribati
Bandar Seri Begawan US Embassy    Brunei
Banda Sea                         Pacific Ocean
Bangkok US Embassy                Thailand
Bangui US Embassy                 Central African Republic
Banjul US Embassy                 Gambia, The
Banks Island                      Canada
Banks Islands (Iles Banks)        Vanuatu
Barcelona US Consulate General    Spain
Barents Sea                       Arctic Ocean
Barranquilla US Consulate         Colombia
Bashi Channel                     Pacific Ocean
Basilan Strait                    Pacific Ocean
Bass Strait                       Indian Ocean
Batan Islands                     Philippines
Bavaria (Bayern)                  Germany
Beagle Channel                    Atlantic Ocean
Bear Island (Bjornoya)            Svalbard
Beaufort Sea                      Arctic Ocean
Bechuanaland                      Botswana
Beijing US Embassy                China
Beirut US Embassy                 Lebanon
Belau                             Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the
(Palau)
Belem US Consular Agency          Brazil
Belep Islands (Iles Belep)        New Caledonia
Belfast US Consulate General      United Kingdom
Belgian Congo                     Zaire
Belgrade US Embassy               Yugoslavia
Belize City US Embassy            Belize
Belle Isle, Strait of             Atlantic Ocean
Bellinghausen Sea                 Pacific Ocean
Belmopan                          Belize
Bengal, Bay of                    Indian Ocean
Bering Sea                        Pacific Ocean
Bering Strait                     Pacific Ocean
Berkner Island                    Antarctica
Berlin US Branch Office           Germany
Berlin, East                      Germany
Berlin, West                      Germany
Bern US Embassy                   Switzerland
Bessarabia                        Romania; Soviet Union
Bijagos, Arquipelago dos          Guinea-Bissau
Bikini Atoll                      Marshall Islands
Bilbao US Consulate               Spain
Bioko                             Equatorial Guinea
Biscay, Bay of                    Atlantic Ocean
Bishop Rock                       United Kingdom
Bismarck Archipelago              Papua New Guinea
Bismarck Sea                      Pacific Ocean
Bissau US Embassy                 Guinea-Bissau
Bjornoya (Bear Island)            Svalbard
Black Rock                        Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Black Sea                         Atlantic Ocean
Boa Vista                         Cape Verde
Bogota US Embassy                 Colombia
Bombay US Consulate General       India
Bonaire                           Netherlands Antilles
Bonifacio, Strait of              Atlantic Ocean
Bonin Islands                     Japan
Bonn US Embassy                   Germany
Bophuthatswana                    South Africa
Bora-Bora                         French Polynesia
Bordeaux US Consulate General     France
Borneo                            Brunei; Indonesia; Malaysia
Bornholm                          Denmark
Bosporus                          Atlantic Ocean
Bothnia, Gulf of                  Atlantic Ocean
Bougainville Island               Papua New Guinea
Bougainville Strait               Pacific Ocean
Bounty Islands                    New Zealand
Brasilia US Embassy               Brazil
Brazzaville US Embassy            Congo
Bridgetown US Embassy             Barbados
Brisbane US Consulate             Australia
British East Africa               Kenya
British Guiana                    Guyana
British Honduras                  Belize
British Solomon Islands           Solomon Islands
British Somaliland                Somalia
Brussels US Embassy, US Mission   Belgium
to European Communities, US
Mission to the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (USNATO)
Bucharest US Embassy              Romania
Budapest US Embassy               Hungary
Buenos Aires US Embassy           Argentina
Bujumbura US Embassy              Burundi

Cabinda                           Angola
Cabot Strait                      Atlantic Ocean
Caicos Islands                    Turks and Caicos Islands
Cairo US Embassy                  Egypt
Calcutta US Consulate General     India
Calgary US Consulate General      Canada
California, Gulf of               Pacific Ocean
Campbell Island                   New Zealand
Canal Zone                        Panama
Canary Islands                    Spain
Canberra US Embassy               Australia
Cancun US Consular Agency         Mexico
Canton (Guangzhou)                China
Canton Island                     Kiribati
Cape Town US Consulate General    South Africa
Caracas US Embassy                Venezuela
Cargados Carajos Shoals           Mauritius
Caroline Islands                  Micronesia, Federated States of;
Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the
Caribbean Sea                     Atlantic Ocean
Carpentaria, Gulf of              Pacific Ocean
Casablanca US Consulate General   Morocco
Cato Island                       Australia
Cebu US Consulate                 Philippines
Celebes                           Indonesia
Celebes Sea                       Pacific Ocean
Celtic Sea                        Atlantic Ocean
Central African Empire            Central African Republic
Ceuta                             Spain
Ceylon                            Sri Lanka
Chafarinas, Islas                 Spain
Chagos Archipelago (Oil Islands)  British Indian Ocean Territory
Channel Islands                   Guernsey; Jersey
Chatham Islands                   New Zealand
Cheju-do                          Korea, South
Cheju Strait                      Pacific Ocean
Chengdu US Consulate General      China
Chesterfield Islands              New Caledonia
(Iles Chesterfield)
Chiang Mai US Consulate General   Thailand
Chihli, Gulf of (Bo Hai)          Pacific Ocean
China, People's Republic of       China
China, Republic of                Taiwan
Choiseul                          Solomon Islands
Christchurch US Consular Agency   New Zealand
Christmas Island Indian Ocean     Australia
Christmas Island Pacific Ocean    Kiribati
(Kiritimati)
Chukchi Sea                       Arctic Ocean
Ciskei                            South Africa
Ciudad Juarez US Consulate        Mexico
General
Cochabamba US Consular Agency     Bolivia
Coco, Isla del                    Costa Rica
Cocos Islands                     Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombo US Embassy                Sri Lanka
Colon US Consular Agency          Panama
Colon, Archipielago de            Ecuador
(Galapagos Islands)
Commander Islands                 Soviet Union
(Komandorskiye Ostrova)
Conakry US Embassy                Guinea
Congo (Brazzaville)               Congo
Congo (Kinshasa)                  Zaire
Congo (Leopoldville)              Zaire
Con Son Islands                   Vietnam
Cook Strait                       Pacific Ocean
Copenhagen US Embassy             Denmark
Coral Sea                         Pacific Ocean
Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz)     Nicaragua
Corsica                           France
Cosmoledo Group                   Seychelles
Cote d'Ivoire                     Ivory Coast
Cotonou US Embassy                Benin
Crete                             Greece
Crooked Island Passage            Atlantic Ocean
Crozet Islands (Iles Crozet)      French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Curacao US Consulate General      Netherlands Antilles
Cusco US Consular Agency          Peru

Dahomey                           Benin
Daitoo Islands                    Japan
Dakar US Embassy                  Senegal
Daman (Damao)                     India
Damascus US Embassy               Syria
Danger Atoll                      Cook Islands
Danish Straits                    Atlantic Ocean
Danzig (Gdansk)                   Poland
Dao Bach Long Vi                  Vietnam
Dardanelles                       Atlantic Ocean
Dar es Salaam US Embassy          Tanzania
Davis Strait                      Atlantic Ocean
Deception Island                  Antarctica
Denmark Strait                    Atlantic Ocean
D'Entrecasteaux Islands           Papua New Guinea
Devon Island                      Canada
Dhahran US Consulate General      Saudi Arabia
Dhaka US Embassy                  Bangladesh
Diego Garcia                      British Indian Ocean Territory
Diego Ramirez                     Chile
Diomede Islands                   Soviet Union Big Diomede ; United States
Little Diomede
Diu                               India
Djibouti US Embassy               Djibouti
Dodecanese                        Greece
Doha US Embassy                   Qatar
Douala US Consulate General       Cameroon
Dover, Strait of                  Atlantic Ocean
Drake Passage                     Atlantic Ocean
Dubai US Consulate General        United Arab Emirates
Dublin US Embassy                 Ireland
Durango US Consular Agency        Mexico
Durban US Consulate General       South Africa
Dusseldorf US Consulate General   Germany
Dutch East Indies                 Indonesia
Dutch Guiana                      Suriname

East China Sea                    Pacific Ocean
Easter Island (Isla de Pascua)    Chile
Eastern Channel (East Korea       Pacific Ocean
Strait or Tsushima Strait)
East Germany (German Democratic   Germany
Republic)
East Korea Strait (Eastern        Pacific Ocean
Channel or Tsushima Strait)
East Pakistan                     Bangladesh
East Siberian Sea                 Arctic Ocean
East Timor (Portuguese Timor)     Indonesia
Edinburgh US Consulate General    United Kingdom
Elba                              Italy
Ellef Ringnes Island              Canada
Ellesmere Island                  Canada
Ellice Islands                    Tuvalu
Elobey, Islas de                  Equatorial Guinea
Enderbury Island                  Kiribati
Enewetak Atoll (Eniwetok Atoll)   Marshall Islands
England                           United Kingdom
English Channel                   Atlantic Ocean
Eniwetok Atoll                    Marshall Islands
Epirus, Northern                  Albania; Greece
Eritrea                           Ethiopia
Essequibo claimed by Venezuela    Guyana
Estonia                           Soviet Union de facto
Etorofu                           Soviet Union de facto

Farquhar Group                    Seychelles
Fernando de Noronha               Brazil
Fernando Po (Bioko)               Equatorial Guinea
Finland, Gulf of                  Atlantic Ocean
Florence US Consulate General     Italy
Florida, Straits of               Atlantic Ocean
Formosa                           Taiwan
Formosa Strait (Taiwan Strait)    Pacific Ocean
Fort-de-France                    Martinique
US Consulate General
Frankfurt am Main                 Germany
US Consulate General
Franz Josef Land                  Soviet Union
Freetown US Embassy               Sierra Leone
French Cameroon                   Cameroon
French Indochina                  Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam
French Guinea                     Guinea
French Sudan                      Mali
French Territory of the Afars     Djibouti
and Issas (F.T.A.I.)
French Togo                       Togo
Friendly Islands                  Tonga
Fukuoka US Consulate              Japan
Funchal US Consular Agency        Portugal
Fundy, Bay of                     Atlantic Ocean
Futuna Islands (Hoorn Islands)    Wallis and Futuna

Gaborone US Embassy               Botswana
Galapagos Islands (Archipielago   Ecuador
de Colon)
Galleons Passage                  Atlantic Ocean
Gambier Islands (Iles Gambier)    French Polynesia
Gaspar Strait                     Indian Ocean
Geneva Branch Office of the US    Switzerland
Embassy, US Mission to European
Office of the UN and Other
International Organizations
Genoa US Consulate General        Italy
George Town US Consular Agency    Cayman Islands
Georgetown US Embassy             Guyana
German Democratic Republic        Germany
(East Germany)
German Federal Republic of        Germany
(West Germany)
Gibraltar, Strait of              Atlantic Ocean
Gilbert Islands                   Kiribati
Goa                               India
Gold Coast                        Ghana
Golan Heights                     Syria
Good Hope, Cape of                South Africa
Goteborg US Consulate General     Sweden
Gotland                           Sweden
Gough Island                      Saint Helena
Grand Banks                       Atlantic Ocean
Grand Cayman                      Cayman Islands
Grand Turk US Consular Agency     Turks and Caicos Islands
Great Australian Bight            Indian Ocean
Great Belt (Store Baelt)          Atlantic Ocean
Great Britain                     United Kingdom
Great Channel                     Indian Ocean
Greater Sunda Islands             Brunei; Indonesia; Malaysia
Green Islands                     Papua New Guinea
Greenland Sea                     Arctic Ocean
Grenadines, Northern              Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Grenadines, Southern              Grenada
Guadalajara                       Mexico
US Consulate General
Guadalcanal                       Solomon Islands
Guadalupe, Isla de                Mexico
Guangzhou US Consulate General    China
Guantanamo US Naval Base          Cuba
Guatemala US Embassy              Guatemala
Gubal, Strait of                  Indian Ocean
Guinea, Gulf of                   Atlantic Ocean
Guayaquil US Consulate General    Ecuador

Ha'apai Group                     Tonga
Habomai Islands                   Soviet Union de facto
Hague,The US Embassy              Netherlands
Haifa US Consular Agency          Israel
Hainan Dao                        China
Halifax US Consulate General      Canada
Halmahera                         Indonesia
Hamburg US Consulate General      Germany
Hamilton US Consulate General     Bermuda
Hanoi                             Vietnam
Harare US Embassy                 Zimbabwe
Hatay                             Turkey
Havana US post not maintained,    Cuba
representation by US Interests
Section (USINT) of the Swiss
Embassy
Hawaii                            United States
Heard Island                      Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Helsinki US Embassy               Finland
Hermosillo US Consulate           Mexico
Hispaniola                        Dominican Republic; Haiti
Hokkaido                          Japan
Holy See, The                     Vatican City
Hong Kong US Consulate General    Hong Kong
Honiara US Consulate              Solomon Islands
Honshu                            Japan
Hormuz, Strait of                 Indian Ocean
Horn, Cape (Cabo de Hornos)       Chile
Horne, Iles de                    Wallis and Futuna
Horn of Africa                    Ethiopia; Somalia
Hudson Bay                        Arctic Ocean
Hudson Strait                     Arctic Ocean

Inaccessible Island               Saint Helena
Indochina                         Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam
Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol)       China
Ionian Islands                    Greece
Ionian Sea                        Atlantic Ocean
Irian Jaya                        Indonesia
Irish Sea                         Atlantic Ocean
Islamabad US Embassy              Pakistan
Islas Malvinas                    Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Istanbul US Consulate General     Turkey
Italian Somaliland                Somalia
Iwo Jima                          Japan
Izmir US Consulate General        Turkey

Jakarta US Embassy                Indonesia
Japan, Sea of                     Pacific Ocean
Java                              Indonesia
Java Sea                          Indian Ocean
Jeddah US Consulate General       Saudi Arabia
Jerusalem US Consulate General    Israel; West Bank
Johannesburg                      South Africa
US Consulate General
Juan de Fuca, Strait of           Pacific Ocean
Juan Fernandez, Isla de           Chile
Juventud, Isla de la              Cuba
(Isle of Youth)

Kabul US Embassy now closed       Afghanistan
Kaduna US Consulate General       Nigeria
Kalimantan                        Indonesia
Kamchatka Peninsula               Soviet Union
(Poluostrov Kamchatka)
Kampala US Embassy                Uganda
Kampuchea                         Cambodia
Karachi US Consulate General      Pakistan
Kara Sea                          Arctic Ocean
Karimata Strait                   Indian Ocean
Kathmandu US Embassy              Nepal
Kattegat                          Atlantic Ocean
Kauai Channel                     Pacific Ocean
Keeling Islands                   Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Kerguelen, Iles                   French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Kermadec Islands                  New Zealand
Khabarovsk                        Soviet Union
Khartoum US Embassy               Sudan
Khmer Republic                    Cambodia
Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Kanal)    Atlantic Ocean
Khuriya Muriya Islands            Oman
(Kuria Muria Islands)
Khyber Pass                       Pakistan
Kigali US Embassy                 Rwanda
Kingston US Embassy               Jamaica
Kinshasa US Embassy               Zaire
Kiritimati (Christmas Island)     Kiribati
Kithira Strait                    Atlantic Ocean
Kodiak Island                     United States
Kola Peninsula                    Soviet Union
(Kol'skiy Poluostrov)
Kolonia US Special Office         Micronesia, Federated States of
Korea Bay                         Pacific Ocean
Korea, Democratic People's        Korea, North
Republic of
Korea, Republic of                Korea, South
Korea Strait                      Pacific Ocean
Koror US Special Office           Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of
Kosovo                            Yugoslavia
Kowloon                           Hong Kong
Krakow US Consulate               Poland
Kuala Lumpur US Embassy           Malaysia
Kunashiri (Kunashir)              Soviet Union de facto
Kuril Islands                     Soviet Union de facto
Kuwait US Embassy                 Kuwait
Kwajalein Atoll                   Marshall Islands
Kyushu                            Japan

Labrador                          Canada
Laccadive Islands                 India
Laccadive Sea                     Indian Ocean
La Coruna US Consular Agency      Spain
Lagos US Embassy                  Nigeria
Lahore US Consulate General       Pakistan
Lakshadweep                       India
La Paz US Embassy                 Bolivia
La Perouse Strait                 Pacific Ocean
Laptev Sea                        Arctic Ocean
Las Palmas US Consular Agency     Spain
Latvia                            Soviet Union de facto
Lau Group                         Fiji
Leningrad US Consulate General    Soviet Union
Lesser Sunda Islands              Indonesia
Leyte                             Philippines
Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan  Korea, South
Libreville US Embassy             Gabon
Ligurian Sea                      Atlantic Ocean
Lilongwe US Embassy               Malawi
Lima US Embassy                   Peru
Lincoln Sea                       Arctic Ocean
Line Islands                      Kiribati; Palmyra Atoll
Lisbon US Embassy                 Portugal
Lithuania                         Soviet Union de facto
Lombok Strait                     Indian Ocean
Lome US Embassy                   Togo
London US Embassy                 United Kingdom
Lord Howe Island                  Australia
Louisiade Archipelago             Papua New Guinea
Loyalty Islands                   New Caledonia
(Iles Loyaute)
Lubumbashi US Consulate General   Zaire
Lusaka US Embassy                 Zambia
Luxembourg US Embassy             Luxembourg
Luzon                             Philippines
Luzon Strait                      Pacific Ocean
Lyon US Consulate General         France

Macao                             Macau
Macedonia                         Bulgaria; Greece; Yugoslavia
Macquarie Island                  Australia
Madeira Islands                   Portugal
Madras US Consulate General       India
Madrid US Embassy                 Spain
Magellan, Strait of               Atlantic Ocean
Mahe Island                       Seychelles
Maiz, Islas del (Corn Islands)    Nicaragua
Majorca (Mallorca)                Spain
Majuro US Special Office          Marshall Islands
Makassar Strait                   Pacific Ocean
Malabo US Embassy                 Equatorial Guinea
Malacca, Strait of                Indian Ocean
Malaga US Consular Agency         Spain
Malagasy Republic                 Madagascar
Male US post not maintained,      Maldives
representation from Colombo,
Sri Lanka
Mallorca (Majorca)                Spain
Malpelo, Isla de                  Colombia
Malta Channel                     Atlantic Ocean
Malvinas, Islas                   Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Managua US Embassy                Nicaragua
Manama US Embassy                 Bahrain
Manaus US Consular Agency         Brazil
Manchukuo                         China
Manchuria                         China
Manila US Embassy                 Philippines
Manipa Strait                     Pacific Ocean
Mannar, Gulf of                   Indian Ocean
Manua Islands                     American Samoa
Maputo US Embassy                 Mozambique
Maracaibo US Consulate            Venezuela
Marcus Island (Minami-tori-shima) Japan
Mariana Islands                   Guam; Northern Mariana Islands
Marion Island                     South Africa
Marmara, Sea of                   Atlantic Ocean
Marquesas Islands                 French Polynesia
(Iles Marquises)
Marseille US Consulate General    France
Martin Vaz, Ilhas                 Brazil
Mas a Tierra                      Chile
(Robinson Crusoe Island)
Mascarene Islands                 Mauritius; Reunion
Maseru US Embassy                 Lesotho
Matamoros US Consulate            Mexico
Mazatlan US Consulate             Mexico
Mbabane US Embassy                Swaziland
McDonald Islands                  Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Medan US Consulate                Indonesia
Mediterranean Sea                 Atlantic Ocean
Melbourne US Consulate General    Australia
Melilla                           Spain
Merida US Consulate               Mexico
Messina, Strait of                Atlantic Ocean
Mexico US Embassy                 Mexico
Mexico, Gulf of                   Atlantic Ocean
Milan US Consulate General        Italy
Minami-tori-shima                 Japan
Mindanao                          Philippines
Mindoro Strait                    Pacific Ocean
Minicoy Island                    India
Mogadishu US Embassy              Somalia
Mombasa US Consulate              Kenya
Mona Passage                      Atlantic Ocean
Monrovia US Embassy               Liberia
Montego Bay US Consular Agency    Jamaica
Monterrey US Consulate General    Mexico
Montevideo US Embassy             Uruguay
Montreal US Consulate General,    Canada
US Mission to the International
Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO)
Moravian Gate                     Czechoslovakia
Moroni US Embassy                 Comoros
Mortlock Islands                  Micronesia, Federated States of
Moscow US Embassy                 Soviet Union
Mozambique Channel                Indian Ocean
Mulege US Consular Agency         Mexico
Munich US Consulate General       Germany
Musandam Peninsula                Oman; United Arab Emirates
Muscat US Embassy                 Oman
Muscat and Oman                   Oman
Myanma, Myanmar                   Burma

Naha US Consulate General         Japan
Nairobi US Embassy                Kenya
Nampoo-shotoo                     Japan
Naples US Consulate General       Italy
Nassau US Embassy                 Bahamas, The
Natuna Besar Islands              Indonesia
N'Djamena US Embassy              Chad
Netherlands East Indies           Indonesia
Netherlands Guiana                Suriname
Nevis                             Saint Kitts and Nevis
New Delhi US Embassy              India
Newfoundland                      Canada
New Guinea                        Indonesia; Papua New Guinea
New Hebrides                      Vanuatu
New Siberian Islands              Soviet Union
New Territories                   Hong Kong
New York, New York US Mission     United States
to the United Nations (USUN)
Niamey US Embassy                 Niger
Nice US Consular Agency           France
Nicobar Islands                   India
Nicosia US Embassy                Cyprus
Nightingale Island                Saint Helena
North Atlantic Ocean              Atlantic Ocean
North Channel                     Atlantic Ocean
Northeast Providence Channel      Atlantic Ocean
Northern Epirus                   Albania; Greece
Northern Grenadines               Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Northern Ireland                  United Kingdom
Northern Rhodesia                 Zambia
North Island                      New Zealand
North Korea                       Korea, North
North Pacific Ocean               Pacific Ocean
North Sea                         Atlantic Ocean
North Vietnam                     Vietnam
Northwest Passages                Arctic Ocean
North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) Yemen
Norwegian Sea                     Atlantic Ocean
Nouakchott US Embassy             Mauritania
Novaya Zemlya                     Soviet Union
Nuevo Laredo US Consulate         Mexico
Nyasaland                         Malawi

Oahu                              United States
Oaxaca US Consular Agency         Mexico
Ocean Island (Banaba)             Kiribati
Ocean Island (Kure Island)        United States
Ogaden                            Ethiopia; Somalia
Oil Islands (Chagos Archipelago)  British Indian Ocean Territory
Okhotsk, Sea of                   Pacific Ocean
Okinawa                           Japan
Oman, Gulf of                     Indian Ocean
Ombai Strait                      Pacific Ocean
Oporto US Consulate               Portugal
Oran US Consulate                 Algeria
Oresund (The Sound)               Atlantic Ocean
Orkney Islands                    United Kingdom
Osaka-Kobe US Consulate General   Japan
Oslo US Embassy                   Norway
Otranto, Strait of                Atlantic Ocean
Ottawa US Embassy                 Canada
Ouagadougou US Embassy            Burkina
Outer Mongolia                    Mongolia

Pagan                             Northern Mariana Islands
Palau                             Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the
Palawan                           Philippines
Palermo US Consulate General      Italy
Palk Strait                       Indian Ocean
Palma de Mallorca                 Spain
US Consular Agency
Pamirs                            China; Soviet Union
Panama US Embassy                 Panama
Panama Canal                      Panama
Panama, Gulf of                   Pacific Ocean
Paramaribo US Embassy             Suriname
Parece Vela                       Japan
Paris US Embassy, US Mission to   France
the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development
(OECD), US Observer Mission at
the UN Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
Pascua, Isla de (Easter Island)   Chile
Passion, Ile de la                Clipperton Island
Pashtunistan                      Afghanistan; Pakistan
Peking (Beijing)                  China
Pemba Island                      Tanzania
Pentland Firth                    Atlantic Ocean
Perim                             Yemen
Perouse Strait, La                Pacific Ocean
Persian Gulf                      Indian Ocean
Perth US Consulate                Australia
Pescadores                        Taiwan
Peshawar US Consulate             Pakistan
Peter I Island                    Antarctica
Philip Island                     Norfolk Island
Philippine Sea                    Pacific Ocean
Phoenix Islands                   Kiribati
Pines, Isle of                    Cuba
(Isla de la Juventud)
Piura US Consular Agency          Peru
Pleasant Island                   Nauru
Ponape (Pohnpei)                  Micronesia
Ponta Delgada US Consulate        Portugal
Port-au-Prince US Embassy         Haiti
Port Louis US Embassy             Mauritius
Port Moresby US Embassy           Papua New Guinea
Porto Alegre US Consulate         Brazil
Port-of-Spain US Embassy          Trinidad and Tobago
Port Said US Consular Agency      Egypt
Portuguese Guinea                 Guinea-Bissau
Portuguese Timor (East Timor)     Indonesia
Poznan US Consulate               Poland
Prague US Embassy                 Czechoslovakia
Praia US Embassy                  Cape Verde
Pretoria US Embassy               South Africa
Pribilof Islands                  United States
Prince Edward Island              Canada
Prince Edward Islands             South Africa
Prince Patrick Island             Canada
Principe                          Sao Tome and Principe
Puerto Plata US Consular Agency   Dominican Republic
Puerto Vallarta                   Mexico
US Consular Agency
Pusan US Consulate                South Korea
P'yongyang                        Korea, North

Quebec US Consulate General       Canada
Queen Charlotte Islands           Canada
Queen Elizabeth Islands           Canada
Queen Maud Land                   Antarctica
claimed by Norway
Quito US Embassy                  Ecuador

Rabat US Embassy                  Morocco
Ralik Chain                       Marshall Islands
Rangoon US Embassy                Burma
Ratak Chain                       Marshall Islands
Recife US Consulate               Brazil
Redonda                           Antigua and Barbuda
Red Sea                           Indian Ocean
Revillagigedo Island              United States
Revillagigedo Islands             Mexico
Reykjavik US Embassy              Iceland
Rhodes                            Greece
Rhodesia                          Zimbabwe
Rhodesia, Northern                Zambia
Rhodesia, Southern                Zimbabwe
Rio de Janeiro                    Brazil
US Consulate General
Rio de Oro                        Western Sahara
Rio Muni                          Equatorial Guinea
Riyadh US Embassy                 Saudi Arabia
Robinson Crusoe Island            Chile
(Mas a Tierra)
Rocas, Atol das                   Brazil
Rockall disputed                  United Kingdom
Rodrigues                         Mauritius
Rome US Embassy, US Mission to    Italy
the UN Agencies for Food and
Agriculture (FODAG)
Roncador Cay                      Colombia
Roosevelt Island                  Antarctica
Ross Dependency                   Antarctica
claimed by New Zealand
Ross Island                       Antarctica
Ross Sea                          Antarctica
Rota                              Northern Mariana Islands
Rotuma                            Fiji
Ryukyu Islands                    Japan

Saba                              Netherlands Antilles
Sabah                             Malaysia
Sable Island                      Canada
Sahel                             Burkina; Cape Verde; Chad; The Gambia;
Guinea-Bissau; Mali; Mauritania;
Niger; Senegal
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)         Vietnam
Saint Brandon                     Mauritius
Saint Christopher and Nevis       Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint George's US Embassy         Grenada
Saint George's Channel            Atlantic Ocean
Saint John's US Embassy           Antigua and Barbuda
Saint Lawrence, Gulf of           Atlantic Ocean
Saint Lawrence Island             United States
Saint Lawrence Seaway             Atlantic Ocean
Saint Martin                      Guadeloupe
Saint Martin (Sint Maarten)       Netherlands Antilles
Saint Paul Island                 Canada
Saint Paul Island                 United States
Saint Paul Island                 French Southern and Antarctic Lands
(Ile Saint-Paul)
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Rocks  Brazil
(Penedos de Sao Pedro e
Sao Paulo)
Saint Vincent Passage             Atlantic Ocean
Saipan                            Northern Mariana Islands
Sakhalin Island (Ostrov Sakhalin) Soviet Union
Sala y Gomez, Isla                Chile
Salisbury (Harare)                Zimbabwe
Salvador de Bahia                 Brazil
US Consular Agency
Salzburg US Consulate General     Austria
Sanaa US Embassy                  Yemen
San Ambrosio                      Chile
San Andres y Providencia,         Colombia
Archipielago
San Bernardino Strait             Pacific Ocean
San Felix, Isla                   Chile
San Jose US Embassy               Costa Rica
San Luis Potosi                   Mexico
US Consular Agency
San Miguel Allende                Mexico
US Consular Agency
San Salvador US Embassy           El Salvador
Santa Cruz US Consular Agency     Bolivia
Santa Cruz Islands                Solomon Islands
Santiago US Embassy               Chile
Santo Domingo US Embassy          Dominican Republic
Sao Luis US Consular Agency       Brazil
Sao Paulo US Consulate General    Brazil
Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo,            Brazil
Penedos de
Sapporo US Consulate General      Japan
Sapudi Strait                     Indian Ocean
Sarawak                           Malaysia
Sardinia                          Italy
Sargasso Sea                      Atlantic Ocean
Sark                              Guernsey
Scotia Sea                        Atlantic Ocean
Scotland                          United Kingdom
Scott Island                      Antarctica
Senyavin Islands                  Micronesia, Federated States of
Seoul US Embassy                  Korea, South
Serrana Bank                      Colombia
Serranilla Bank                   Colombia
Severnaya Zemlya (Northland)      Soviet Union
Seville US Consular Agency        Spain
Shag Island                       Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Shag Rocks                        Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Shanghai US Consulate General     China
Shenyang US Consulate General     China
Shetland Islands                  United Kingdom
Shikoku                           Japan
Shikotan (Shikotan-too)           Japan
Siam                              Thailand
Sibutu Passage                    Pacific Ocean
Sicily                            Italy
Sicily, Strait of                 Atlantic Ocean
Sikkim                            India
Sinai                             Egypt
Singapore US Embassy              Singapore
Singapore Strait                  Pacific Ocean
Sinkiang (Xinjiang)               China
Sint Eustatius                    Netherlands Antilles
Sint Maarten (Saint Martin)       Netherlands Antilles
Skagerrak                         Atlantic Ocean
Slovakia                          Czechoslovakia
Society Islands                   French Polynesia
(Iles de la Societe)
Socotra                           Yemen
Sofia US Embassy                  Bulgaria
Solomon Islands, northern         Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands, southern         Solomon Islands
Soloman Sea                       Pacific Ocean
Songkhla US Consulate             Thailand
Sound, The (Oresund)              Atlantic Ocean
South Atlantic Ocean              Atlantic Ocean
South China Sea                   Pacific Ocean
Southern Grenadines               Grenada
Southern Rhodesia                 Zimbabwe
South Georgia                     South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands
South Island                      New Zealand
South Korea                       Korea, South
South Orkney Islands              Antarctica
South Pacific Ocean               Pacific Ocean
South Sandwich Islands            South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands
South Shetland Islands            Antarctica
South Tyrol                       Italy
South Vietnam                     Vietnam
South-West Africa                 Namibia
South Yemen (People's Democratic  Yemen
Republic of Yemen)
Spanish Guinea                    Equatorial Guinea
Spanish Sahara                    Western Sahara
Spitsbergen                       Svalbard
Stockholm US Embassy              Sweden
Strasbourg US Consulate General   France
Stuttgart US Consulate General    Germany
Suez, Gulf of                     Indian Ocean
Sulu Archipelago                  Philippines
Sulu Sea                          Pacific Ocean
Sumatra                           Indonesia
Sumba                             Indonesia
Sunda Islands (Soenda Isles)      Indonesia; Malaysia
Sunda Strait                      Indian Ocean
Surabaya US Consulate             Indonesia
Surigao Strait                    Pacific Ocean
Surinam                           Suriname
Suva US Embassy                   Fiji
Swains Island                     American Samoa
Swan Islands                      Honduras
Sydney US Consulate General       Australia

Tahiti                            French Polynesia
Taipei                            Taiwan
Taiwan Strait                     Pacific Ocean
Tampico US Consular Agency        Mexico
Tanganyika                        Tanzania
Tangier US Consulate General      Morocco
Tarawa                            Kiribati
Tartar Strait                     Pacific Ocean
Tasmania                          Australia
Tasman Sea                        Pacific Ocean
Taymyr Peninsula                  Soviet Union
(Poluostrov Taymyra)
Tegucigalpa US Embassy            Honduras
Tehran US post not maintained,    Iran
representation by Swiss Embassy
Tel Aviv US Embassy               Israel
Terre Adelie (Adelie Land)        Antarctica
claimed by France
Thailand, Gulf of                 Pacific Ocean
Thessaloniki                      Greece
US Consulate General
Thurston Island                   Antarctica
Tibet (Xizang)                    China
Tierra del Fuego                  Argentina; Chile
Tijuana US Consulate General      Mexico
Timor                             Indonesia
Timor Sea                         Indian Ocean
Tinian                            Northern Mariana Islands
Tiran, Strait of                  Indian Ocean
Tobago                            Trinidad and Tobago
Tokyo US Embassy                  Japan
Tonkin, Gulf of                   Pacific Ocean
Toronto US Consulate General      Canada
Torres Strait                     Pacific Ocean
Trans-Jordan                      Jordan
Transkei                          South Africa
Transylvania                      Romania
Trieste US Consular Agency        Italy
Trindade, Ilha de                 Brazil
Tripoli US post not maintained,   Libya
representation by Belgian
Embassy
Tristan da Cunha Group            Saint Helena
Trobriand Islands                 Papua New Guinea
Trucial States                    United Arab Emirates
Truk Islands                      Micronesia
Tsugaru Strait                    Pacific Ocean
Tuamotu Islands (Iles Tuamotu)    French Polynesia
Tubuai Islands (Iles Tubuai)      French Polynesia
Tunis US Embassy                  Tunisia
Turin US Consulate                Italy
Turkish Straits                   Atlantic Ocean
Turks Island Passage              Atlantic Ocean
Tyrol, South                      Italy
Tyrrhenian Sea                    Atlantic Ocean

Udorn US Consulate                Thailand
Ulaanbaatar                       Mongolia
Ullung-do                         Korea, South
Unimak Pass strait                Pacific Ocean
United Arab Republic              Egypt; Syria
Upper Volta                       Burkina

Vaduz US post not maintained,     Liechtenstein
representation from Zurich,
Switzerland
Voakhoan Corridor                 Afghanistan
(Woakhoan)
Valencia US Consular Agency       Spain
Valletta US Embassy               Malta
Vancouver US Consulate General    Canada
Vancouver Island                  Canada
Van Diemen Strait                 Pacific Ocean
Vatican City US Embassy           Vatican City
Velez de la Gomera, Penon deSpain
Venda                             South Africa
Veracruz US Consular Agency       Mexico
Verde Island Passage              Pacific Ocean
Victoria US Embassy               Seychelles
Vienna US Embassy, US Mission     Austria
to International Organizations
in Vienna (UNVIE)
Vientiane US Embassy              Laos
Volcano Islands                   Japan
Vostok Island                     Kiribati
Vrangelya, Ostrov                 Soviet Union
(Wrangel Island)

Wakhan Corridor                   Afghanistan
(now Voakhoan Corridor)
Wales                             United Kingdom
Walvis Bay                        South Africa
Warsaw US Embassy                 Poland
Washington, DC The Permanent      United States
Mission of the USA to the
Organization of American
States (OAS)
Weddell Sea                       Atlantic Ocean
Wellington US Embassy             New Zealand
Western Channel                   Pacific Ocean
(West Korea Strait)
West Germany (Federal Republic    Germany
of Germany)
West Korea Strait                 Pacific Ocean
(Western Channel)
West Pakistan                     Pakistan
Wetar Strait                      Pacific Ocean
White Sea                         Arctic Ocean
Windhoek                          Namibia
Windward Passage                  Atlantic Ocean
Winnipeg US Consular Agency       Canada
Wrangel Island (Ostrov Vrangelya) Soviet Union

Yaounde US Embassy                Cameroon
Yap Islands                       Micronesia
Yellow Sea                        Pacific Ocean
Yemen (Aden) People's Democratic
Republic of Yemen
Yemen Arab Republic               Yemen
Yemen, North Yemen Arab           Yemen
Republic
Yemen (Sanaa) Yemen Arab          Yemen
Republic
Yemen, People's Democratic        Yemen
Republic of
Yemen, South People's Democratic  Yemen
Republic of Yemen
Youth, Isle of                    Cuba
(Isla de la Juventud)
Yucatan Channel                   Atlantic Ocean

Zagreb US Consulate General       Yugoslavia
Zanzibar                          Tanzania
Zurich US Consulate General       Switzerland





THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1991
ELECTRONIC VERSION

The World Factbook is produced annually by the Central Intelligence
Agency for the use of United States Government officials, and the style,
format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific
requirements. Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:

Central Intelligence Agency
Attn: Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20505
[phone]

*************************************************************************

Table of Contents

Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations

Text (247 nations, dependent areas, and other entities)
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Arctic Ocean
Argentina
Aruba
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Atlantic Ocean
Australia
Austria

Bahamas, The
Bahrain
Baker Island
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bassas da India
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina
Burma
Burundi

Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China (also see separate Taiwan entry)
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Costa Rica
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia

Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic

Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Europa Island

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

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

Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island
Hungary

Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Iraq-Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone
Ireland
Israel (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Italy
Ivory Coast

Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island
Jersey
Johnston Atoll
Jordan (also see separate West Bank entry)
Juan de Nova Island

Kenya
Kingman Reef
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait

Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg

Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Man, Isle of
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Midway Islands
Monaco
Mongolia
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique

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

Oman

Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the
(Palau)
Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
Palmyra Atoll
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico

Qatar

Reunion
Romania
Rwanda

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

Taiwan entry follows Zimbabwe
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tromelin Island
Tunisia
Turkey
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu

Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay

Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands

Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara
Western Samoa
World

Yemen
Yugoslavia

Zaire
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Taiwan

Appendix A: The United Nations System
Appendix B: International Organizations
Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups
Appendix D: Weights and Measures
Appendix E: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

Note: all maps will be available only in the printed version for the
foreseeable future

Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations

There have been some significant changes in this edition. The
Literacy entry now includes rates for males, females, and both
sexes. Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups is new
and includes date established, aim, and list of members. Three maps
of special interest have been added this year--republics of the
Soviet Union, ethnic groups in the Soviet Union, and ethnic groups
in Eastern Europe.

Abbreviations: (see Appendix B for international organizations
and groups)

avdp.     avoirdupois
c.i.f.    cost, insurance, and freight
CY        calendar year
DWT       deadweight ton
est.      estimate
Ex-Im     Export-Import Bank of the United States
f.o.b.    free on board
FRG       Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany);
used for information dated before 3 October 1990
or CY91
FY        fiscal year
GDP       gross domestic product
GDR       German Democratic Republic (East Germany);
used for information dated before 3 October 1990
or CY91
GNP       gross national product
GRT       gross register ton
km        kilometer
km2       square kilometer
kW        kilowatt
kWh       kilowatt-hour
m         meter
NA        not available
NEGL      negligible
nm        nautical mile
NZ        New Zealand
ODA       official development assistance
OOF       other official flows
PDRY      People's Democratic Republic of Yemen {Yemen
(Aden) or South Yemen}; used for information
dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91

UAE       United Arab Emirates
UK        United Kingdom
US        United States
USSR      Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union)
YAR       Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen};
used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or
CY91

Administrative divisions: The numbers, designatory terms, and
first-order administrative divisions are generally those approved by the
United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been
reported but not yet acted upon by BGN are noted.

Area: Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited
by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the
aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or
coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers).
Comparative areas are based on total area equivalents. Most entities
are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states. The smaller
entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 km2, 69 miles2) or
The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 km2, 0.23 miles2, 146 acres).

Birth rate: The average annual number of births during a year
per 1,000 population at midyear. Also known as crude birth rate.

Dates of information: In general, information available as of 1
January 1991 was used in the preparation of this edition. Population
figures are estimates for 1 July 1991, with population growth rates
estimated for mid-1991 through mid-1992. Major political events have
been updated through 30 June 1991. Military age figures are average
annual estimates for 1991-95.

Death rate: The average annual number of deaths during a year
per l,000 population at midyear. Also known as crude death rate.

Diplomatic representation: The US Government has diplomatic
relations with 162 nations. There are only 144 US embassies, since some
nations have US ambassadors accredited to them, but no physical US
mission exists. The US has diplomatic relations with 151 of the 159 UN
members--the exceptions are Angola, Belorussia (Byelorussia;
constituent republic of the Soviet Union), Cambodia, Cuba, Iran, Vietnam,
Ukraine (constituent republic of the Soviet Union) and, obviously, the US
itself. In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 12 nations that
are not in the UN--Andorra, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, San Marino, South Korea, Switzerland,
Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Vatican City. North Korea is not in the UN and the
US does not have diplomatic relations with that nation. The US has not
recognized the incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the
Soviet Union and continues to accredit the diplomatic representatives of
their last free governments.

Economic aid: This entry refers to bilateral commitments of:

Official Development Assistance (ODA), which is defined as government
grants that (a) are administered with the promotion of economic
development and welfare of LDCs as their main objective and (b) are
concessional in character and contain a grant element of at least 25%;
and

Other Official Flows (OOF) or transactions by the official sector
whose main objective is other than development-motivated or whose
grant element is below the 25% threshold for ODA. OOF transactions
include official export credits (such as Eximbank credits), official
equity and portfolio investment, and debt reorganization by the
official sector that does not meet concessional terms.

Aid is considered to have been committed when agreements are
initialed by the parties involved and constitute a formal declaration
of intent.

Disputes: This category includes a wide variety of situations
that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral
claims of one sort or another. Every international land boundary
dispute in the "Guide to International Boundaries," a map published
by the Department of State, is included. References to other situations
may also be included that are border- or frontier-relevant, such as
maritime disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues.
However, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance
or recognition by the US Government.


Entities: Some of the nations, dependent areas, areas of special
sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not
independent, and others are not officially recognized by the US
Government. Nation refers to a people politically organized into a
sovereign state with a definite territory. Dependent area refers to a
broad category of political entities that are associated in some way
with a nation. Names used for page headings are usually the short-form
names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names. The
long-form name is included in the Government section and an entry
of "none" indicates a long-form name does not exist. In some
instances, no short-form name exists--then the long-form name must
serve for all usages.

There are 247 entities in the Factbook that may be categorized as
follows:

NATIONS
157 UN members (there are 159 members in the UN, but only 157 are
included in The World Factbook because Belorussia
(Byelorussia) and Ukraine are constituent republics of the Soviet
Union)
13 nations that are not members of the UN--Andorra, Federated States of
Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, North Korea,
San Marino, South Korea, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vatican City

OTHER
1 Taiwan

DEPENDENT AREAS
6 Australia--Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and
McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
2 Denmark--Faroe Islands, Greenland
16 France--Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic
Lands, Glorioso Islands, Guadeloupe, Juan de Nova Island,
Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna
2 Netherlands--Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
3 New Zealand--Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
3 Norway--Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
1 Portugal--Macau
16 United Kingdom--Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,
Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Jersey, Montserrat,
Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
15 United States--American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island,
Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands,
Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll,
Puerto Rico, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau),
Virgin Islands, Wake Island

MISCELLANEOUS
7 Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Iraq-Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone,
Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West Bank, Western Sahara

OTHER ENTITIES
4 oceans--Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
1 World
===
247 total

Notes: The US Government has not recognized the incorporation of
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the Soviet Union as constituent
republics during World War II. Those Baltic states are not members of the
UN and are not included in the list of nations. The US Government does
not recognize the four so-called "independent" homelands of
Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda in South Africa.

Gross domestic product (GDP): The value of all goods and
services produced domestically.

Gross national product (GNP): The value of all goods and
services produced domestically, plus income earned abroad, minus
income earned by foreigners from domestic production.

GNP/GDP methodology: In the Economy section, GNP/GDP dollar
estimates for the OECD countries, the USSR, and the East European
countries are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP)
calculations rather than from conversions at official currency exchange
rates. The PPP method normally involves the use of international
dollar price weights, which are applied to the quantities of goods and
services produced in a given economy. In addition to the lack of
reliable data from the majority of countries, the statistician faces
a major difficulty in specifying, identifying, and allowing for the
quality of goods and services. The division of a PPP GNP/GDP estimate
in dollars by the corresponding estimate in the local currency gives
the PPP conversion rate. One thousand dollars will buy the
same market basket of goods in the US as one thousand dollars, converted
to the local currency at the PPP conversion rate, will buy in the other
country. GNP/GDP estimates for the LDCs, on the other hand, are based on
the conversion of GNP/GDP estimates in local currencies to dollars at
the official currency exchange rates. One caution: the proportion of,
say, defense expenditures as a percent of GNP/GDP in local currency
accounts may differ substantially from the proportion when GNP/GDP
accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as, for example, when an observer
estimates the dollar level of Soviet or Japanese military expenditures;
similar problems exist when components are expressed in dollars under
currency exchange rate procedures. Finally, as academic research
moves forward on the PPP method, we hope to convert all GNP/GDP
estimates to this method in future editions of the Factbook.

Growth rate (population): The annual percent change in the
population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over
deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country.
The rate may be positive or negative.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.

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

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

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

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

Poppy straw concentrate is the alkaloid derived from the mature dried
opium poppy.

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

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

Infant mortality rate: The number of deaths to infants under one
year of age in a given year per l,000 live births occurring in the same
year.

Land use: Human use of the land surface is categorized as
arable land--land cultivated for crops that are replanted after
each harvest (wheat, maize, rice); permanent crops--land
cultivated for crops that are not replanted after each harvest
(citrus, coffee, rubber); meadows and pastures--land permanently
used for herbaceous forage crops; forest and woodland--land under
dense or open stands of trees; and other--any land type not
specifically mentioned above (urban areas, roads, desert). The
percentage figure for irrigated refers to the portion of the entire
amount of land area that is artificially supplied with water.

Leaders: The chief of state is the titular leader of the country
who represents the state at official and ceremonial funcions but is not
involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. The head
of government is the administrative leader who manages the day-to-day
activities of the government. In the UK, the monarch is the chief
of state and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US,
the President is both the chief of state and the head of government.

Life expectancy at birth: The average number of years to be lived
by a group of people all born in the same year, if mortality at each
age remains constant in the future.

Literacy: There are no universal definitions and standards of
literacy. Unless otherwise noted, all rates are based on the most
common definition--the ability to read and write at a specified age.
Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the
ability to read and write is beyond the scope of this publication.

Maritime claims: The proximity of neighboring states may prevent
some national claims from being fully extended.

Merchant marine: All ships engaged in the carriage of goods. All
commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which
excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. Also, a
grouping of merchant ships by nationality or register.

Captive register--A register of ships maintained by a territory,
possession, or colony primarily or exclusively for the use of ships
owned in the parent country. Also referred to as an offshore register,
the offshore equivalent of an internal register. Ships on a captive
register will fly the same flag as the parent country, or a local
variant of it, but will be subject to the maritime laws and taxation
rules of the offshore territory. Although the nature of a captive
register makes it especially desirable for ships owned in the parent
country, just as in the internal register, the ships may also be owned
abroad. The captive register then acts as a flag of convenience
register, except that it is not the register of an independent state.

Flag of convenience register--A national register offering
registration to a merchant ship not owned in the flag state. The major
flags of convenience (FOC) attract ships to their register by virtue
of low fees, low or nonexistent taxation of profits, and liberal
manning requirements. True FOC registers are characterized by having
relatively few of the ships registered actually owned in the flag
state. Thus, while virtually any flag can be used for ships under a
given set of circumstances, an FOC register is one where the majority
of the merchant fleet is owned abroad. It is also referred to as an
open register.

Flag state--The nation in which a ship is registered and which
holds legal jurisdiction over operation of the ship, whether at home
or abroad. Differences in flag state maritime legislation determine
how a ship is manned and taxed and whether a foreign-owned ship may be
placed on the register.

Internal register--A register of ships maintained as a subset of
a national register. Ships on the internal register fly the national
flag and have that nationality but are subject to a separate set of
maritime rules from those on the main national register. These
differences usually include lower taxation of profits, manning by
foreign nationals, and, usually, ownership outside the flag state
(when it functions as an FOC register). The Norwegian International
Ship Register and Danish International Ship Register are the most
notable examples of an internal register. Both have been instrumental
in stemming flight from the national flag to flags of convenience and in
attracting foreign-owned ships to the Norwegian and Danish flags.

Merchant ship--A vessel that carries goods against payment of
freight. Commonly used to denote any nonmilitary ship but accurately
restricted to commercial vessels only.

Register--The record of a ship's ownership and nationality as
listed with the maritime authorities of a country. Also, the
compendium of such individual ships' registrations. Registration of
a ship provides it with a nationality and makes it subject to the laws
of the country in which registered (the flag state) regardless of the
nationality of the ship's ultimate owner.

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

Net migration rate: The balance between the number of persons
entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons
(based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the
country is referred to as net immigration (3.56 migrants/1,000
population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net
emigration (-9.26 migrants/1,000 population).

Population: Figures are estimates from the Bureau of the Census
based on statistics from population censuses, vital registration
systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past, and on
assumptions about future trends.

Total fertility rate: The average number of children that would
be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing
years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age.

Years: All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless
indicated as fiscal year (FY).

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

The Handbook of Economic Statistics, published annually in
September by the Central Intelligence Agency, contains detailed
economic information for the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) countries, Eastern Europe, the USSR,
and selected other countries. The Handbook can be obtained wherever
The World Factbook is available.