Front matter (continued 14)

*Netherlands, People

Population: 15,274,942 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.63% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 8.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.55 years male: 74.48 years female: 80.78 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch Ethnic divisions: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988) Religions: Roman Catholic 36%, Protestant 27%, other 6%, unaffiliated 31% (1988) Languages: Dutch Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 5.3 million by occupation: services 50.1%, manufacturing and construction 28.2%, government 15.9%, agriculture 5.8% (1986)

*Netherlands, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden local short form: Nederland Digraph: NL Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles Independence: 1579 (from Spain) Constitution: 17 February 1983 Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938) Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Willem van VELZEN; Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK; Liberal (VVD), Frederick BOLKSTEIN; Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans van MIERIO; a host of minor parties Other political or pressure groups: large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council (IKV) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: First Chamber: last held on 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995); results - elected by the country's 12 provincial councils; seats - (75 total) percent of seats by party NA Second Chamber: last held on 6 September 1989 (next to be held in May 1994); results - CDA 35.3%, PvdA 31.9%, VVD 14.6%, D'66 7.9%, other 10.3%; seats - (150 total) CDA 54, PvdA 49, VVD 22, D'66 12, other 13 Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet, Cabinet of Ministers Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) consists of an upper chamber or First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) and a lower chamber or Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer)

*Netherlands, Government

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad) Leaders: Chief of State: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen Beatrix (born 27 April 1967) Head of Government: Prime Minister Ruud (Rudolph) F. M. LUBBERS (since 4 November 1982); Vice Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 2 November 1989) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johan Hendrick MEESMAN chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-5300 FAX: (202) 362-3430 consulates general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands), New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas H. GEWECKE embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209 FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688 consulate general: Amsterdam Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

*Netherlands, Economy

Overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 5% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $259.8 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: 1.6% (1992) National product per capita: $17,200 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.3% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $109.9 billion; expenditures $122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $128.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: agricultural products, processed foods and tobacco, natural gas, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing partners: EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%), US 4% (1991) Imports: $117.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products partners: EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8% (1991) External debt: $0 Industrial production: growth rate 1.6% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP Electricity: 22,216,000 kW capacity; 63,500 million kWh produced, 4,200 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics Agriculture: accounts for 4.6% of GDP; animal production predominates; crops - grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; shortages of grain, fats, and oils Illicit drugs: transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion

*Netherlands, Economy

Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.8167 (January 1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990), 2.1207 (1989), 1.9766 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Netherlands, Communications

Railroads: 2,828 km 1.435-meter standard gauge operated by Netherlands Railways (NS) (includes 1,957 km electrified and 1,800 km double track) Highways: 108,360 km total; 92,525 km paved (including 2,185 km of limited access, divided highways); 15,835 km gravel, crushed stone Inland waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km Ports: coastal - Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Den Helder, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Ijmuiden, Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Terneuzen, Vlissingen; inland - 29 ports Merchant marine: 344 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,762,000 GRT/3,675,649 DWT; includes 3 short-sea passenger, 193 cargo, 30 refrigerated cargo, 26 container, 13 roll-on/roll-off, 1 livestock carrier, 11 multifunction large-load carrier, 23 oil tanker, 22 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 6 bulk, 4 combination bulk; note - many Dutch-owned ships are also registered on the captive Netherlands Antilles register Airports: total: 28 usable: 28 with permanent-surface runways: 20 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 11 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 6 Telecommunications: highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay microwave links; 9,418,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 (3 relays) AM, 12 (39 repeaters) FM, 8 (7 repeaters) TV; 5 submarine cables; 1 communication satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean antenna) and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide mobile phone system

*Netherlands, Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,183,167; fit for military service 3,677,445; reach military age (20) annually 104,263 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.8 billion, 3% of GDP (1992)

*Netherlands Antilles, Header

Affiliation: (part of the Dutch realm)

*Netherlands Antilles, Geography

Location: two island groups - Curacas and Bonaire in the southern Caribbean Sea are about 70 km north of Venezuela near Aruba and the rest of the country is about 800 km to the northeast about one-third of the way between Antigua and Barbuda and Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 960 km2 land area: 960 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin) Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 364 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only) Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

*Netherlands Antilles, People

Population: 184,990 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.4% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 17.23 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.69 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -7.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.73 years male: 73.55 years female: 78.03 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Netherlands Antillean(s) adjective: Netherlands Antillean Ethnic divisions: mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European, Latin, Oriental Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 94% male: 94% female: 93% Labor force: 89,000 by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

*Netherlands Antilles, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen Digraph: NA Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954 Capital: Willemstad Administrative divisions: none (part of the Dutch realm) Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm) Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938) Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to each island Bonaire: Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic Party of Bonaire (PDB), Franklin CRESTIAN Curacao: National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA Saba: Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Will JOHNSON; Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Vernon HASSELL; Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), K. Van PUTTEN; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ralph BERKEL Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Claude WATHEY; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance JAMES Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Staten: last held on 16 March 1990 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (22 total) PNP 7, FOL-SI 3, UPB 3, MAN 2, DP-St. M 2, DP 1, SPM 1, WIPM 1, DP-St. E 1, Nos Patria 1; note - the government of Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS is a coalition of several parties Executive branch: Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral legislature (Staten)

*Netherlands Antilles, Government

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice Leaders: Chief of State: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989) Head of Government: Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS (since 17 May 1988, previously served from September 1984 to November 1985) Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WTO (associate) Diplomatic representation in US: as an autonomous part of the Netherlands, Netherlands Antillean interests in the US are represented by the Netherlands US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Consul General Bernard J. WOERZ consulate general: Saint Anna Boulevard 19, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 613066 FAX: [599] (9) 616489 Flag: white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

*Netherlands Antilles, Economy

Overview: Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of the economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Unlike many Latin American countries, the Netherlands Antilles has avoided large international debt. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US being the major supplier. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 4% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $8,700 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 16.4% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $209 million; expenditures $232 million, including capital expenditures of $8 million (1992 est.) Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: petroleum products 98% partners: US 40%, UK 7%, Guadeloupe 5% Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures partners: Venezuela 42%, US 21%, Netherlands 8% External debt: $701 million (December 1987) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 125,000 kW capacity; 365 million kWh produced, 1,980 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao) Agriculture: hampered by poor soils and scarcity of water; chief products - aloes, sorghum, peanuts, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit; not self-sufficient in food Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $513 million Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins (NAf.) per US$1 - 1.79 (fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate 1971-88) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Netherlands Antilles, Communications

Highways: 950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth Ports: Willemstad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk Merchant marine: 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 781,646 GRT/962,138 DWT; includes 4 passenger, 29 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 7 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off, 12 multifunction large-load carrier, 5 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 2 bulk, 1 oil tanker, 1 railcar carrier, 1 combination ore/oil; note - all but a few are foreign owned, mostly in the Netherlands Airports: total: 5 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: generally adequate facilities; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 2 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Netherlands Antilles, Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 48,965; fit for military service 27,531; reach military age (20) annually 1,638 (1993 est.) Note: defense is responsibility of the Netherlands

*New Caledonia, Header

Affiliation: (overseas territory of France)

*New Caledonia, Geography

Location: in the South Pacific Ocean, 1,750 km east of Australia Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 19,060 km2 land area: 18,760 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 2,254 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 14% forest and woodland: 51% other: 35% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: typhoons most frequent from November to March

*New Caledonia, People

Population: 178,056 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.83% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 22.7 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.01 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.22 years male: 69.92 years female: 76.7 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.67 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10% Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976) total population: 91% male: 91% female: 90% Labor force: 50,469 foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.) by occupation: NA

*New Caledonia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie Digraph: NC Type: overseas territory of France since 1956 Capital: Noumea Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud Independence: none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on independence will be held in 1998) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Political parties and leaders: white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative, Jacques LAFLEUR - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la Republique (RPR); Melanesian proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), Paul NEAOUTYINE; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS), Nidoish NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE; Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union Oceanienne (UO), conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak (FULK), proindependence, UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC), Francois BURCK Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: French Senate: last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPCR 1 French National Assembly: last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1993); results - RPR 83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2 Territorial Assembly: last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held 1993); results - RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS 28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO 4%, other 11%; seats - (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, other 5; note - election boycotted by FULK Executive branch: French president, high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

*New Caledonia, Government

Leaders: Chief of State: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) Head of Government: High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Alain CHRISTNACHT (since 15 January 1991) Member of: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: as an overseas territory of France, New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France) Flag: the flag of France is used

*New Caledonia, Economy

Overview: New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $1 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1988) National product per capita: $6,000 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1989) Unemployment rate: 16% (1989) Budget: revenues $224.0 million; expenditures $211.0 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985) Exports: $671 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: nickel metal 87%, nickel ore partners: France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4% Imports: $764 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment partners: France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 12,790 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: nickel mining and smelting Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef Illicit drugs: illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for some families Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4,185 million Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais duPacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 99.65 (January 1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc Fiscal year: calendar year

*New Caledonia, Communications

Highways: 6,340 km total; only about 10% paved (1987) Ports: Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio Airports: total: 29 usable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2 Telecommunications: 32,578 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*New Caledonia, Defense Forces

Branches: Gendarmerie, Police Force Note: defense is the responsibility of France

*New Zealand, Geography

Location: Oceania, southeast of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean Map references: Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 268,680 km2 land area: 268,670 km2 comparative area: about the size of Colorado note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 15,134 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 53% forest and woodland: 38% other: 7% Irrigated land: 2,800 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe

*New Zealand, People

Population: 3,368,774 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.61% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 15.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 8.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.11 years male: 72.46 years female: 79.95 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand Ethnic divisions: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2% Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986) Languages: English (official), Maori Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 1,603,500 (June 1991) by occupation: services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%, primary production 9.3% (1987)

*New Zealand, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand Abbreviation: NZ Digraph: NZ Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Wellington Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri,, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui,, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton,, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*,, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*,, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda,, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*,, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei,, Whangaroa, Woodville Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK) Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty) Political parties and leaders: National Party (NP; government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP; opposition), Michael MOORE; NewLabor Party (NLP), Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE and Gilbert MYLES; Green Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Martin RATA; Socialist Unity Party (SUP; pro-Soviet), Kenneth DOUGLAS note: the New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a coalition called the Alliance Party, Jim ANDERTON, president, in September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

*New Zealand, Government

Elections: House of Representatives: last held on 27 October 1990 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - NP 49%, NZLP 35%, Green Party 7%, NLP 5%; seats - (97 total) NP 67, NZLP 29, NLP 1 Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament) Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Catherine TIZARD (since 12 December 1990) Head of Government: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990); Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990) Member of: ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, COCOM (cooperating country), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denis Bazely Gordon McLEAN chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-4800 consulates general: Los Angeles and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone: [64] (4) 722-068 FAX: [64] (4) 723-537 consulate general: Auckland Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

*New Zealand, Economy

Overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to an open free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91, and unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has exceeded 10% since May 1991. In 1992, growth picked up to 3%, a sign that the new economic approach is beginning to pay off. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $49.8 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: 3% (1992) National product per capita: $14,900 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1991) Unemployment rate: 10.1% (September 1992) Budget: revenues $14.0 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports: $3.65 billion (f.o.b., FY92) commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals, forestry products partners: EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%, China 3.6%, South Korea 3.1% Imports: $3.99 billion (f.o.b., FY92) commodities: petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment partners: Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0% External debt: $38.5 billion (September 1992) Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of GDP Electricity: 8,000,000 kW capacity; 31,000 million kWh produced, 9,250 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GDP and about 10% of the work force; livestock predominates - wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops - wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; surplus producer of farm products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988 Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

*New Zealand, Economy

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*New Zealand, Communications

Railroads: 4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double track; 113 km electrified; over 99% government owned Highways: 92,648 km total; 49,547 km paved, 43,101 km gravel or crushed stone Inland waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation Pipelines: natural gas 1,000 km; petroleum products 160 km; condensate (liquified petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km Ports: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga Merchant marine: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 182,206 GRT/246,446 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 4 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk Airports: total: 120 usable: 120 with permanent-surface runways: 33 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 42 Telecommunications: excellent international and domestic systems; 2,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*New Zealand, Defense Forces

Branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 878,028; fit for military service 741,104; reach military age (20) annually 29,319 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $792 million, 2% of GDP (FY90/91)

*Nicaragua, Geography

Location: Central America, between Costa Rica and Honduras Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, South America Area: total area: 129,494 km2 land area: 120,254 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than New York State Land boundaries: total 1,231 km, Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km Coastline: 910 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain) continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 200 nm International disputes: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 35% other: 12% Irrigated land: 850 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

*Nicaragua, People

Population: 3,987,240 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.74% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 35.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 54.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.5 years male: 60.7 years female: 66.41 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.48 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan Ethnic divisions: mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5% Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5% Languages: Spanish (official) note: English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971) total population: 57% male: 57% female: 57% Labor force: 1.086 million by occupation: service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

*Nicaragua, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua Digraph: NU Type: republic Capital: Managua Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS) Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Constitution: January 1987 Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Political parties and leaders: ruling coalition: National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate parties: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo, president; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA, Arnold ALEMAN; Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA, Francisco MAYORGA; National Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; National Action Party (PAN), Duilio BALTODANO; NOU - hardline parties: Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY Reyes; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre, secretary general; Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel opposition parties: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER; Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ; Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando AGUERRO; Popular Action Movement - Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ

*Nicaragua, Government

Other political or pressure groups: National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC); Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE); National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of Journalists of Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS); Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results - Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5% National Assembly: last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 42, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR 1, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 9 Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President Virgilio GODOY Reyes (since 25 April 1990) Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto MAYORGA (since January 1993) chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-6570 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Ronald GODARD embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] (2) 666010 or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 34 FAX: [505] (2) 666046

*Nicaragua, Government

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

*Nicaragua, Economy

Overview: Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although the CHAMORRO government has pledged to greatly reduce intervention. Four private banks have been licensed, and the government has liberalized foreign trade and abolished price controls on most goods. In early 1993, fewer than 50% of the agricultural and industrial firms remain state owned. Sandinista economic policies and the war had produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989 and 4% in 1990, and remained about even in 1991-92. The agricultural sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and contributes about 25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989, fell slightly in 1990, and remained flat in 1991-92; output still is below pre-1979 levels. External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In 1992 the inflation rate was 8%, down sharply from the 766% of 1991. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 0.5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $425 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1992) Unemployment rate: 13% underemployment 50% (1991) Budget: revenues $347 million; expenditures $499 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1991) Exports: $280 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals partners: OECD 75%, USSR and Eastern Europe 15%, other 10% Imports: $720 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing partners: Latin America 30%, US 25%, EC 20%, USSR and Eastern Europe 10%, other 15% (1990 est.) External debt: $10 billion (December 1991) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 25% of GDP Electricity: 434,000 kW capacity; 1,118 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops - coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans; variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; normally self-sufficient in food Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

*Nicaragua, Economy

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,381 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.5 billion Currency: 1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 25,000,000 (March 1992), 21,354,000 (1991), 15,655 (1989), 270 (1988), 102.60 (1987); note - new gold cordoba issued in 1992 Fiscal year: calendar year

*Nicaragua, Communications

Railroads: 373 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge, government owned; majority of system not operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect with mainline) Highways: 25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved, 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved; Pan-American highway 368.5 km Inland waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes Pipelines: crude oil 56 km Ports: Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT Airports: total: 226 usable: 151 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 12 Telecommunications: low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection into Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

*Nicaragua, Defense Forces

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 911,397; fit for military service 561,448; reach military age (18) annually 44,226 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 2.7% of GDP (1992 budget)

*Niger, Geography

Location: Western Africa, between Algeria and Nigeria Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 1.267 million km2 land area: 1,266,700 km2 comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total 5,697 km, Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 2% other: 88% Irrigated land: 320 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: recurrent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; overgrazing; soil erosion Note: landlocked

*Niger, People

Population: 8,337,352 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.49% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 57.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 22.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 112.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.15 years male: 42.6 years female: 45.75 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 7.35 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien Ethnic divisions: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000 French expatriates Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 28% male: 40% female: 17% Labor force: 2.5 million wage earners (1982) by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4% note: 51% of population of working age (1985)

*Niger, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Niger local long form: Republique du Niger local short form: Niger Digraph: NG Type: transition government as of November 1991, appointed by national reform conference; scheduled to turn over power to democratically elected government in March 1993 Capital: Niamey Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular - departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France) Constitution: December 1989 constitution revised November 1991 by National Democratic Reform Conference Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958) Political parties and leaders: National Movement of the Development Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Tandja MAMADOU; Niger Progressive Party - African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Harou KOUKA; Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress (UDFP-SAWABA), Djibo BAKARY; Niger Democratic Union (UDN-SAWABA), Mamoudou PASCAL; Union of Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives (UPDP), Andre SALIFOU; other parties forming Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: President Ali SAIBOU has been in office since December 1989, but the presidency is now a largely ceremonial position National Assembly: last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results - MNSD was the only party; seats - (150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected); note - Niger held a national conference from July to November 1991 to decide upon a transitional government and an agenda for multiparty elections Executive branch: president (ceremonial), prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly Judicial branch: State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour d'Apel) Leaders: Chief of State: President Brig. Gen. Ali SAIBOU (since 14 November 1987); ceremonial post since national conference (1991)

*Niger, Government

Head of Government: Prime Minister Amadou CHEIFFOU (since NA November 1991) Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4224 through 4227 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer C. WARD embassy: Avenue des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 72-26-61 through 64 FAX: [227] 73-31-67 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

*Niger, Economy

Overview: About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and stock raising, activities that generate almost half the national income. The economy also depends heavily on exploitation of large uranium deposits. Uranium production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but tapered off in the early 1980s when world prices declined. France is a major customer, while Germany, Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases. The depressed demand for uranium has contributed to an overall sluggishness in the economy, a severe trade imbalance, and a mounting external debt. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.3 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.9% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $290 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $193 million; expenditures $355 million, including capital expenditures of $106 million (1991 est.) Exports: $294 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: uranium ore 60%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions partners: France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy Imports: $346 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic equipment, cereals, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, foodstuffs partners: Germany 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, France 5%, Italy 4%, Nigeria 2% External debt: $1.2 billion (December 1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -2.7% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP Electricity: 105,000 kW capacity; 230 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium mining began in 1971 Agriculture: accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force; cash crops - cowpeas, cotton, peanuts; food crops - millet, sorghum, cassava, rice; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; self-sufficient in food except in drought years Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,165 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $61 million Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

*Niger, Economy

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

*Niger, Communications

Highways: 39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel and laterite, 3,470 km earthen, 23,000 km tracks Inland waterways: Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March Airports: total: 28 usable: 26 with permanent-surface runways: 9 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 13 Telecommunications: small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area; 14,260 telephones; broadcast stations - 15 AM, 5 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 3 domestic, with 1 planned

*Niger, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Police, Republican Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,784,966; fit for military service 961,593; reach military age (18) annually 87,222 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $27 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989)

*Nigeria, Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Benin and Cameroon Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 923,770 km2 land area: 910,770 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California Land boundaries: total 4,047 km, Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km Coastline: 853 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary commission, created with Cameroon to discuss unresolved land and maritime boundaries, has not yet convened Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 15% other: 28% Irrigated land: 8,650 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid deforestation

*Nigeria, People

Population: 95,060,430 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.13% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 43.8 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 12.85 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.7 years male: 53.54 years female: 55.88 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.43 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian Ethnic divisions: north: Hausa and Fulani southwest: Yoruba southeast: Ibos non-Africans 27,000 note: Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibos together make up 65% of population Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10% Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 51% male: 62% female: 40% Labor force: 42.844 million by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15% note: 49% of population of working age (1985)

*Nigeria, Government

Names: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria Digraph: NI Type: military government since 31 December 1983; plans to turn over power to elected civilians in August 1993 Capital: Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa, Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK) Constitution: 1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989 Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960) Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Baba Gana KINGIBE, chairman; National Republican Convention (NRC), Chief Tom IKIMI, chairman note: these are the only two political parties, and they were established by the government in 1989 Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Elections: President: first presidential elections since the 31 December 1983 coup scheduled for June 1993 Senate: last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (total 84) SDP 47, NRC 37 House of Representatives: last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (total 577) SDP 310, NRC 267 Executive branch: president, vice-president, cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA (since 27 August 1985); Vice-President Admiral (Ret.) Augustus AIKHOMU (since 30 August 1990)

*Nigeria, Government

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE chancery: 2201 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 822-1500 consulate general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William L. SWING embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos telephone: [234] (1) 610097 FAX: [234] (1) 610257 branch office: Abuja consulate general: Kaduna Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

*Nigeria, Economy

Overview: Although Nigeria is Africa's leading oil-producing country, it remains poor with a $300 per capita GDP. In 1991-92 massive government spending, much of it to help ensure a smooth transition to civilian rule, ballooned the budget deficit and caused inflation and interest rates to rise. The lack of fiscal discipline forced the IMF to declare Nigeria not in compliance with an 18-month standby facility started in January 1991. Lagos has set ambitious targets for expanding oil production capacity and is offering foreign companies more attractive investment incentives. Government efforts to reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil exports and to sustain noninflationary growth, however, have fallen short because of inadequate new investment funds and endemic corruption. Living standards remain below the level of the early 1980s oil boom. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $35 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 3.6% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $300 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $9 billion; expenditures $10.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $12.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: oil 95%, cocoa, rubber partners: EC countries 43%, US 41% Imports: $7.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: consumer goods, capital equipment, chemicals, raw materials partners: EC countries 70%, US 16% External debt: $33.4 billion (1991) Industrial production: growth rate 5.5% (1991); accounts for 8.5% of GDP Electricity: 4,740,000 kW capacity; 8,300 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: crude oil and mining - coal, tin, columbite; primary processing industries - palm oil, peanut, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins; manufacturing industries - textiles, cement, building materials, food products, footwear, chemical, printing, ceramics, steel Agriculture: accounts for 32% of GDP and half of labor force; inefficient small-scale farming dominates; once a large net exporter of food and now an importer; cash crops - cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber; food crops - corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; fishing and forestry resources extensively exploited

*Nigeria, Economy

Illicit drugs: passenger and cargo air hub for West Africa facilitates Nigeria's position as a major transit country for heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia via Africa to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for West European and North American markets (some of that cocaine is also consumed in Nigeria) Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $705 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.0 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.2 billion Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1 - 19.661 (December 1992), 17.298 (1992), 9.909 (1991), 8.038 (1990), 7.3647 (1989), 4.5370 (1988), 4.0160 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Nigeria, Communications

Railroads: 3,505 km 1.067-meter gauge Highways: 107,990 km total 30,019 km paved (mostly bituminous-surface treatment); 25,411 km laterite, gravel, crushed stone, improved earth; 52,560 km unimproved Inland waterways: 8,575 km consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; natural gas 500 km; petroleum products 3,000 km Ports: Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele Merchant marine: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 418,046 GRT/664,949 DWT; includes 17 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 7 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 bulk Airports: total: 76 usable: 63 with permanent-surface runways: 34 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 23 Telecommunications: above-average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress; radio relay microwave and cable routes; broadcast stations - 35 AM, 17 FM, 28 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 20 domestic stations; 1 coaxial submarine cable

*Nigeria, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, paramilitary Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 21,790,956; fit for military service 12,447,547; reach military age (18) annually 1,297,790 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $172 million, about 1% of GDP (1992)

*Niue, Header

Affiliation: (free association with New Zealand)

*Niue, Geography

Location: Oceania, 460 km east of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 260 km2 land area: 260 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 64 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau Natural resources: fish, arable land Land use: arable land: 61% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 19% other: 12% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: subject to typhoons Note: one of world's largest coral islands

*Niue, People

Population: 1,977 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: -3.66% (1993 est.) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean Ethnic divisions: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans) Religions: Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist) Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.) by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

*Niue, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue Digraph: NE Type: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs Capital: Alofi Administrative divisions: none Independence: 19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974) Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act) Legal system: English common law National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty) Political parties and leaders: Niue Island Party (NIP), Young VIVIAN Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Legislative Assembly: last held on 8 April 1990 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (20 total, 6 elected) NIP 1, independents 5 Executive branch: British monarch, premier, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand Representative John SPRINGFORD (since NA 1974) Head of Government: Acting Premier Young VIVIAN (since the death of Sir Robert R. REX on 12 December 1992) Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) Flag: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

*Niue, Economy

Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to public employees. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand. National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $2.1 million (1989 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $1,000 (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (1984) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY85 est.) Exports: $175,274 (f.o.b., 1985) commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia Imports: $3.8 million (c.i.f., 1985) commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced, 1,490 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourist, handicrafts, coconut products Agriculture: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops - taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $62 million Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

*Niue, Communications

Highways: 123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: total: 1 useable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island; 383 telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, no TV

*Niue, Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

*Norfolk Island, Header

Affiliation: (territory of Australia)

*Norfolk Island, Geography

Location: Oceania, 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 34.6 km2 land area: 34.6 km2 comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 32 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 0% other: 75% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: subject to typhoons (especially May to July)

*Norfolk Island, People

Population: 2,665 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.69% (1993 est.) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s) Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986) Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA

*Norfolk Island, Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island Digraph: NF Type: territory of Australia Capital: Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center) Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1957 Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856) Political parties and leaders: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Legislative Assembly: last held 1989 (held every three years); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) percent of seats by party NA Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Executive Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator A. G. KERR (since NA 1990), who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia Head of Government: Assembly President and Chief Minister John Terence BROWN (since NA) Member of: none Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia) US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia) Flag: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

*Norfolk Island, Economy

Overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (FY89) Exports: $1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86) commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia Palm, small quantities of avocados partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe Imports: $15.6 million (c.i.f., FY86) commodities: NA partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 3,160 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism Agriculture: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit, cattle, poultry Economic aid: none Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Norfolk Island, Communications

Highways: 80 km of roads, including 53 km paved; remainder are earth formed or coral surfaced Ports: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade Airports: total: 1 useable: 1 with permanent-surface runways : 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: 1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987 telephones (1983); broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

*Norfolk Island, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

*Northern Mariana Islands, Header

Affiliation: (commonwealth in political union with the US)

*Northern Mariana Islands, Geography

Location: in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 477 km2 land area: 477 km2 comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,482 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m (depth) exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan) Natural resources: arable land, fish Land use: arable land: 5% on Saipan permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: active volcanos on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (most during August through November) Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

*Northern Mariana Islands, People

Population: 48,581 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.04% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 35.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.43 years male: 65.53 years female: 69.48 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA Ethnic divisions: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found) Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home Literacy: age NA and over can read and write (1980) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% Labor force: 7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers (1990) by occupation: NA

*Northern Mariana Islands, Government

Names: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands Digraph: CQ Type: commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs Capital: Saipan Administrative divisions: none Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US) Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Legal system: based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978) Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA, chairman Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Elections: Governor: last held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor Senate: last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans 6, Democrats 3 House of Representatives: last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans 10, Democrats 6, Independent 2 US House of Representatives: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats - (1 total) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA) Executive branch: US president; governor, lieutenant governor Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court Leaders: Chief of State: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)

*Northern Mariana Islands, Government

Head of Government: Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since 9 January 1990); Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 1990) Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC Flag: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center

*Northern Mariana Islands, Economy

Overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts and light manufacturing. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $541 million (1992) note: GNP numbers reflect US spending National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $11,500 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5-7.5% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $147.0 million; expenditures $127.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991) Exports: $263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, garments, bread, pastries, concrete blocks, light iron work partners: NA Imports: $392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.) commodities: food, construction, equipment, materials partners: NA External debt: $0 Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts Agriculture: coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables Economic aid: none Currency: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

*Northern Mariana Islands, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: 381.5 km total; 134.5 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local (1991) Inland waterways: none Ports: Saipan, Tinian Airports: total: 6 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV, 2 cable TV stations; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Northern Mariana Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

*Norway, Geography

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden Map references: Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 324,220 km2 land area: 307,860 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico Land boundaries: total 2,515 km, Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km) Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); dispute between Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen is before the Interntional Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute with Russia over portion of Barents Sea Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 27% other: 70% Irrigated land: 950 km2 (1989) Environment: air and water pollution; acid rain; note - strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia

*Norway, Geography

Note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline

*Norway, People

Population: 4,297,436 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.41% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 13.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 10.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.16 years male: 73.79 years female: 80.73 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian Ethnic divisions: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps 20,000 Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980) Languages: Norwegian (official) note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 2.004 million (1992) by occupation: services 39.1%, commerce 17.6%, mining, oil, and manufacturing 16.0%, banking and financial services 7.6%, transportation and communications 7.8%, construction 6.1%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.5% (1989)

*Norway, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge Digraph: NO Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Oslo Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden) Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884 Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814) Political parties and leaders: Labor Party, Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND; Conservative Party, Kaci Kullmann FIVE; Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Kjell Magne BONDEVIK; Socialist Left, Eric SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Ingre IVERSEN; Progress Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Finnmark List, leader NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Storting: last held on 11 September 1989 (next to be held 6 September 1993); results - Labor 34.3%, Conservative 22.2%, Progress 13.0%, Socialist Left 10.1%, Christian People's 8.5%, Center Party 6.6%, Finnmark List 0.3%, other 5%; seats - (165 total) Labor 63, Conservative 37, Progress 22, Socialist Left 17, Christian People's 14, Center Party 11, Finnmark List 1 Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, State Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Storting) with an Upper Chamber (Lagting) and a Lower Chamber (Odelsting) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hoyesterett) Leaders: Chief of State: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973)

*Norway, Government

Head of Government: Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990) Member of: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-6000 FAX: (202) 337-0870 consulates general: Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco consulate: Miami US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo 2 mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: [47] (2) 44-85-50 FAX: [47] (2) 43-07-77 Flag: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

*Norway, Economy

Overview: Norway has a mixed economy involving a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises) and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. Norway also maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to slightly more than 50% of the GDP and results in one of the highest average tax burdens in the world (54%). A small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil sector to keep its economy afloat. Although one of the government's main priorities is to reduce this dependency, this situation is not likely to improve for years to come. The government also hopes to reduce unemployment and strengthen and diversify the economy through tax reform and a series of expansionary budgets. The budget deficit is expected to hit a record 8% of GDP because of welfare spending and bail-outs of the banking system. Unemployment continues at record levels of over 10% - including those in job programs - because of the weakness of the economy outside the oil sector. Overall economic growth is expected to be around 2% in 1993 while inflation is likely to rise slightly to 4%. Oslo, a member of the European Free Trade Area, has applied for EC membership and continues to deregulate and harmonize with EC regulations to prepare for the European Economic Area (EEA) - which creates an EC/EFTA market with free movement of capital, goods, services, and labor - to take effect in late 1993 and its EC bid. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $76.1 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: 2.9% (1992) National product per capita: $17,700 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1992) Unemployment rate: 5.9% (excluding people in job-training programs) (1992) Budget: revenues $50.6 billion; expenditures $57.0 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports: $35.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 37.8%, metals and products 10.7%, natural gas 7.3%, fish 6.6%, chemicals 6.3%, ships 5.4% partners: EC 67%, Nordic countries 18.2%, developing countries 7.9%, US 5.1%, Japan 1.6% (1992) Imports: $26.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: machinery, fuels and lubricants, transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, clothing, ships partners: EC 48.7%, Nordic countries 26.8%, developing countries 9.3%, US 8.6%, Japan 6.3% (1992) External debt: $6.5 billion (1992 est.)

*Norway, Economy

Industrial production: growth rate 7.3% (1992) Electricity: 26,900,000 kW capacity; 111,000 million kWh produced, 25,850 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing Agriculture: accounts for 2.6% of GDP and 5.5% of labor force; among world's top 10 fishing nations; livestock output exceeds value of crops; over half of food needs imported; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989 Illicit drugs: increasingly used as transshipment point for Latin American cocaine to Europe and gateway for Asian heroin shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 re Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.8774 (January 1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Norway, Communications

Railroads: 4,223 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Norwegian State Railways (NSB) operates 4,219 km (2,450 km electrified and 96 km double track); 4 km other Highways: 79,540 km total; 38,580 km paved; 40,960 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth Inland waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum Pipelines: refined products 53 km Ports: Oslo, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Trondheim Merchant marine: 829 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,312,412 GRT/38,532,109 DWT; includes 13 passenger, 20 short-sea passenger, 106 cargo, 2 passenger-cargo, 19 refrigerated cargo, 15 container, 49 roll-on/roll-off, 23 vehicle carrier, 1 railcar carrier, 174 oil tanker, 91 chemical tanker, 82 liquefied gas, 25 combination ore/oil, 201 bulk, 8 combination bulk; note - the government has created a captive register, the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians; the majority of ships (777) under the Norwegian flag are now registered with the NIS Airports: total: 103 usable: 102 with permanent-surface runways: 63 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 16 Telecommunications: high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 3,102,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 46 AM, 350 private and 143 government FM, 54 (2,100 repeaters) TV; 4 coaxial submarine cables; 3 communications satellite earth stations operating in the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and domestic systems

*Norway, Defense Forces

Branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,120,744; fit for military service 934,968; reach military age (20) annually 31,903 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.8 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1992)

*Oman, Geography

Location: Middle East, along the Arabian Sea, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates Map references: Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 212,460 km2 land area: 212,460 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas Land boundaries: total 1,374 km, Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km Coastline: 2,092 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to be defined exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: no defined boundary with most of UAE; Administrative Line with UAE in far north; a treaty with Yemen to settle the Omani-Yemeni boundary was ratified in December 1992 Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas Land use: arable land: less than 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 0% other: 93% Irrigated land: 410 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; sparse natural freshwater resources Note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production transits this point going from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)

*Oman, People

Population: 1,643,579 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.46% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 40.56 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.32 years male: 65.47 years female: 69.27 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.58 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani Ethnic divisions: Arab, Balochi, Zanzibari, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu Languages: Arabic (official), English, Balochi, Urdu, Indian dialects Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 430,000 by occupation: agriculture 40% (est.)

*Oman, Government

Names: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman Digraph: MU Type: absolute monarchy with residual UK influence Capital: Muscat Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat); Musqat, Musandam, Zufar Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) Constitution: none Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 18 November Political parties and leaders: none Other political or pressure groups: outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen Suffrage: none Elections: elections scheduled for October 1992 Executive branch: sultan, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Sa'id Al Sa'id (since 23 July 1970) Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Awadh bin Badr AL-SHANFARI chancery: 2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-1980 through 1982 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David DUNFORD

*Oman, Government

embassy: address NA, Muscat mailing address: P. O. Box 50202 Madinat Qaboos, Muscat telephone: [968] 698-989 FAX: [968] 604-316 Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band

*Oman, Economy

Overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for more than 85% of export earnings, about 80% of government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $10.2 billion (1991) National product real growth rate: 7.4% (1991) National product per capita: $6,670 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1991) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $4.1 billion; expenditures $4.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $1 billion (1991) Exports: $4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: petroleum 87%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles partners: UAE 30%, Japan 27%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 5% Imports: $3.0 billion (f.o.b, 1991) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants partners: Japan 20%, UAE 19%, UK 19%, US 7% External debt: $3.1 billion (December 1989 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1989), including petroleum sector Electricity: 1,142,400 kW capacity; 5,100 million kWh produced, 3,200 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP and 40% of the labor force (including fishing); less than 2% of land cultivated; largely subsistence farming (dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle); not self-sufficient in food; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $148 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Oman, Communications

Highways: 26,000 km total; 6,000 km paved, 20,000 km motorable track Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km Ports: Mina' Qabus, Mina' Raysut, Mina' al Fahl Merchant marine: 1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT Airports: total: 138 usable: 130 with permanent-surface runways: 6 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 9 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 74 Telecommunications: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radio communications stations; limited coaxial cable; 50,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, and 8 domestic

*Oman, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 370,548; fit for military service 210,544; reach military age (14) annually 20,810 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion, 16% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Header

Affiliation: (UN trusteeship administered by the US)

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Geography

Location: in the North Pacific Ocean, 850 km southeast of the Philippines Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 458 km2 land area: 458 km2 comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,519 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid Terrain: about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: subject to typhoons from June to December; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain Note: includes World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), People

Population: 16,071 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.84% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 22.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.01 years male: 69.14 years female: 73.02 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.96 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan Ethnic divisions: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau) Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13 states) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 92% male: 93% female: 91% Labor force: NA by occupation: NA

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Government

Names: conventional long form: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands conventional short form: none note: may change to Republic of Palau after independence; the native form of Palau is Belau and is sometimes used incorrectly in English and other languages Digraph: NQ Type: UN trusteeship administered by the US note: constitutional government signed a Compact of Free Association with the US on 10 January 1986, which was never approved in a series of UN-observed plebiscites; until the UN trusteeship is terminated with entry into force of the Compact, Palau remains under US administration as the Palau District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; administrative authority resides in the Department of the Interior and is exercised by the Assistant Secretary for Territorial and International Affairs through the Palau Office, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, J. Victor HOBSON Jr., Director (since 16 December 1990) Capital: Koror note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states: Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi Independence: the last polity remaining under the US-administered UN trusteeship following the departure of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas from the trusteeship; administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of Interior Constitution: 1 January 1981 Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held on 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3% Senate: last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total); number of seats by party NA House of Delegates: last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (16 total); number of seats by party NA Executive branch: national president, national vice president

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Government

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK) consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Delegates Judicial branch: Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993), Vice-President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993) Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer) Diplomatic representation in US: administrative officer: Charles UONG, address: Palau Liaison Office, 444 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 308, Washington, DC 20001 US diplomatic representation: director: US Liaison Officer Lloyd W. MOSS liaison office: US Liaison Office at Top Side, Neeriyas, Koror mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Koror, PW 96940 telephone: (680) 488-2920; (680) 488-2911 Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Economy

Overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote location of Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered development. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $31.6 million (1986) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $2,260 (1986) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: 20% (1986) Budget: revenues $6.0 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986) Exports: $0.5 million (f.o.b., 1986) commodities: NA partners: US, Japan Imports: $27.2 million (c.i.f., 1986) commodities: NA partners: US External debt: about $100 million (1989) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 16,000 kW capacity; 22 million kWh produced, 1,540 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and agriculture Agriculture: subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2,560 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million Currency: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September