The 1995 CIA World Factbook
by United States. Central Intelligence Agency · English · Gutenberg #571 · 2,923,473 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: The 1995 CIA World Factbook
Author: United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Release date: June 1, 1996 [eBook #571]
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Language: English
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Publication Information
Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Arctic Ocean
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Atlantic Ocean
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
The Bahamas
Bahrain
Baker Island
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bassas da India
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian OceanTerritory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina
Burma
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europa Island
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Gabon
The Gambia
Gaza Strip
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Glorioso Islands
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Italy
Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island
Jersey
Johnston Atoll
Jordan (also see separate West Bank entry)
Juan de Nova Island
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingman Reef
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Man, Isle of
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Midway Islands
Moldova
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 Ocean
Pakistan
Palau
Palmyra Atoll
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russia
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
Serbia and Montenegro
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Spain
Spratly Islands
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tromelin Island
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands
Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara
Western Samoa
World
Yemen
Zaire
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Appendices
A. The United Nations System (a graphical file not available in the
Project Gutenberg edition)
B. Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups
C. International Organizations and Groups
D. Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements
E. Selected International Environmental Agreements
F. Weights and Measures
G. Estimates of Gross Domestic Product on an Exchange Rate Basis
H. Cross-Reference List of Geographic Items
________________________________________________________________________
Publication Information for The World Factbook 1995
The printed version of the Factbook is published annually in July by
the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government
officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed
to meet their specific requirements. Information was provided by the
American Geophysical Union, Bureau of the Census, Central Intelligence
Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Mapping Agency, Defense
Nuclear Agency, Department of State, Foreign Broadcast Information
Service, Maritime Administration, National Science Foundation (Polar
Information Program), Naval Maritime Intelligence Center, Office of
Territorial and International Affairs, US Board on Geographic Names,
US Coast Guard, and others.
Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:
Central Intelligence Agency
Attn.: Office of Public and Agency Information
Washington, DC 20505
Telephone: [1] (703) 351-2053
US Government officials should obtain copies of The World Factbook
directly from their own organization or through liaison channels from
the Central Intelligence Agency. This publication is also available in
microfiche, magnetic tape, or computer diskettes.
This publication may be purchased by telephone (VISA or MasterCard) or
mail from:
Superintendent of Documents
P.O. Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800
A subscription to this publication may be purchased from:
Document Expediting (DOCEX) Project
Exchange and Gift Division
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540
Telephone: [1] (202) 707-9527
This publication may be purchased in printed form, photocopy,
microfiche, magnetic tape, or computer diskettes from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: [1] (703) 487-4650
This publication may be purchased in photocopy or microform from:
Photoduplication Service Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-5234
Telephone: [1] (202) 707-5640
________________________________________________________________________
NOTES, DEFINITIONS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
There have been some significant changes in this edition. The Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands became the independent nation of
Palau. The gross domestic product (GDP) of all countries is now
presented on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis rather than on the
old exchange rate basis. There is a new entry on Age structure and the
Airports entry now includes unpaved runways. The Communications
category has been restructured and now includes the entries of
Telephone system, Radio, and Television. The remainder of the entries
in the former Communications category-Railroads, Highways, Inland
waterways, Pipelines, Ports, Merchant marine, and Airports-can now be
found under a new category called Transportation. There is a new
appendix listing estimates of gross domestic product on an exchange
rate basis for all nations. A reference map of the Republic of South
Africa is included. The electronic files used to produce the Factbook
have been restructured into a database. As a result, the formats of
some entries in this edition have been changed. Additional changes
will occur in the 1996 Factbook.
Abbreviations: (see Appendix B for abbreviations for international
organizations and groups and Appendix D for abbreviations for selected
international environmental agreements)
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
FSU -- former Soviet Union
FY -- fiscal year
FYROM -- The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
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
GWP -- gross world product
km -- 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
sq km -- square kilometer
sq mi -- square mile
UAE -- United Arab Emirates
UK -- United Kingdom
US -- United States
USSR -- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used
for information dated before 25 December 1991
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 US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been
reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
Airports: Only airports with usable runways are included in this
listing. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest
runway is included. Not all airports have facilities for refueling,
maintenance, or air traffic control. Paved runways have concrete or
asphalt surfaces; unpaved runways have grass, dirt, sand, or gravel
surfaces.
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 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The
Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 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 1995 is
used in the preparation of this edition. Population figures are
estimates for 1 July 1995, with population growth rates estimated for
calendar year 1995. Major political events have been updated through
April 1995.
Death rate: The average annual number of deaths during a year per
l,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate.
Digraphs: The digraph is a two-letter "country code" that precisely
identifies every entity without overlap, duplication, or omission. AF,
for example, is the digraph for Afghanistan. It is a standardized
geopolitical data element promulgated in the Federal Information
Processing Standards Publication (FIPS) 10-3 by the National Bureau of
Standards (now called National Institute of Standards and Technology)
at the US Department of Commerce and maintained by the Office of the
Geographer at the US Department of State. The digraph is used to
eliminate confusion and incompatibility in the collection, processing,
and dissemination of area-specific data and is particularly useful for
interchanging data between databases.
Diplomatic representation: The US Government has diplomatic relations
with 184 nations, including 178 of the 185 UN members (excluded UN
members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, former Yugoslavia,
and the US itself). In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with
6 nations that are not in the UN - Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru,
Switzerland, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
Economic aid: This entry refers to bilateral commitments of official
development assistance (ODA) and other official flows (OOF). ODA is
defined as financial assistance which is concessional in character,
has the main objective to promote economic development and welfare of
LDCs, and contains a grant element of at least 25%. OOF transactions
are also official government assistance, but with a main objective
other than development and with a grant element less than 25%. OOF
transactions include official export credits (such as Ex-Im Bank
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.
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. There are 266
entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
NATIONS
184 -- UN members (excluding the former Yugoslavia, which is still
counted by the UN)
7 -- nations that are not members of the UN--Holy See, Kiribati,
Nauru, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu
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, Jersey, Isle of Man,
Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the
South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
14 -- 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, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
MISCELLANEOUS
6 -- Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West
Bank, Western Sahara
OTHER ENTITIES
4 -- oceans--Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
1 -- World
266 -- total
Exchange rate:
The official value of a nation's monetary unit at a given date or over
a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US
dollar and as determined by international market forces or official
fiat.
GDP methodology: In the "Economy" section, GDP dollar estimates for
all 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
GDP estimate in local currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in
dollars gives the PPP conversion rate. On average, 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. Whereas PPP estimates
for OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing
countries are often rough approximations. Most of the GDP estimates
are based on extrapolation of numbers published by the UN
International Comparison Program and by Professors Robert Summers and
Alan Heston of the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues.
Currency exchange rates depend on a variety of international and
domestic financial forces that often have little relation to domestic
output. In developing countries with weak currencies the exchange rate
estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP
estimate. Furthermore, exchange rates may suddenly go up or down by
10% or more because of market forces or official fiat whereas real
output has remained unchanged. On 12 January 1994, for example, the 14
countries of the African Financial Community (whose currencies are
tied to the French franc) devalued their currencies by 50%. This move,
of course, did not cut the real output of these countries by half. One
important caution: the proportion of, say, defense expenditures as a
percentage of GDP in local currency accounts may differ substantially
from the proportion when GDP accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as,
for example, when an observer tries to estimate the dollar level of
Russian or Japanese military expenditures. Note: The numbers for GDP
and other economic data can not be chained together from successive
volumes of the Factbook because of changes in the US dollar measuring
rod, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or
different sources of information, and changes in national statistical
methods and practices.
Gross domestic product (GDP): The value of all final goods and
services produced within a nation in a given year.
Gross national product (GNP): The value of all final goods and
services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned
abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production.
Gross world product (GWP): The aggregate value of all goods and
services produced worldwide in a given year.
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, which 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 (Erythroxylum coca) is a bush, and the leaves contain the
stimulant used to make 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.
Mandrax is the Southwest Asian slang term for methaqualone, a
pharmaceutical depressant.
Marijuana is the dried leaves of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis
sativa).
Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, in slang referred to as
Quaaludes in North America or Mandrax in Southwest Asia 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 with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussan AC),
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.
Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a
pharmaceutical depressant.
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
old in a given year per l,000 live births occurring in the same year.
International disputes: This category includes a wide variety of
situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to
unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding
disputes over international boundaries and maritime boundaries has
been reviewed by the Department of State. References to other
situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such
as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues.
However, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance
or recognition by the US Government.
Irrigated land: The figure refers to the land area that is
artificially supplied with water.
Land use: 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 - under dense or open stands of trees; and other - any
land type not specifically mentioned above (urban areas, roads,
desert).
Leaders: The chief of state is the titular leader of the country who
represents the state at official and ceremonial functions 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 extended the full distance.
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 registers 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. Flag state maritime legislation determines 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 money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US
dollars unless otherwise indicated.
National product: The total output of goods and services in a country
in a given year. See GDP methodology, Gross domestic product (GDP),
and Gross national product (GNP).
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 statistics registration
systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past, and on
assumptions about future trends. Starting with the 1993 Factbook,
demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have taken
into account the effects of the growing incidence of AIDS infections;
in 1993 these countries were Burkina, Burundi, Central African
Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania,
Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Brazil, and Haiti.
Telephone numbers: All telephone numbers presented in the Factbook
consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area code (where
required) in parentheses, and the local number. The one component that
is not presented is the international access code which varies from
country to country. For example, an international direct dial phone
call placed from the United States to Madrid, Spain, would be as
follows:
011 [34] (1) 577-xxxx where
011 is the international access code for station-to-station calls
(01 is for calls other than station-to-station calls),
[34] is the country code for Spain,
(1) is the city code for Madrid,
577 is the local exchange,
and xxxx is the local telephone number.
An international direct dial phone call placed from another country to
the United States would be as follows:
international access code + [1] (202) 939-xxxx where
[1] is the country code for the United States,
(202) is the area code for Washington, DC,
939 is the local exchange,
and xxxx is the local telephone number.
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). FY93/94 refers to the fiscal year that
began in calendar year 1993 and ended in calendar year 1994 as defined
in the Fiscal Year entry of the Economy section for each nation.
FY90-94 refers to the four fiscal years that began in calendar year
1990 and ended in calendar year 1994.
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 International 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 newly independent republics of the
former nations of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, and selected other
countries. The Handbook can be obtained wherever The World Factbook is
available.
________________________________________________________________________
AFGHANISTAN
@Afghanistan:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, north of Pakistan
Map references: Asia
Area:
total area: 647,500 sq km
land area: 647,500 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total 5,529 km, China 76 km, Iran 936 km,
Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km,
Uzbekistan 137 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water
rights; Iran supports clientsin country, private Pakistani and Saudi
sources also are active; power struggles among various groups for
control of Kabul, regional rivalries among emerging warlords,
traditional tribal disputes continue; support to Islamic fighters in
Tajikistan's civil war; border dispute with Pakistan (Durand Line);
support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions
Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc,
barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
semiprecious stones
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 3%
other: 39%
Irrigated land: 26,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of
the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building
materials); desertification
natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
flooding
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Note: landlocked
@Afghanistan:People
Population: 21,251,821 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (female 4,342,218; male 4,507,141)
15-64 years: 56% (female 5,406,675; male 6,443,734)
65 years and over: 2% (female 256,443; male 295,610) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 14.47% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 42.69 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 18.53 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 120.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 152.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.37 years
male: 45.98 years
female: 44.72 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.21 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan
Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%,
minor ethnic groups (Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)
Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages
(primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi
and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 29%
male: 44%
female: 14%
Labor force: 4.98 million
by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry 10.2%,
construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, services and other 10.7% (1980 est.)
@Afghanistan:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan
Digraph: AF
Type: transitional government
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 two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and Khowst
Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK)
National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance
Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August
Constitution: none
Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but the
transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law
(Shari'a)
Suffrage: undetermined; previously males 15-50 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Burhanuddin RABBANI (Interim President July-
December 1992; President since 2 January 1993); Vice President
Mohammad NABI MOHAMMADI (since NA); election last held 31 December
1992 (next to be held NA); results - Burhanuddin RABBANI was elected
to a two-year term by a national shura, later amended by multi-party
agreement to 18 months; note - in June 1994 failure to agree on a
transfer mechanism resulted in RABBANI's extending the term to
28 December 1994; following the expiration of the term and while
negotiations on the formation of a new government go on, RABBANI
continues in office head of government: Prime Minister of the Council
of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
Note: term of present government expired 28 December 1994; factional
fighting since 1 January 1994 has kept government officers from
actually occupying ministries and discharging government
responsibilities; the government's authority to remove cabinet
members, including the Prime Minister, following the expiration of
their term is questionable
Legislative branch: a unicameral parliament consisting of 205 members
was chosen by the shura in January 1993; non-functioning as of June
1993
Judicial branch: an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has
been appointed, but a new court system has not yet been organized
Political parties and leaders: current political organizations include
Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI, Ahmad Shah
MASOOD; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR
faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS faction;
Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the
Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF;
Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad
Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan
National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI;
Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI;
Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Karim
KHALILI; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad
Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif
MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Abdul
Rashid DOSTAM; Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR
Note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded
Other political or pressure groups: the former resistance commanders
are the major power brokers in the countryside and their shuras
(councils) are now administering most cities outside Kabul; tribal
elders and religious students are trying to wrest control from them;
ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders; religious students (talib)
Member of: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC,
UN, NCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3516
consulate(s) general: New York
consulate(s): Washington, DC
US diplomatic representation:
none; embassy was closed in January 1989
Flag: NA; note - the flag has changed at least twice since 1992
@Afghanistan:Economy
Overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly
dependent on farming (wheat especially) and livestock raising (sheep
and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to
political and military upheavals during more than 15 years of war,
including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended
15 February 1989). Over the past decade, one-third of the population
fled the country, with Pakistan sheltering more than 3 million
refugees and Iran about 3 million. About 1.4 million Afghan refugees
remain in Pakistan and about 2 million in Iran. Another 1 million
probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan.
Although reliable data are unavailable, gross domestic product is
lower than 13 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital and
the disruption of trade and transport.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 56.7% (1991)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1991
est.)
Exports: $188.2 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides
and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia
Imports: $616.4 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods
partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India,
South Korea, Germany
External debt: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (FY90/91 est.); accounts for
about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 480,000 kW
production: 550 million kWh
consumption per capita: 39 kWh (1993)
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 cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis for
the international drug trade; world's second-largest opium producer
after Burma (950 metric tons in 1994) and a major source of hashish
Economic aid:
recipient: $450 million US assistance provided 1985-1993; the UN
provides assistance in the form of food aid, immunization, land mine
removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons
Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls
Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019
(March 1993), 850 (1991), 700 (1989-90), 220 (1988-89); note - these
rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official
exchange rates
Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March
@Afghanistan:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 24.6 km
broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to
Towraghondi; 15 km 1,524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad
transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya
Highways:
total: 21,000 km
paved: 2,800 km
unpaved: gravel 1,650 km; earth 16,550 km (1984)
Inland waterways: total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya,
which handles vessels up to about 500 metric tons
Pipelines: petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan
to Shindand; natural gas 180 km
Ports: Keleft, Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Airports:
total: 48
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 15
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 14
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
@Afghanistan:Communications
Telephone system: 31,200 telephones; limited telephone, telegraph, and
radiobroadcast services; 1 public telephone in Kabul
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: one link between western Afghanistan and Iran (via
satellite)
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 2
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: several television stations run by factions and
local councils which provide intermittent service
televisions: NA
@Afghanistan:Defense Forces
Branches: the military still does not exist on a national scale; some
elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National
Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and
tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various
mujahedin and former regime leaders
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,646,789; males fit for
military service 3,011,777; males reach military age (22) annually
200,264 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $450 million, 15% of
GDP (1990 est.); the new government has not yet adopted a defense
budget
________________________________________________________________________
ALBANIA
@Albania:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian
Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:
total area: 28,750 sq km
land area: 27,400 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 720 km, Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km
with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: the Albanian Government supports protection of
the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders; Albanian
majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians
in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public
sector jobs and representation in government; Albania is involved in a
bilaterlal dispute with Greece over border demarcation, the treatment
of Albania's ethnic Greek minority, and migrant Albanian workers in
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: petroleum, 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%
Irrigated land: 4,230 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from
industrial and domestic effluents
natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along
southwestern coast
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea
to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
@Albania:People
Population: 3,413,904 (July 1995 est.)
note: IMF, working with Albanian government figures, estimates the
population at 3,120,000 in 1993 and that the population has fallen
since 1990
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (female 520,186; male 563,953)
15-64 years: 62% (female 1,026,321; male 1,104,371)
65 years and over: 6% (female 112,252; male 86,821) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 21.7 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.22 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.81 years
male: 70.83 years
female: 77.02 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.71 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian
Ethnic divisions: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies,
Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious
observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing
private religious practice
Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Literacy: age 9 and over can read and write (1955)
total population: 72%
male: 80%
female: 63%
Labor force: 1.5 million (1987)
by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 40% (1986)
@Albania:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Digraph: AL
Type: emerging democracy
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)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's
Assembly on 29 April 1991; a draft constitution was rejected by
popular referendum in the fall of 1994 and a new draft is pending
Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April
1992)
head of government: Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers
Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor): elections last held 22 March
1992; results - DP 62.29%, ASP 25.57%, SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP 2.92%,
other 1.74%; seats - (140 total) DP 92, ASP 38, SDP 7, RP 1, UHP 2
note: 6 members of the Democratic Party defected making the present
seating in the Assembly DP 86, ASP 38, SDP 7, DAP 6, RP 1, UHP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: there are at least 28 political
parties; most prominent are the Albanian Socialist Party (ASP;
formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first secretary;
Democratic Party (DP); Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO;
Omonia (Greek minority party), Sotir QIRJAZATI, first secretary;
Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI; Democratic Alliance
Party (DAP), Neritan CEKA, chairman; Unity for Human Rights Party
(UHP), Vasil MELO, chairman; Ecology Party (EP), Namik HOTI, chairman
Member of: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lublin Hasan DILJA
chancery: Suite 1010, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942, 8187
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE
embassy: Rruga E. Elbansanit 103, Tirane
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624
telephone: [355] (42) 328-75, 335-20
FAX: [355] (42) 322-22
Flag: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
@Albania:Economy
Overview: An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is
making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The
economy rebounded in 1993-94 after a severe depression accompanying
the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and
1991. Stabilization policies - including a strict monetary policy,
public sector layoffs, and reduced social services - have improved the
government's fiscal situation and reduced inflation. The recovery was
spurred by the remittances of some 20% of the population which works
abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP
and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Foreign assistance
and humanitarian aid also supported the recovery. Most agricultural
land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes.
Albania's limited industrial sector, now less than one-sixth of GDP,
continued to decline in 1994. A sharp fall in chromium prices reduced
hard currency receipts from the mining sector. Large segments of the
population, especially those living in urban areas, continue to depend
on humanitarian aid to meet basic food requirements. Unemployment
remains a severe problem accounting for approximately one-fifth of the
work force. Growth is expected to continue in 1995, but could falter
if Albania becomes involved in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia,
workers' remittances from Greece are reduced, or foreign assistance
declines.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: 11% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $1,110 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 18% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $70
million (1991 est.)
Exports: $112 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude
oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco
partners: Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany,
Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary
Imports: $621 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: machinery, consumer goods, grains
partners: Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany,
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece
External debt: $920 million (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -10% (1993 est.); accounts for 16%
of GDP (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 770,000 kW
production: 4 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,200 kWh (1994)
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber, oil,
cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Agriculture: accounts for 55% of GDP; arable land per capita among
lowest in Europe; 80% of arable land now in private hands; 60% of the
work force engaged in farming; produces wide range of temperate-zone
crops and livestock
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route and cocaine from South America destined
for Western Europe; limited opium production
Economic aid:
recipient: $303 million (1993)
Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars
Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 100 (January 1995), 99 (January
1994), 97 (January 1993), 50 (January 1992), 25 (September 1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Albania:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 543 km line connecting Podgorica (Serbia and Montenegro) and
Shkoder completed August 1986
standard gauge: 509 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 34 km 0.950-m gauge (1990)
Highways:
total: 18,450 km
paved: 17,450 km
unpaved: earth 1,000 km (1991)
Inland waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake
Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64
km (1991)
Ports: Durres, Sarande, Shergjin, Vlore
Merchant marine:
total: 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,967 GRT/76,887
DWT
Airports:
total: 11
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
@Albania:Communications
Telephone system: about 55,000 telephones; about 15 telephones/1,000
persons
local: primitive; about 11,000 telephones in Tirane, the capital city
intercity: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for
every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist
government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it
to build fences
international: inadequate; carried through the Tirane exchange and
transmitted through Italy on 240 microwave radio relay circuits and
through Greece on 150 microwave radio relay circuits
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 1, shortwave 0
radios: 515,000 (1987 est.)
Television:
broadcast stations: 9
televisions: 255,000 (1987 est.)
@Albania:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry
Troops, Border Guards
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 919,085; males fit for military
service 755,574; males reach military age (19) annually 33,323 (1995
est.)
Defense expenditures: 330 million leke, NA% of GNP (1993); note -
conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
ALGERIA
@Algeria:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Morocco and Tunisia
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 2,381,740 sq km
land area: 2,381,740 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total 6,343 km, 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:
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Libya claims part of southeastern Algeria;
land boundary dispute with Tunisia settled in 1993
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: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
uranium, lead, zinc
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 2%
other: 82%
Irrigated land: 3,360 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming
practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining
wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of
rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming
polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff;
inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
mudslides
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
@Algeria:People
Population: 28,539,321 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (female 5,678,879; male 5,885,246)
15-64 years: 56% (female 7,887,885; male 8,033,508)
65 years and over: 3% (female 557,636; male 496,167) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.25% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 29.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.01 years
male: 66.94 years
female: 69.13 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian
Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 57%
male: 70%
female: 46%
Labor force: 6.2 million (1992 est.)
by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and
public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%,
transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)
@Algeria:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
Shabiyah
local short form: Al Jaza'ir
Digraph: AG
Type: republic
Capital: Algiers
Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayas, 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)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3
November 1988 and 23 February 1989
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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lamine ZEROUAL (since 31 January 1994); next
election to be held by the end of 1995
head of government: Prime Minister Mokdad SIFI (since 11 April 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral; note - suspended since 1992
National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani): elections
first round held on 26 December 1991 (second round canceled by the
military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992,
effectively suspending the Assembly); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (281 total); the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the
231 seats contested in the first round; note - elections (provincial
and municipal) were held in June 1990, the first in Algerian history;
results - FIS 55%, FLN 27.5%, other 17.5%, with 65% of the voters
participating
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front (FIS, outlawed
April 1992), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Abdelkader HACHANI (all
under arrest), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany); National
Liberation Front (FLN), Abdelhamid MEHRI, Secretary General; Socialist
Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, Secretary General
note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989
and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed
Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15,
G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM,
OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Osmane BENCHERIF
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
telephone: [213] (2) 69-11-86, 69-18-54, 69-38-75
FAX: [213] (2) 69-39-79
consulate(s): none (Oran closed June 1993)
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)
@Algeria:Economy
Overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,
accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and
almost all export earnings; Algeria has the fifth largest reserves of
natural gas in the world and ranks fourteenth for oil. Algiers'
efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the
Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged
the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched
a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve macroeconomic
stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy.
Despite substantial progress toward macroeconomic adjustment, in 1992
the reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political
turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one
priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural
adjustment process. Buffeted by the slump in world oil prices and
burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year
standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $97.1 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: 0.2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,480 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $14.3 billion
expenditures: $17.9 billion (1995 est.)
Exports: $9.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97%
partners: Italy 21%, France 16%, US 14%, Germany 13%, Spain 9%
Imports: $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer
goods 11.8% (1990)
partners: France 29%, Italy 14%, Spain 9%, US 9%, Germany 7%
External debt: $26 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 35% of GDP
(including hydrocarbons)
Electricity:
capacity: 5,370,000 kW
production: 18.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 587 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining,
electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP (1993) and employs 22% of labor
force; products- wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits,
sheep, cattle; net importer of food - grain, vegetable oil, sugar
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $1.4 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $925 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.8 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.7 billion; net official
disbursements (1985-89), $375 million
Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 42.710 (January 1995),
35.059 (1994), 23.345 (1993), 21.836 (1992), 18.473 (1991), 8.958
(1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Algeria:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 4,733 km
standard gauge: 3,576 km 1.435-m gauge (299 km electrified; 215 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 1,157 km 1.055-m gauge
Highways:
total: 95,576 km
paved: concrete, bituminous 57,346 km
unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 38,230 km
Pipelines: crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas
2,948 km
Ports: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene,
Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
Merchant marine:
total: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 903,179 GRT/1,064,211 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas
tanker 9, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger
5, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
total: 139
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
with paved runways under 914 m: 20
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 24
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 41
@Algeria:Communications
Telephone system: 822,000 telephones; excellent domestic and
international service in the north, sparse in the south
local: NA
intercity: 12 domestic satellite links; 20 additional satellite links
are planned
international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy,
France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and
Tunisia; 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1
Intersputnik, 1 ARABSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 0, shortwave 0
radios: 5.2 million
Television:
broadcast stations: 18
televisions: 1.6 million
@Algeria:Defense Forces
Branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air
Defense, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 7,124,894; males fit for
military service 4,373,272; males reach military age (19) annually
313,707 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion, 2.7% of
GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
AMERICAN SAMOA
(territory of the US)
@American Samoa:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 199 sq km
land area: 199 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
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 (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 75%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas
of the island water supplies come from roof catchments
natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
international agreements: NA
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 in the
South Pacific Ocean
@American Samoa:People
Population: 57,366 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.82% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 36.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 74.85 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%,
other 5%
Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
Protestant denominations and other 30%
Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
languages), English; most people are bilingual
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97%
Labor force: 14,400 (1990)
by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
@American Samoa:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
Abbreviation: AS
Digraph: AQ
Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered
by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and
International Affairs
Capital: Pago Pago
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January
1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993);
Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993); election
last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results
- A. P. LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to
be held NA November 1994); results - representatives popularly elected
from 17 house districts; seats - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1
nonvoting delegate from Swains Island)
Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA
November 1996); results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12
senate districts; seats - (18 total) number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next
to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
reelected as delegate
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: NA
Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
US 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
@American Samoa:Economy
Overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which
American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and
tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with
canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government
are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities
include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US
Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991
est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $2,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)
Budget:
revenues: $97 million (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and
$54,000,000 in grant revenue);
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)
Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities: canned tuna 93%
partners: US 99.6%
Imports: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products
7%, machinery and parts 6%
partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 30,000 kW
production: 90 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)
Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing
vessels), meat canning, handicrafts
Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams,
copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming
Economic aid:
recipient: $21,042,650 in operational funds and $1,227,000 in
construction funds for capital improvement projects from the US
Department of Interior (1991)
Currency: 1 United States dollar = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@American Samoa:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km
Ports: Aanu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago,
Ta'u
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 3
note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu
@American Samoa:Communications
Telephone system: 8,399 telephones; good telex, telegraph, and
facsimile services
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) and 1 COMSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: NA
@American Samoa:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
________________________________________________________________________
ANDORRA
@Andorra:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 450 sq km
land area: 450 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: total 125 km, France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, 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%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows
contributes to soil erosion
natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
international agreements: NA
Note: landlocked
@Andorra:People
Population: 65,780 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (female 5,503; male 5,985)
15-64 years: 70% (female 21,873; male 24,334)
65 years and over: 12% (female 4,020; male 4,065) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.72% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 12.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.25 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 21.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.52 years
male: 75.65 years
female: 81.66 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic divisions: Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA
@Andorra:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra
Digraph: AN
Type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its
heads of state a co-principality; the two princes are the president of
France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally
by officials called veguers
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
National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in
1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chiefs of state: French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS (since
NA); note - COURTOIS is to become French ambassador to Libreville and
his replacement has not been announced; Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince
Mgr. Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Veguer
Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata (since NA); two permanent delegates
(French Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ for the department of
Pyrenees-Orientales, since NA, and Spanish Vicar General Nemesi
MARQUES Oste for the Seo de Urgel diocese, since NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE (since 21
December 1994) elected by Parliament, following resignation of Oscar
RIBAS Reig
cabinet: Executive Council; designated by the executive council
president
Legislative branch: unicameral
General Council of the Valleys: (Consell General de las Valls);
elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); yielded no
clear winner; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28
total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for
civil cases, the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel
(Spain) for civil cases, Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes)
for criminal cases
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group (AND), Oscar
RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA;
New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National Coalition (CNA),
Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative (IDN), Vincenc MATEU;
Liberal Union (UL), Marc FORNE
note: there are two other small parties
Member of: ECE, IFRCS (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO
Diplomatic representation in US: Andorra has no mission in the US
US diplomatic representation: Andorra is included within the Barcelona
(Spain) Consular District, and the US Consul General visits Andorra
periodically
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 that do not have a national coat of arms in the center
@Andorra:Economy
Overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for
roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 13 million tourists visit annually,
attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter
resorts. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also
contributes substantially to the economy. 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.
Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union; it is unclear what effect
the European Single Market will have on the advantages Andorra obtains
from its duty-free status.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $760 million (1992
est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $14,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget:
revenues: $138 million
expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993)
Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture
partners: France, Spain
Imports: $NA
commodities: consumer goods, food
partners: France, Spain
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 35,000 kW
production: 140 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco,
banking
Agriculture: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat,
barley, oats, and some vegetables
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100
centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995),
5,5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
(1990); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 132.61 (January 1995),
133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93
(1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Andorra:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 96 km
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
Ports: none
Airports: none
@Andorra:Communications
Telephone system: 17,700 telephones; digital microwave network
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: landline circuits to France and Spain
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA
@Andorra:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
________________________________________________________________________
ANGOLA
@Angola:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Namibia and Zaire
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 1,246,700 sq km
land area: 1,246,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total 5,198 km, 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
International disputes: none
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: 0%
meadows and pastures: 23%
forest and woodland: 43%
other: 32%
Irrigated land: NA km2
Environment:
current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of
pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation
of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for
tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation contributing
to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution
and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on
the plateau
international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
Note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire
@Angola:People
Population: 10,069,501 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (female 2,208,307; male 2,274,533)
15-64 years: 53% (female 2,641,259; male 2,685,543)
65 years and over: 2% (female 136,573; male 123,286) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.68% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 45.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 18.1 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 142.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.28 years
male: 44.18 years
female: 48.49 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.42 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico
(mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%
(est.)
Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28%
Labor force: 2.783 million economically active
by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)
@Angola:Government
Note: Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on
11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October
1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally
monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the
countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November
1994; the cease-fire is generally holding but most provisions of the
accord remain to be implemented.
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola
Digraph: AO
Type: transitional government nominally 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)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August
1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use
of free markets
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September
1979)
head of government: Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2
December 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional): first nationwide, multiparty
elections were held 29-30 September 1992 with disputed results
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao)
Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of
Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and
has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, is a legal party
despite its history of armed resistance to the government; five minor
parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly
Other political or pressure groups: Cabindan State Liberation Front
(FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest faction (FLEC-FAC)
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Goncalves Martins PATRICIO
embassy: 1819 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edmund T. DE JARNETTE
embassy: 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
mailing address: C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda,
Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-2550 (pouch)
telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
FAX: [244] (2) 347-884
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)
@Angola:Economy
Overview: Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for
80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil
production is vital to the economy, contributing about 60% to GDP.
Despite the signing of a peace accord in November 1994 between the
Angola government and the UNITA insurgents, sporadic fighting
continues and many farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields.
As a result, much of the country's food requirements must still be
imported. Angola has rich natural resources - notably gold, diamonds,
and arable land, in addition to large oil deposits - but will need to
observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform
government policies if it is to achieve its potential.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.1 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $620 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% average per month (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% with considerable underemployment (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $928 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
million (1992 est.)
Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
partners: US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment),
food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines,
substantial military deliveries
partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain
External debt: $11.7 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 60% of GDP,
including petroleum output
Electricity:
capacity: 620,000 kW
production: 1.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 189 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum; mining - diamonds, iron ore, phosphates,
feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; fish processing; food
processing; brewing; tobacco; sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal
products
Agriculture: cash crops - bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn,
cotton, cane, manioc, tobacco; food crops - cassava, corn, vegetables,
plantains; livestock production accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry
2% of total agricultural output
Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine
destined for Western Europe
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $265 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $1.105 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3
billion; net official disbursements (1985-89), $750 million
Currency: 1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei
Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate 25
April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000
(official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994),
180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16
December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884
(July 1993); 550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Angola:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 3,189 km; note - limited trackage in use because of landmines
still in place from the civil war; majority of the Benguela Railroad
also closed because of civil war
narrow gauge: 2,879 km 1.067-m gauge; 310 km 0.600-m gauge
Highways:
total: 73,828 km
paved: bituminous-surface 8,577 km
unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, improved earth 29,350 km; unimproved
earth 35,901 km
Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 179 km
Ports: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malogo, Namibe, Porto Amboim,
Soyo
Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT
ships by type: cargo 11, oil tanker 1
Airports:
total: 289
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
with paved runways under 914 m: 93
with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 33
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 126
@Angola:Communications
Telephone system: 40,300 telephones; 4.1 telephones/1,000 persons;
high frequency radio used extensively for military links; telephone
service limited mostly to government and business use
local: NA
intercity: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and
troposcatter routes
international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 13, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 6
televisions: NA
@Angola:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police
Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,315,717; males fit for
military service 1,166,082; males reach military age (18) annually
100,273 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 31% of
GDP (1993)
________________________________________________________________________
ANGUILLA
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Anguilla:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 91 sq km
land area: 91 sq km
comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
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)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet
increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July
to October)
international agreements: NA
@Anguilla:People
Population: 7,099 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (female 1,129; male 1,115)
15-64 years: 60% (female 2,101; male 2,126)
65 years and over: 8% (female 362; male 266) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.66% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 24.09 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.1 years
male: 71.32 years
female: 76.91 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.05 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic divisions: black African
Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: age 12 and over can read and write (1984)
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95%
Labor force: 4,400 (1992)
by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%,
transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%,
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%
@Anguilla:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Digraph: AV
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: The Valley
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May
Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Orders 1 April 1982; amended
1990
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Alan W. SHAVE (since 14 August 1992)
head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994)
cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor from the elected
members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 16 March 1994 (next to be held
March 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total,
7 elected) ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA);
Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party
(ADP), Victor BANKS
Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US 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
@Anguilla: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 and construction. Development plans center around the
improvement of the infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist
facilities, and also light industry.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $49 million (1993
est.)
National product real growth rate: 7.5% (1992)
National product per capita: $7,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $13.8 million
expenditures: $15.2 million, including capital expenditures of $2.4
million (1992 est.)
Exports: $556,000 (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: lobster and salt
partners: NA
Imports: $33.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: NA
partners: NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 2,000 kW
production: 6 million kWh
consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992)
Industries: tourism, boat building, salt
Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs,
cattle, poultry, fishing (including lobster)
Economic aid:
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-89), $38 million
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: NA
@Anguilla:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 105 km (1992 est.)
paved: 65 km
unpaved: gravel and earth 40 km
Ports: Blowing Point, Road Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
@Anguilla:Communications
Telephone system: 890 telephones; modern internal telephone system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: radio relay microwave link to island of Saint Martin
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA
@Anguilla:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
ANTARCTICA
@Antarctica:Geography
Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total area: 14 million sq km (est.)
land area: 14 million sq km (est.)
comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
note: second-smallest continent (after Australia)
Land boundaries: none, but see entry on International disputes
Coastline: 17,968 km
Maritime claims: none, but see entry on International Disputes
International 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; the US and most other
nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and
have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the right to do so);
no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west
and 150 degrees west
Climate: severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and
distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West
Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has
the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along
the coast and average slightly below freezing
Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock,
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 parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves
along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute
11% of the area of the continent
Natural resources: none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium,
copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and
hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield,
which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation,
had dwindled to the lowest level recorded over Antarctica since 1975
when measurements were first taken
natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) 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 along
the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West
Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak
international agreements: NA
Note: the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent; during
summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than
is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly
uninhabitable
@Antarctica:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally
staffed research stations
Summer (January) population: over 4,115 total; Argentina 207,
Australia 268, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Chile 256, China NA, Ecuador NA,
Finland 11, 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, former USSR 565 (1989-90)
Winter (July) population: over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, Australia
71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace
5, India 1, Japan 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, Poland NA, South Africa
12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR 313 (1989-90)
Year-round stations: 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1,
Chile 3, China 2, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 2,
South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US 3,
former USSR 6 (1990-91)
Summer only stations: over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile
5, Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South
Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, former USSR 5
(1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former USSR has placed the
status and future of its Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations may
be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic
difficulties
@Antarctica:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antarctica
Digraph: AY
Type:
Antarctic Treaty Summary: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December
1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal
framework for the management of Antarctica. Administration is carried
out through consultative member meetings - the 18th Antarctic Treaty
Consultative Meeting was in Japan in April 1993. Currently, there are
42 treaty member nations: 26 consultative and 16 acceding.
Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim
portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and
19 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations that have made
no claims have reserved the right to do so. 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 the country was 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 Russia. Acceding
(nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are -
Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988), Cuba
(1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987),
Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea
(1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), and
Ukraine (1992).
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 scientific research or any
other peaceful purpose
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
60 degrees 00 minutes south
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 of 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 170 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; in 1991 the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the
Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits ratification; this agreement
provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five
specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna, and flora, environmental
impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it also
prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except
scientific research; 14 parties have ratified Protocol as of April
1995
Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or
against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under
jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to
Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C.
section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the
following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: The
taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous
plants and animals; entry into specially protected or scientific
areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation
into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the
Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines
and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce,
Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities.
Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires
expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the
Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as
required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact Permit
Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation,
Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703-306-1031).
@Antarctica:Economy
Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off the
coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.
@Antarctica:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage
Airports: 42 landing facilities at different locations operated by 15
national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air facility
operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist organization;
helicopter pads at 36 of these locations; runways at 14 locations are
gravel, sea ice, glacier ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for
wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways; 15 locations have
snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes - 11
runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 5 runways/skiways less than 1,000 m,
8 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m, and 5 of unspecified or
variable length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and
limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions;
airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the
respective governmental or non-governmental operating organization
required for landing
@Antarctica:Communications
Telephone system:
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: NA
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: NA
televisions: NA
@Antarctica:Defense Forces
Note: the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military
nature, such as the establishment of military bases and
fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing
of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or
equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes
________________________________________________________________________
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
@Antigua And Barbuda:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 440 sq km
land area: 440 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
DC
note: includes Redonda
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 153 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
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%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited
natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of
trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October);
periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Whaling
@Antigua And Barbuda:People
Population: 65,176 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (female 8,062; male 8,390)
15-64 years: 69% (female 22,342; male 22,334)
65 years and over: 6% (female 2,231; male 1,817) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.68% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 17.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.4 years
male: 71.32 years
female: 75.57 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic divisions: black African, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman
Catholic
Languages: English (official), local dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling (1960)
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88%
Labor force: 30,000
by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7%
(1983)
@Antigua And Barbuda:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Digraph: AC
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)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Constitution: 1 November 1981
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March
1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the governor general on
the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: 17 member body appointed by the governor general
House of Representatives: elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be
held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17
total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester
Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), Baldwin SPENCER
Other political or pressure groups: United Progressive Party (UPP),
headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political
parties - the United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua
Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor
Movement (PLM); Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by
William ROBINSON
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM
(observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122
FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
consulate(s) general: Miami
US diplomatic representation: the post was closed 30 June 1994; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
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
@Antigua And Barbuda:Economy
Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the
most important determinant of economic performance. In 1993, tourism
made a direct contribution to GDP of about 17%, and also spurred
growth in other sectors such as construction and transport. While only
accounting for roughly 5% of GDP in 1993, agricultural production
increased by 4%. Tourist arrivals remained strong in 1994.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $400 million (1993
est.)
National product real growth rate: 3.4% (1993)
National product per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $105 million
expenditures: $161 million, including capital expenditures of $56
million (1992)
Exports: $54.7 million (f.o.b., 1992)
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: $260.9 million (f.o.b., 1992)
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 -4.9% (1993 est.); accounts for
6.5% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 52,100 kW
production: 95 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,242 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,
alcohol, household appliances)
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; expanding output of cotton,
fruits, vegetables, and livestock; other crops - bananas, coconuts,
cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point
for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment
point for heroin from Europe to the US; more significant as a drug
money laundering center
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments (1985-88), $10 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $50 million
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Antigua And Barbuda:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 77 km
narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost
exclusively for handling sugar cane)
Highways:
total: 240 km
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
Ports: Saint John's
Merchant marine:
total: 304 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,188,113 GRT/1,651,190
DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 216, chemical tanker 8, container 48,
liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 10,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 11
note: a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
@Antigua And Barbuda:Communications
Telephone system: 6,700 telephones; good automatic telephone system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
earth station; tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 2
televisions: NA
@Antigua And Barbuda:Defense Forces
Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and
Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of
GDP (FY90/91)
________________________________________________________________________
ARCTIC OCEAN
@Arctic Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total area: 14.056 million sq km
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)
note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,
East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea,
Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline: 45,389 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states);
Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway
and Russia
Climate: polar climate characterized by 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
that 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 (Russia) 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
and whales)
Environment:
current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and whales;
fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions
or damage
natural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northern
Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland
and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually
icelocked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing
from October to May
international agreements: NA
Note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to
the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between
North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of
eastern and western Russia, floating research stations operated by the
US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50
centimeters over the frozen ocean and lasts about 10 months
@Arctic Ocean:Government
Digraph: XQ
@Arctic Ocean:Economy
Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural
resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
@Arctic Ocean:Transportation
Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)
Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the
Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are
important seasonal waterways
@Arctic Ocean:Communications
Telephone system:
international: no submarine cables
________________________________________________________________________
ARGENTINA
@Argentina:Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Chile and Uruguay
Map references: South America
Area:
total area: 2,766,890 sq km
land area: 2,736,690 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries: total 9,665 km, Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km,
Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
Coastline: 4,989 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International 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, petroleum, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 52%
forest and woodland: 22%
other: 13%
Irrigated land: 17,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls and
improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation;
desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cites;
water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to
increased pesticide and fertilizer use
natural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to
earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the
Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation
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)
@Argentina:People
Population: 34,292,742 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (female 4,706,793; male 4,903,589)
15-64 years: 62% (female 10,680,074; male 10,689,728)
65 years and over: 10% (female 1,922,552; male 1,390,006) (July 1995
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.11% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 19.51 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.62 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.51 years
male: 68.22 years
female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine
Ethnic divisions: white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups
15%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing),
Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%
Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 95%
male: 96%
female: 95%
Labor force: 10.9 million
by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)
@Argentina:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina
Digraph: AR
Type: republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); 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 US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica or
Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands
Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM
(since 8 July 1989); Vice President (position vacant); election last
held 14 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); results - Carlos Saul
MENEM was reelected
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
Senate: elections last held May 1989, but provincial elections in late
1991 set the stage for indirect elections by provincial senators for
one-third of 48 seats in the national senate in May 1992; seats (48
total) - PJ 29, UCR 11, others 7, vacant 1
Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 3 October 1993 ( next to be
held October 1995); elections are held every two years and half of the
total membership is elected each time for four year terms; seats -
(257 total) PJ 122, UCR 83, MODIN 7, UCD 5, other 40
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party (PJ), Carlos Saul
MENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union
(UCR),Raul ALFONSIN, moderately left-of-center party; Union of the
Democratic Center (UCD), Jorge AGUADO, conservative party; Dignity and
Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing party;
Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition;
several provincial parties
Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement;
General Confederation of Labor (CGT; 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), Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, MINURSO,
MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ,
UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEK
embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
mailing address: Unit 4334; APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534
FAX: [54] (1) 777-0197
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
@Argentina:Economy
Overview: Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits also from a
highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector,
and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of
mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was
plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of
hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President
MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program
that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable
growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar
since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20
years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by
repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. The
economy registered an impressive 6% advance in 1994, fueled largely by
inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption spending.
The government's major short term objective is encouraging exports,
e.g., by reducing domestic costs of production. At the start of 1995,
the government had to deal with the spillover from international
financial movements associated with the devaluation of the Mexican
peso. In addition, unemployment had become a serious issue for the
government. Despite average annual 7% growth in 1991-94, unemployment
surprisingly has doubled - due mostly to layoffs in government bureaus
and in privatized industrial firms and utilities and, to a lesser
degree, to illegal immigration. Much remains to be done in the 1990s
in dismantling the old statist barriers to growth, extending the
recent economic gains, and bringing down the rate of unemployment.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $270.8 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $7,990 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $48.46 billion
expenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5
billion (1994 est.)
Exports: $15.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures
partners: US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands
Imports: $21.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and
lubricants, agricultural products
partners: US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
External debt: $73 billion (April 1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 12.5% accounts for 31% of GDP (1994
est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 17,330,000 kW
production: 54.8 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GDP (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
Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine
headed for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $4.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million
Currency: 1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 0.99870 (December 1994), 0.99901
(1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991), 0.48759 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Argentina:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 34,572 km
broad gauge: NA km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m
narrow gauge: 400 km 0.750-m gauge; NA km 1.000-m gauge (209 km
electrified)
Highways:
total: 208,350 km
paved: 57,000 km
unpaved: gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 km
Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural
gas 9,918 km
Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del
Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario,
Santa Fe, Ushuaia
Merchant marine:
total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 434,525 GRT/667,501 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, container 4, oil
tanker 8, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1
Airports:
total: 1,602
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 48
with paved runways under 914 m: 703
with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 70
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 693
@Argentina:Communications
Telephone system: 2,650,000 telephones; 12,000 public telephones; 78
telephones/1,000 persons; extensive modern system but many families do
not have telephones; microwave widely used; however, during
rainstorms, the telephone system frequently grounds out, even in
Buenos Aires
local: NA
intercity: microwave radio relay and domestic satellite network with
40 earth stations
international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 231
televisions: NA
@Argentina: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 age 15-49 8,573,780; males fit for
military service 6,954,584; males reach military age (20) annually
301,166 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
ARMENIA
@Armenia:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
Area:
total area: 29,800 sq km
land area: 28,400 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan
(south) 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh
in their separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani government;
traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land;
fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc,
alumina
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 60%
Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;
energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to
deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan
(Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a result of its
use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies
natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: landlocked
@Armenia:People
Population: 3,557,284 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (female 542,664; male 570,998)
15-64 years: 61% (female 1,103,171; male 1,076,226)
65 years and over: 8% (female 154,784; male 109,441) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 22.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.36 years
male: 68.94 years
female: 75.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly
Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
note: as of the end of 1994, most Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98%
Labor force: 1.578 million
by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry
31%, other 35% (1992)
@Armenia:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Digraph: AM
Type: republic
Capital: Yerevan
Administrative divisions: 37 regions (shrjanner, singular - shrjan)
and 23 cities* (kaghakner, singular - kaghak); Abovyan*, Akhuryani
Shrjan, Alaverdi*, Amasiayi Shrjan, Anii Shrjan, Aparani Shrjan,
Aragatsi Shrjan, Ararat*, Ararati Shrjan, Armaviri Shrjan, Artashat*,
Artashati Shrjan, Art'ik*, Art'iki Shrjan, Ashots'k'i Shrjan,
Ashtarak*, Ashtaraki Shrjan, Baghramyani Shrjan, Ch'arents'avan*,
Dilijan*, Ejmiatsin*, Ejmiatsni Shrjan, Goris*, Gorisi Shrjan,
Gugark'i Shrjan, Gyumri*, Hoktemberyan*, Hrazdan*, Hrazdani Shrjan,
Ijevan*, Ijevani Shrjan, Jermuk*, Kamo*, Kamoyi Shrjan, Kapan*, Kapani
Shrjan, Kotayk'i Shrjan, Krasnoselski Shrjan, Martunu Shrjan, Masisi
Shrjan, Meghru Shrjan, Metsamor*, Nairii Shrjan, Noyemberyani Shrjan,
Sevan*, Sevani Shrjan, Sisiani Shrjan, Spitak*, Spitaki Shrjan,
Step'anavan*, Step'anavani Shrjan, T'alini Shrjan, Tashiri Shrjan,
Taushi Shrjan, T'umanyani Shrjan, Vanadzor*, Vardenisi Shrjan, Vayk'i
Shrjan, Yeghegnadzori Shrjan, Yerevan*
Independence: 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991
(from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September
Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to
be held 5 July 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since October
1991) election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists
about 7%; note - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of
the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming president
head of government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February
1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February
1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Supreme Soviet: elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held 5
July 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total)
non-aligned 136, ANM 52, DPA 17, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 12,
NDU 9, Christian Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1,
ONS 1, Republican Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Armenian National Movement (ANM),
Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National Democratic Union (NDU), David
VARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF,
Dashnaktsutyun); note - banned until reorganized; Democratic Party of
Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN, chairman; Christian
Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman; Greens Party, Hakob
SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN,
chairman; Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union for
Self-Determination (ONS), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman
Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, NAM
(observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN
chancery: Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 628-5766
FAX: [1] (202) 628-5769
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE
embassy: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (8852) 151-144, 524-661
FAX: [7] (8852) 151-138
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
@Armenia:Economy
Overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had
developed a more modern industrial sector, supplying machine building
equipment, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics
in exchange for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large
food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The
economic decline in recent years (1991-94) has been particularly
severe due to the ongoing conflict over the ethnic Armenian-dominated
region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have
blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of
the Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with chronic energy
shortages because of a lack of capacity and frequent disruptions of
natural gas deliveries through unstable Georgia, as well as
difficulties in obtaining other types of fuel. In addition, bread is
strictly rationed and there are shortages of other goods. In 1994, the
economy seemed to bottom out. The government has managed to increase
its financial and budgetary discipline, bringing inflation down from
around 40% per month in first half 1994 to single digits in second
half 1994 and the first quarter of 1995. A full economic recovery
cannot be expected until the conflict is settled and the blockade
lifted.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1994
estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: -2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $2,290 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27% per month average (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large
numbers of underemployed (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $43 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment,
electrical equipment
partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia
Imports: $120 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 41% of
GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 4,620,000 kW
production: 5.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,620 kWh (1994)
Industries: traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output
of former USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing
machines (1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear
(4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing
machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and
microelectronics (1990); currently, much of industry is shut down
Agriculture: only 17% of land area is arable; employs 31% of labor
force as residents increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture;
fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable farming, minor livestock
sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other
liqueurs
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic
consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to
Western Europe
Economic aid:
recipient: considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy
products, from US and EU; Russia granted 60 billion rubles in
technical credits in late 1994 and approved a 110 billion ruble credit
almost half of which was to go toward the restart of the Metsamor
nuclear power plant
Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)
Exchange rates: dram per US$1 - 406 (end December 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Armenia:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 840 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:
total: 11,300 km
paved: 10,500 km
unpaved: earth 800 km (1990)
Inland waterways: NA km
Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 11
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1
@Armenia:Communications
Telephone system: about 650,000 telephones; 177 telephones/1,000
persons; progress on installation of fiber optic cable and
construction of facilities for mobile cellular phone service remains
in the negotiation phase for joint venture agreement
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: international connections to other former republics of
the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by
satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international
gateway switch; 1 INTELSAT satellite link
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenian
and Russian TV programs
televisions: NA
@Armenia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security
Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 877,414; males fit for military
service 699,167; males reach military age (18) annually 28,634 (1995
est.)
Defense expenditures: 250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note
- conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
ARUBA
(part of the Dutch realm)
@Aruba:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 193 sq km
land area: 193 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
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%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
international agreements: NA
@Aruba:People
Population: 65,974 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (female 7,377; male 7,726)
15-64 years: 69% (female 24,269; male 21,141)
65 years and over: 8% (female 3,223; male 2,238) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.56 years
male: 72.89 years
female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban
Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,
Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,
English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA
by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)
@Aruba:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Digraph: AA
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; in 1990, Aruba requested
and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to
automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January
1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July
1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval
of the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be
held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson
ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN; National
Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic Party
(PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny NISBET;
Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86
(AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OLA),
Glenbert CROES
note: governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN
Member of: ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL,
WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)
US 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
@Aruba:Economy
Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although
offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The
rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted
in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has
boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Additionally,
the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of
employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth.
Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led
to a large number of unfilled job vacancies despite sharp rises in
wage rates in recent years.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1993
est.)
National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $17,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1992)
Budget:
revenues: $145 million
expenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42
million (1988)
Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: mostly refined petroleum products
partners: US 64%, EC
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products,
crude oil for refining and re-export
partners: US 8%, EC
External debt: $81 million (1987)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 90,000 kW
production: 330 million kWh
consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)
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
Illicit drugs: drug money laundering center and transit point for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
recipient: Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1980-89), $220 million
Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate
since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Aruba:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
Ports: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts
transatlantic flights
@Aruba:Communications
Telephone system: 72,168 telephones; 1,100 telephones/1,000 persons;
more than adequate
local: NA
intercity: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: NA
@Aruba:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
________________________________________________________________________
ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of
Australia
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 5 sq km
land area: 5 sq km
comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 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
International disputes: none
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: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs which can pose
maritime hazards
international agreements: NA
Note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal
caretakers
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Digraph: AT
Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry
for the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands: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
Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, and the Western
Hemisphere
Map references: World
Area:
total area: 82.217 million sq km
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)
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary
water bodies
Coastline: 111,866 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
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 northern Atlantic,
counterclockwise warm water gyre in the southern 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:
current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals,
sea lions, turtles, and whales; driftnet fishing is exacerbating
declining fish stocks and contributing to international disputes;
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
natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and
the northwestern Atlantic Ocean 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 Ocean; ships subject
to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to
May and extreme southern Atlantic from May to October; persistent fog
can be a maritime hazard from May to September
international agreements: NA
Note: major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar,
access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the
Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound
(Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic
Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
@Atlantic Ocean:Government
Digraph: ZH
@Atlantic Ocean:Economy
Overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily
trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western
Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of
natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (The
Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea,
Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
@Atlantic Ocean:Transportation
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), 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), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
@Atlantic Ocean:Communications
Telephone system:
international: 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
________________________________________________________________________
AUSTRALIA
@Australia:Geography
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South
Pacific Ocean
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 7,686,850 sq km
land area: 7,617,930 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
note: includes Macquarie Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International 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, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 58%
forest and woodland: 14%
other: 22%
Irrigated land: 18,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,
urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to
the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for
agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique
animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast
coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased
shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh
water resources
natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population
concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular,
tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along
the west coast in the summer
@Australia:People
Population: 18,322,231 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (female 1,929,366; male 2,032,238)
15-64 years: 67% (female 6,017,362; male 6,181,887)
65 years and over: 11% (female 1,227,004; male 934,374) (July 1995
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.31% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.13 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.78 years
male: 74.67 years
female: 81.04 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
Languages: English, native languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Labor force: 8.63 million (September 1991)
by occupation: 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)
@Australia:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
Digraph: AS
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)
National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since 16
February 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20
December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members of
the House and Senate
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament
Senate: elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA
1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)
Liberal-National 36, Labor 30, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2,
independents 1
House of Representatives: elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to
be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(147 total) Labor 80, Liberal-National 65, independent 2
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders:
government: Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING
opposition: Liberal Party, John HOWARD; National Party, Timothy
FISCHER; Australian Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party,
leader NA
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, Australia Group,
BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest),
NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Eric RUSSELL
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINS
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (6) 270-5000
FAX: [61] (6) 270-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
consulate(s): 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
@Australia:Economy
Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy,
with a per capita GDP 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.
Primary products account for more than 60% of the value of total
exports, so that, as in 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 continues to be severe. Australia has suffered
from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD
countries in the early 1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly
from the prolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor
being weak world demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so
strongly in 1994 that the government felt the need for fiscal and
monetary tightening by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994,
largely due to increases in industrial output and business investment.
A severe drought in 1994 is expected to reduce the value of
Australia's net farm production by $825 million in the twelve months
through June 1995, but rising world commodity prices are likely to
boost rural exports by 7.7% to $14.5 billion in 1995/96, according to
government statistics.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $374.6 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: 6.4% (1994)
National product per capita: $20,720 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 8.9% (December 1994)
Budget:
revenues: $83.8 billion
expenditures: $92.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY93/94)
Exports: $50.4 billion (1994)
commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment
partners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan,
Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)
Imports: $51.1 billion (1994)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
machines, crude oil and petroleum products
partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)
External debt: $147.2 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 3.9% (FY93/94); accounts for 32% of
GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 34,540,000 kW
production: 155 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 8,021 kWh (1993)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP and over 30% 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
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is 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:
donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991),
1.2799 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Australia:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 40,478 km (1,130 km electrified; 183 km dual gauge)
broad gauge: 7,970 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 16,201 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 16,307 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 837,872 km
paved: 243,750 km
unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 228,396 km;
unimproved earth 365,726 km
Inland waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas
5,600 km
Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle,
Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceton (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne,
Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:
total: 81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,620,536 GRT/3,801,970
DWT
ships by type: bulk 30, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
2, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
total: 480
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 128
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 125
with paved runways under 914 m: 31
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 23
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 149
@Australia:Communications
Telephone system: 8,700,000 telephones; good international and
domestic service
local: NA
intercity: domestic satellite service
international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and
Indonesia; 10 INTELSAT (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean) earth
stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 258, FM 67, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 134
televisions: NA
@Australia:Defense Forces
Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air
Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,934,175; males fit for
military service 4,274,900; males reach military age (17) annually
131,852 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.2 billion, 2.2% of
GDP (FY94/95)
________________________________________________________________________
AUSTRIA
@Austria:Geography
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 83,850 sq km
land area: 82,730 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784
km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km,
Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent
rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional
showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the
eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Natural resources: iron ore, petroleum, 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%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil
pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural
chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired
power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting
Austria between northern and southern Europe
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Air Pollution-Sulpher 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the
Sea, Whaling
Note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central
Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major
river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands
because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
@Austria:People
Population: 7,986,664 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (female 681,087; male 711,127)
15-64 years: 67% (female 2,672,554; male 2,677,100)
65 years and over: 16% (female 791,762; male 453,034) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.35% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 11.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.9 years
male: 73.7 years
female: 80.27 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other
0.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
Languages: German
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)
total population: 99%
Labor force: 3.47 million (1989)
by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture
and forestry 8.1%
note: an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European
countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of
labor force (1988)
@Austria:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich
Digraph: AU
Type: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular -
bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich,
Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential
elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992); election
last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot
- Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986);
Vice Chancellor Erhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; chosen by the president on the advice
of the chancellor
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing each
of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province
having at least 3 representatives
National Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 9 October 1994
(next to be held October 1998); results - SPOE 34.9%, OEVP 27.7%, FPOE
22.5%, Greens 7.3%, LF 6.0% other 1.6%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 65,
OEVP 52, FPOE 42, Greens 13, LF 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for
civil and criminal cases, Administrative Court
(Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases, Constitutional Court
(Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
(SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),
Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Movement (F) (was the Freedom Party of
Austria, FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPOE), Walter
SILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, Madeleine PETROVIC; Liberal Forum
(LF), Heide SCHMIDT
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 (OEVP) representing
business, labor, and farmers; OEVP-oriented League of Austrian
Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay
organization, Catholic Action
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE,
CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH,
UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
chancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 313-39
FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
consulate(s) general: none (Salzburg closed September 1993)
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
@Austria:Economy
Overview: Austria boasts a prosperous and stable market economy with a
sizable but falling proportion of nationalized industry and with
extensive welfare benefits. Thanks to its raw material endowment, a
technically skilled labor force, and strong links to German industrial
firms, Austria occupies 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. After 11
consecutive years of growth, the Austrian economy experienced a mild
recession in 1993, but growth resumed in 1994. Unemployment is 4.3%
and will likely stay at that level as companies adjust to the
competition of EU membership beginning 1 January 1995. To prepare for
EU membership, Austria's government has taken measures to open the
economy by introducing a major tax reform, privatizing state-owned
firms, and liberalizing cross-border capital movements. Problems for
the 1990s include an aging population, the high level of industrial
subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetary
capabilities - the deficit climbed to over 4% of GDP in 1994.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $139.3 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $17,500 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $52.2 billion
expenditures: $60.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993 est.)
Exports: $44.1 billion (1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber,
textiles, paper products, chemicals
partners: EC 63.5% (Germany 38.9%), EFTA 9.0%, Eastern Europe/FSU
12.3%, Japan 1.5%, US 3.4% (1993)
Imports: $53.8 billion (1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles,
chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
partners: EC 66.8% (Germany 41.3%), EFTA 6.7%, Eastern Europe/FSU
7.5%, Japan 4.4%, US 4.4% (1993)
External debt: $21.5 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 2.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 17,230,000 kW
production: 50.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,824 kWh (1993)
Industries: foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,
electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
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
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route and Eastern Europe
Economic aid:
donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 10.774 (January
1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991),
11.370 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Austria:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 5,624 km
standard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,162 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified)
(1994)
Highways:
total: 110,000 km
paved: 35,000 km (including 1,554 km of autobahn)
unpaved: mostly gravel and earth 75,000 km (1992)
Inland waterways: 446 km
Pipelines: crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas
2,611 km
Ports: Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine:
total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 152,885 GRT/235,719 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 25, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:
total: 55
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 41
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@Austria:Communications
Telephone system: 4,014,000 telephones; highly developed and efficient
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), and
EUTELSAT earth stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 21 (repeaters 545), shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 47 (repeaters 870)
televisions: NA
@Austria:Defense Forces
Branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,026,567; males fit for
military service 1,695,879; males reach military age (19) annually
46,821 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - about $1.8 billion,
0.9% of GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
AZERBAIJAN
Note--Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved
seven-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its
Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared
independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory,
creating almost 1 million Azeri displaced persons in the process. Both
sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place
since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now
entering its fourth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi
(Stepanakert) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the
placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's
ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement
remain dim.
@Azerbaijan:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran
and Russia
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
Area:
total area: 86,600 sq km
land area: 86,100 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maine
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Land boundaries: total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia
(southwest) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran
(southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic
Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries
are not yet determined
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level)
with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland
in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into
Caspian Sea
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 25%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 53%
Irrigated land: 14,010 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron)
Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the
ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air,
water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT
as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production
of cotton
natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising
levels of the Caspian Sea
international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Climate Change
Note: landlocked
@Azerbaijan:People
Population: 7,789,886 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (female 1,241,952; male 1,315,313)
15-64 years: 61% (female 2,437,810; male 2,307,496)
65 years and over: 6% (female 303,926; male 183,389) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.32% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 22.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.09 years
male: 67.4 years
female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic divisions: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,
Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
region
Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox
2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual
practicing adherents are much lower
Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96%
Labor force: 2.789 million
by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction
26%, other 42% (1990)
@Azerbaijan:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: AJ
Type: republic
Capital: Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11
cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar
respublika); Abscron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas
Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli Sahari*, Astara
Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu,
Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu,
Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy
Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli
Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran
Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir
Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala
Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan
Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu,
Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi
Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*,
Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu,
Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali
Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimb Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax
Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May
Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993); election
last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEV
won 97% of vote
head of government: Acting Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9
October 1994); First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV, Samed
SADYKOV, Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and
confirmed by the Mejlis
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Milli Mejlis): elections last held 30 September and
14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next expected to be held
September 1995 for the National Assembly); seats for Supreme Soviet -
(360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45 (grouping of opposition
parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19 May 1992 the Supreme
Soviet was prorogued in favor of a Popular Front-dominated National
Council; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25, opposition elements 25
note: since June 1993 ALIYEV has rotated in several supporters to
replace Popular Front adherents
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF), Ebulfez
ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman; National
Independence Party, Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman; Social Democratic Party
(SDP), Araz ALIZADE, chairman; Communist Party, Ramiz AKHMEDOV,
chairman; People's Freedom Party, Yunus OGUZ, chairman; Independent
Social Democratic Party, Arif YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen;
New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar ALIYEV, chairman; Boz Gurd Party,
Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan Democratic Independence Party,
Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman; Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram,
chairman; Ana Veten Party, Fazail AGAMALIYEV; Azerbaijan Democratic
Party, Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party of
Proprietors (DPOP), Makhmud MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Patriotic Solidarity
Party, Sabir RUSTAMHANLI; Azerbaijan Republic Reform Party, Fuad
ASADOV; Communist Party of Azerbaijan (unregistered), Sayad SAYADOV;
Equality of the Peoples Party, Faukhraddin AYDAYEV; Independent
Azerbaijan Party, Nizami SULEYMANOV; Labor Party of Azerbaijan,
Sabutai HAJIYEV; Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Lyudmila
NIKOLAYEVNA; National Enlightenment Party, Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV;
National Liberation Party, Panak SHAKHSEVEV; Peasant Party, Firuz
MUSTAFAYEV; Radical Party of Azerbaijan, Malik SHARIFOV; United
Azerbaijan Party, Kerrar ABILOV; Vetan Adzhagy Party, Zakir TAGIYEV
Other political or pressure groups: self-proclaimed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement
Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB,
IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC
20005
telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001
FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
embassy: Azadliq Prospect 83, Baku
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [9] (9412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37
FAX: [9] (9412) 98-37-55
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a
crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
@Azerbaijan:Economy
Overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either
Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the
Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high
structural unemployment, and low standard of l
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