A (continued 21)
Reading edition
External debt: $1.9 billion (1989)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - approximately 7,000 (January 1996), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989),
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 22,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: 19,800 km (1992 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 15 km
Ports: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,529 GRT/6,892 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 52 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 6 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 20 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 9,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there are at least five radio broadcast stations of NA type)
Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (Somalia's only TV station was demolished during the civil strife, sometime in 1991)
Televisions: 113,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: NA; note - no functioning central government military forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political prizes
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,333,994 males fit for military service: 1,301,954 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@South Africa ——————
Map —-
Location: 29 00 S, 24 00 E — Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Flag ——
Description: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isoceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 1,219,912 sq km land area: 1,219,912 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
Land boundaries: total: 4,750 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline: 2,798 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 65% forest and woodland: 3% other: 21%
Irrigated land: 11,280 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: prolonged droughts international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
People ———
Population: 41,743,459 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 7,578,639; female 7,428,123) 15-64 years: 60% (male 12,356,753; female 12,516,467) 65 years and over: 4% (male 744,806; female 1,118,671) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.76% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 27.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.32 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 48.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.47 years male: 57.21 years female: 61.8 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.43 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African
Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions: Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks), Hindu (60% of Indians), Muslim 2%
Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 81.8% male: 81.9% female: 81.7%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa abbreviation: RSA
Data code: SF
Type of government: republic
Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Northern Province, Western Cape
Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)
National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution: 27 April 1994 (interim constitution, replacing the constitution of 3 September 1984); note - on 8 May 1996, the Constitutional Assembly voted 421 to two to pass a new constitution which, after certification by the Constitutional Court, will gradually go into effect over a three-year period and come into full force with the next national elections in April 1999
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive Presidents Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994) and Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 10 May 1994) were elected by the National Assembly note: any political party that wins 20% or more of the National Assembly votes in a general election is entitled to name a deputy executive president; moreover, any party that wins 20 or more seats in the National Assembly is entitled to become a member of the governing coalition; currently, the ANC, the IFP, and the NP constitute a Government of National Unity (GNU) cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly: elections last held 26-29 April 1994 (next to be held NA April 1999); results - ANC 62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%, other 0.9%; seats - (400 total) ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2 Senate: the Senate is composed of members who are nominated by the nine provincial parliaments (which are elected in parallel with the National Assembly) and has special powers to protect regional interests, including the right to limited self-determination for ethnic minorities; seats - (90 total) ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3 note: when the National Assembly meets in joint session with the Senate to consider the provisions of the constitution, the combined group is referred to as the Constitutional Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president; National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK, president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Freedom Front (FF), Constand VILJOEN, president; Democratic Party (DP), Tony LEON, president; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), Clarence MAKWETU, president; African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Kenneth MESHOE, president note: in addition to these seven parties which received seats in the National Assembly, 11 other parties won votes in the national elections in April 1994
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International organization participation: BIS, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin SONN chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James A. JOSEPH embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083 mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isoceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment and lack of job skills. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts to improve black living conditions, to set the country on a steady export-led growth path, and to cut back the enormous numbers of unemployed. The economy in recent years has absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow between 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants, much less reduce the accumulated total.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $215 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.7% (1995)
Labor force: 14.2 million economically active (1996) by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%
Unemployment rate: 32.6% (1996 est.); an additional 11% underemployment
Budget: revenues: $30.5 billion expenditures: $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6 billion (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 39,750,000 kW production: 163 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,482 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; cattle, poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef
Illicit drugs: transshipment center for heroin and cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana
Exports: $27.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3% (1994) partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EU countries, Hong Kong
Imports: $27 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles, scientific instruments (1994) partners: Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy
External debt: $22 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: current aid pledges include US $600 million over three years ending in 1996; UK $150 million over three years; Australia $21 million over three years; Japan $1.3 billion over two years ending in 1996; EU $833 million over five years
Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 21,431 km narrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 182,329 km paved: 55,428 km (including 2,040 km of expressways) unpaved: 126,901 km (1991 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural gas 322 km
Ports: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha
Merchant marine: total: 4 container ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 211,276 GRT/198,602 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 667 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 10 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 44 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 75 with paved runways under 914 m: 221 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 33 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 280 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 5,206,235 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and radiotelephone communication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 286, shortwave 0
Radios: 12.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 67 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 3.45 million (1990 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: South African National Defense Force (SANDF; includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service (SAPS)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,686,976 males fit for military service: 6,502,265 males reach military age (18) annually: 424,854 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, 2.2% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ——————————————————————
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map —-
Location: 54 30 S, 37 00 W — Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America
Flag ——
Description: the flag of the UK is used
Geography ————-
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area: total area: 4,066 sq km land area: 4,066 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: NA km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism international agreements: NA
Geographic note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia
People ———
Population: no indigenous population; there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none
Data code: SX
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985
Legal system: English common law
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Commissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
Legislative branch: no elections
Judicial branch: none
Flag: the flag of the UK is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK.
Budget: revenues: $291,777 expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 900 kW production: 2 million kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
Transportation ———————
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Grytviken
Airports: none
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Spain ——-
Map —-
Location: 40 00 N, 4 00 W — Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France
Flag ——
Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
Geography ————-
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total area: 504,750 sq km land area: 499,400 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
Land boundaries: total: 1,903.2 km border countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km note: excludes the length of the boundary between the places of sovereignty and Morocco
Coastline: 4,964 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Teide on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 21% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7%
Irrigated land: 33,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; air pollution; deforestation; desertification natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People ———
Population: 39,181,114 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 3,237,942; female 3,055,881) 15-64 years: 68% (male 13,380,956; female 13,352,582) 65 years and over: 16% (male 2,566,728; female 3,587,025) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.16% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.04 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.26 years male: 74.95 years female: 81.81 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish
Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%
Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.) total population: 96% male: 98% female: 94%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local short form: Espana
Data code: SP
Type of government: parliamentary monarchy
Capital: Madrid
Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown
Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
National holiday: National Day, 12 October
Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria AZNAR (since 5 May 1996) was proposed by the king and voted into office by the National Assembly on 4 May 1996; AZNAR's Popular Party defeated Felipe GONZALEZ Marques's Socialist Workers Party in the 3 March 1996 legislative election; Deputy Prime Minister (vacant) cabinet: Council of Ministers was designated by the prime minister Council of State: is the supreme consultative organ of the government
Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales) Senate (Senado): elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (256 total) PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9 Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados): elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - PP 38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%, CiU 4.6%; seats - (350 total) PSOE 141, PP 156, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)
Political parties and leaders: principal national parties from right to left: Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez; United Left (IU - a coalition of parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other small parties), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez chief regional parties: Convergence and Union (CiU), Jordi PUJOL, secretary general (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC), Pere ESTEVE, and the Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC), Josep Antoni DURAN LLEIDA); Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS Antia and Jose Antonio ARDANZA; Basque United People (HB or Herri Batasuna, ETA's political wing), Juan Cruz IDIGORAS; Canarian Coalition (CC), a coalition of five parties
Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); Workers Confederation (CC.OO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); business and landowning interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; university students
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 8, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA Eiseley chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard N. GARDNER embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: APO AE 09642 telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000, 577-2301 FAX: [34] (1) 577-5735 consulate(s) general: Barcelona
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Spain, with a mixed capitalist economy and a per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four leading economies of Western Europe, has shared with these countries the recession of the early 1990s, the gradual upturn of 1994-95, and the ongoing controversies over the timing and terms of European economic union. Reduction of the budget deficit - at 5.9% of GDP in 1995 - to meet the Maastricht monetary convergence criterion of 3% by 1997 remains the primary goal of Spanish economic policy, but political pressures had kept the Socialist government from implementing the full range of reforms necessary to meet this goal. Spain's official unemployment rate of 23% is the highest in the EU, and the troubled Socialists had been reluctant to cut social spending. Parliament rejected the administration's proposed 1996 budget because of political wrangling - not because of great differences with the substance of the spending plan - forcing the government to continue spending at 1995 levels and use piecemeal decrees to raise consumption taxes to a level consistent with inflation. The conservative opposition Popular Party, now in power after ending 13 years of Socialist rule in the spring of 1996, has promised to cut government spending, loosen regulations on financial markets, and lower taxes to spur job creation. The conservatives have stated support for Spain's role in the EU but also have cautioned against harming Spain's economy by moving too quickly to meet the criteria for monetary union.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $565 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $14,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 33.6% services: 62.8% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1995)
Labor force: 11.837 million by occupation: services 59%, industry 21%, agriculture 11%, construction 9% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 22.8% (yearend 1995)
Budget: revenues: $96.8 billion expenditures: $122.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (1994 est.)
Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 43,800,000 kW production: 148 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,545 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nations
Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
Exports: $85 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery partners: EU 68.7%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1994)
Imports: $110 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals partners: EU 60.9%, US 7.3%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 6.2% (1994)
External debt: $90 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.213 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 14,343 km broad gauge: 12,139 km 1.668-m gauge (6,510 km electrified; 2,295 km double track) standard gauge: 488 km 1.435-m gauge (488 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,716 km (privately owned: 1,669 km 1.000-m gauge, 489 km electrified; 28 km 0.914-m gauge, 28 km electrified; government owned: 19 km 1.000-m gauge, all electrified)
Highways: total: 331,961 km paved: 328,641 km (including 2,700 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,320 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance
Pipelines: crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; natural gas 1,666 km
Ports: Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Puerto de Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
Merchant marine: total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 874,688 GRT/1,391,421 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 36, chemical tanker 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 25, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32, short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 96 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 15 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 28 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 12.6 million (1990 est.)
Telephone system: generally adequate, modern facilities domestic: NA international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat, NA Inmarsat, and NA Marecs; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 190, FM 406 (repeaters 134), shortwave 0
Radios: 12 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 100 (repeaters 1,297)
Televisions: 15.7 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,360,209 males fit for military service: 8,370,197 males reach military age (20) annually: 341,670 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.3 billion, 1.4% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Spratly Islands ———————-
Map —-
Location: 8 38 N, 111 55 E — Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Geography ————-
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total area: NA sq km but less than 5 sq km land area: less than 5 sq km comparative area: NA note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 926 km
Maritime claims: NA
International disputes: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island
Climate: tropical
Terrain: flat lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals international agreements: NA
Geographic note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
People ———
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Data code: PG
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Industries: none
Transportation ———————
Ports: none
Airports: total: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
======================================================================
@Sri Lanka ————-
Map —-
Location: 7 00 N, 81 00 E — Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Flag ——
Description: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total area: 65,610 sq km land area: 64,740 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,340 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay
Land use: arable land: 16% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 37% other: 23%
Irrigated land: 5,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
People ———
Population: 18,553,074 (July 1996 est.) note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1992, nearly 115,000 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 2,673,943; female 2,559,569) 15-64 years: 66% (male 6,023,759; female 6,171,964) 65 years and over: 6% (male 553,940; female 569,899) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.13% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 17.89 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.35 years male: 69.77 years female: 75.06 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%
Religions: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%
Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 90.2% male: 93.4% female: 87.2%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka former: Ceylon
Data code: CE
Type of government: republic
Capital: Colombo
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)
Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978
Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994) was elected for a six-year term by popular vote; note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister; in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both the chief of state and the head of the government, this is in contrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and the prime minister when both offices exist; election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 2000); results - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (People's Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party) 37%, other 1% cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by August 2000); results - PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%, SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats - (225 total) PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission
Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), C. G. Kumar PONNAMBALAM; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S. THONDAMAN; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), leader NA; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M. PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas DEVANANDA; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL), Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), Shankar RAJI; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Liberal Party (LP), Chanaka AMARATUNGA; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; People's Alliance (PA), Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Sri Lanka Progressive Front (SLPF), leader NA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), leader NA; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM; United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Upcountry People's Front (UPF), leader NA; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either parliament or provincial councils note: the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987 and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of 1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PA)
Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jayantha Cudah Bandara DHANAPALA chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028 FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181 consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador A. Peter BURLEIGH embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (1) 448007 FAX: [94] (1) 437345
Flag: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth accelerated in 1991-94 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. In 1995, however, the government's emphasis on populist measures and its preoccupation with the stepped-up Tamil insurgency have clouded Sri Lanka's economic prospects and discouraged foreign investors. A further problem for 1996 is the need to curb government overspending.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $65.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,600 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 24% services: 52% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 6.1 million by occupation: agriculture 45%, services 37%, industry 18% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $851 million (1995)
Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 9% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 1,410,000 kW production: 3.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 168 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat
Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: garments and textiles, teas, diamonds, other gems, petroleum products, rubber products, other agricultural products, marine products, graphite partners: US 34.7%, UK, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, France (1994)
Imports: $4.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: textiles and textile materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, food, petroleum, building materials partners: Japan, India, UK, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China (1994)
External debt: $8.8 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $423 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 54.158 (January 1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.830 (1992), 41.372 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 1,484 km broad gauge: 1,459 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 25 km .762-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 94,651 km paved: 25,749 km unpaved: 68,902 km (1990)
Waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine: total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,508 GRT/329,410 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 1, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 8 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 13 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 175,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, good international service domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.525 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5
Televisions: 865,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,085,306 males fit for military service: 3,960,070 males reach military age (18) annually: 180,825 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $640 million, 4.4% of GDP (1996)
======================================================================
@Sudan ——-
Map —-
Location: 15 00 N, 30 00 E — Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 2,505,810 sq km land area: 2.376 million sq km comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries: total: 7,687 km border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over this disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high
Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)
Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west lowest point: Red Sea 0 m highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 24% forest and woodland: 20% other: 51%
Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: dust storms international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Geographic note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
People ———
Population: 31,547,543 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 7,389,616; female 7,080,044) 15-64 years: 52% (male 8,219,080; female 8,172,544) 65 years and over: 2% (male 387,961; female 298,298) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.48% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 41.08 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.46 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.3 male(s)/female all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.12 years male: 54.2 years female: 56.09 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: program of Arabization in process
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 46.1% male: 57.7% female: 34.6%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Data code: SU
Type of government: transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly
Capital: Khartoum
Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Wusta*, Al Istiwa'iyah* (Equatoria), Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan note: on 14 February 1994, the 9 states comprising Sudan were divided into 26 new states; the following spellings have been reported but not approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Bahr Aljebal, Blue Nile, Bohayrat, East Equatoria, Gedarif, Gezira, Jungle, Kassala, Khartoum, North, North Bahr Alghazal, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Red Sea, River Nile, Sinnar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, Unity, Upper Nile, Warab, West Bahr Alghazal, West Darfur, West Kordofan, West Equatoria, White Nile)
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution to be drafted following national elections held in March 1996
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsary
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993) was elected to a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); results - President al-BASHIR won 75.7% of the vote and defeated about forty other candidates; First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994) note: al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the National Assembly which was elected in March 1996 cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president; note - on 30 October 1993, President al-BASHIR announced a new, predominantly civilian cabinet, consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whom retained their previous cabinet positions; on 9 February 1995, he abolished three ministries and redivided their portfolios to create several new ministries; these changes increased National Islamic Front presence at the ministerial level and consolidated its control over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; President al-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominates much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; President al-BASHIR is expected to name a new cabinet following the elections held in March 1996
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (400 total, 275 directly elected, and 125 elected by a supra assembly of interest groups known as the National Congress); note - March 1996 elections were held on a nonparty basis and parties are to be banned in the new National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup
Other political or pressure groups: National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABI
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Mahdi IBRAHIM chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
US diplomatic representation: operations in Khartoum were suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to Sudan Timothy M. CARNEY and several members of the mission have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya and operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at the corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX: [254] (2) 340838
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the civil war and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1995. Agricultural production in 1995, while fairly good, was not up to the bumper crop level of 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $25 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 17% services: 50% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 66% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 8.9 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6% note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
Budget: revenues: $382 million expenditures: $1.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $91 million (1995 est.)
Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (FY92/93 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 500,000 kW production: 1.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, oilseed, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic; sheep
Exports: $535 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: cotton 24%, livestock/meat 13%, gum arabic 11% partners: EU 39%, Saudi Arabia 19%, Japan 9%, US 3% (1993)
Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles partners: EU 31%, Libya 19%, Egypt 5%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5% (1993)
External debt: $18 billion (yearend 1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $387 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (LSd) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (LSd) per US$1 - official rate: 750.0 (November 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8 (1993), 69.4 (1992), 5.4288 (1991); market rate: 571.02 (August 1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993), 97.43 (1992), 6.96 (1991) note: the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is quoted uniformly by all commercial banks
Fiscal year: calendar year note: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1 July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year, a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July - 31 December 1995; the new calendar year (1 January - 31 December) fiscal year became effective 1 January 1996
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 5,516 km narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge plantation line
Highways: total: 19,885 km paved: 1,989 km unpaved: 17,896 km (1986 est.)
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products 815 km
Ports: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin
Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,024 GRT/57,985 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 56 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 7 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 25 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 77,215 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 6.67 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 2.06 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 7,152,884 males fit for military service: 4,399,445 males reach military age (18) annually: 329,460 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Suriname ————
Map —-
Location: 4 00 N, 56 00 W — Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Flag ——
Description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Geography ————-
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total area: 163,270 sq km land area: 161,470 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold
Land use: arable land: NEGL% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 97% other: 3%
Irrigated land: 590 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: deforestation as foreign producers obtain timber concessions natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast
People ———
Population: 436,418 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 74,959; female 71,500) 15-64 years: 62% (male 136,287; female 132,407) 65 years and over: 4% (male 9,930; female 11,335) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.6% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 24.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.04 years male: 67.51 years female: 72.7 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (also known locally as "East" Indians; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed European and African ancestry) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Bush Black" (also known as "Bush Creole" whose ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1%, other 1.1%
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 93% male: 95.1% female: 91%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Type of government: republic
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991) and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991), who is also the vice president, were elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly; election last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices nominated for life
Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF, and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Ernie BRUNINGS; Democratic Party (DP), Ernie BRUNINGS; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL
Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459 FAX: [597] 420800
Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65% of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995. The VENETIAAN government unified the exchange rate and the currency gained some of its lost value. In addition, inflation fell to double digits and tax revenues increased sufficiently to nearly erase the budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure to initiate economic reforms - also helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued implementation of needed economic restructuring; the outcome of the national elections in May 1996 will be an important factor in determining future government policy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,950 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21.6% industry: 23.7% services: 54.7% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 62% (1995)
Labor force: 98,240 by occupation: agriculture, industry, services
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $300 million expenditures: $700 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1994 est.)
Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 420,000 kW production: 1.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,123 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of increasing importance
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Exports: $293.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK 3% (1992)
Imports: $194.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods partners: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil 5% (1992)
External debt: $180 million (March 1993 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - central bank midpoint rate: 402.32 (December 1995), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994), 109 (January 1994) note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 166 km (single track) standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,470 km paved: 1,162 km unpaved: 3,308 km (1990)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways
Ports: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 38 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 31 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 119,010 males fit for military service: 70,400 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Svalbard ————
(territory of Norway)
Map —-
Location: 78 00 N, 20 00 E — Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Flag ——
Description: the flag of Norway is used
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total area: 62,049 sq km land area: 62,049 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia territorial sea: 4 nm
International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic international agreements: NA
Geographic note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
People ———
Population: 2,715 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -4.01% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
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
Ethnic divisions: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other NEGL% (1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard
Data code: SV
Type of government: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
Capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch: Chief of State: King HARALD V (of Norway since 17 January 1991) is a hereditary monarch Head of Government: Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993) are responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice note: Norwegian inhabitants participate in Norwegian national elections
International organization participation: none
Flag: the flag of Norway is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Labor force: NA
Budget: revenues: $11.6 million expenditures: $11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 21,000 kW production: 45 million kWh consumption per capita: 13,860 kWh (1992)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4160 (January 1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991)
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 4 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: local telephone service international: satellite earth station - 1 of NA type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0 note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
======================================================================
@Swaziland ————-
Map —-
Location: 26 30 S, 31 30 E — Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Flag ——
Description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 17,360 sq km land area: 17,200 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: NEGL meadows and pastures: 62% forest and woodland: 7% other: 20%
Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment: current issues: limited access to potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
People ———
Population: 998,730 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 227,634; female 229,129) 15-64 years: 52% (male 247,156; female 271,096) 65 years and over: 2% (male 9,864; female 13,851) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.24% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 88.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.26 years male: 53.25 years female: 61.4 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi
Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 76.7% male: 78% female: 75.6%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Type of government: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch: chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI (since 12 November 1993); appointed by the king cabinet: Cabinet; designated by the king
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory Senate: consists of 30 members (10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the king) House of Assembly: elections last held 26 September and 11 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; of the total of 65 seats, 10 are appointed by the king and 55 are elected by secret, popular vote; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the king; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Mario MASUKU; Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Benedict TSABEDZE; Swaziland Communist Party (SWACOPA), Mphandlana SHONGWE; Swaziland Liberation Front (FROLISA); Convention for Full Democracy in Swaziland (COFUDESWA), Sabelo DLAMINI; Swaziland National Front (SWANAFRO); Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party (NGWASOREP)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KHANYA chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685 FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John T. SPROTT embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445 FAX: [268] 45959
Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Economy ———-
Economic overview: This small landlocked economy is based largely on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically produced income by as much as 20%. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drougth persist as problems for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 40% services: 35% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 160,355 (1986 est.) by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $342 million expenditures: $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130 million (1994 est.)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 120,000 kW production: 410 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,003 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports: $798 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, cotton yarn, asbestos partners: South Africa 50%, EU countries, Canada
Imports: $827 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals partners: South Africa 90%, Switzerland, UK 2.6%
External debt: $240 million (1992)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge (single track)
Highways: total: 2,960 km paved: 804 km unpaved: 2,156 km (1993 est.)
Ports: none
Airports: total: 17 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 10 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 30,364 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 129,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 12,500 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 220,097 males fit for military service: 127,285 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)
======================================================================
@Sweden ———
Map —-
Location: 62 00 N, 15 00 E — Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Flag ——
Description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total area: 449,964 sq km land area: 410,928 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 64% other: 27%
Irrigated land: 1,120 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Geographic note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
People ———
Population: 8,900,954 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 860,940; female 815,967) 15-64 years: 64% (male 2,884,687; female 2,794,593) 65 years and over: 17% (male 654,439; female 890,328) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.56% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 11.55 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.43 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.06 years male: 75.62 years female: 80.63 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish
Ethnic divisions: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Languages: Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige
Data code: SW
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Independence: 6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June 1809, a constitutional monarchy was established
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996) was elected by the Riksdag cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Riksdag): elections last held 18 September 1994 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22, Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New Democracy Party did not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.0% of votes for a seat in parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen), judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Goran PERSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's Party, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne FRANZEN; Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00 FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64
Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Aided by peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately-owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In 1993, agriculture accounted for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary difficulties, inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU (European Currency Unit), and depreciation of the krona has boosted export competitiveness and helped lift Sweden out of its 1991-93 recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, the government adopted an adjustment program in November 1994 that aims to eliminate the government budget deficit and to stabilize the debt to GDP ratio. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $177.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $20,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 27% services: 71% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1995)
Labor force: 4.552 million (84% unionized, 1992) by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 7.8% (December 1995) plus about 6% in training programs
Budget: revenues: $109.4 billion expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 11.7% (1994)
Electricity: capacity: 34,560,000 kW production: 141 billion kWh consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the former Soviet Republics and Baltic states for the European market
Exports: $61.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products partners: EU 59.1% (Germany 13.2%, UK 10.2%, Denmark 6.9%, France 5.1%), Norway 8.1%, Finland 4.8%, US 8.0% (1994)
Imports: $51.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EU 62.6% (Germany 18.4%, UK 9.5%, Denmark 6.6%, France 5.5%), Finland 6.3%, Norway 6.1%, US 8.5% (1994)
External debt: $66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.769 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.7240 (January 1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 January - 31 December (Sweden changed its fiscal year from 1 July - 30 June in 1995)
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 12,624 km (includes 953 km of privately-owned railways) standard gauge: 11,767 km 1.435-m gauge (7,320 km electrified and 1,152 km double track) other: 857 km NA-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 135,859 km paved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,041 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Merchant marine: total: 169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,993,422 GRT/2,183,215 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 35, chemical tanker 24, combination ore/oil 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 32, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 14 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 251 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 85 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 26 with paved runways under 914 m: 127 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 7.41 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additional telephone channels international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
Radios: 7.272 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 880 (mostly repeaters)
Televisions: 3.5 million
Defense ———-
Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,133,816 males fit for military service: 1,867,031 males reach military age (19) annually: 51,357 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 2.5% of GDP (FY94/95)
======================================================================
@Switzerland —————-
Map —-
Location: 47 00 N, 8 00 E — Central Europe, east of France
Flag ——
Description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
Geography ————-
Location: Central Europe, east of France
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total area: 41,290 sq km land area: 39,770 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,852 km border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 26% other: 23%
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1989)
Environment: current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity natural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe
People ———
Population: 7,207,060 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 638,728; female 610,546) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,495,325; female 2,405,226) 65 years and over: 15% (male 424,394; female 632,841) (July 1996 est.)