A (continued 25)
Reading edition
Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 32% forest and woodland: 1% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Geographic note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 202 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 26 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
People ———
Population: 1,427,741 (July 1996 est.) note: in addition, there are 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and 153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 332,628; female 315,968) 15-64 years: 51% (male 368,180; female 362,880) 65 years and over: 4% (male 20,495; female 27,590) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.99% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 15.76 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: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.76 years male: 70.17 years female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English (widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government —————
Government note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian Legislative Council, elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in certain spheres for the rest of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in additional areas of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank
Data code: WE
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states. Such transfers from the Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. The area's economic situation has worsened since Israel imposed stringent border restrictions in 1995 and 1996.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3%-4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 7% services: 60% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1995 est.)
Labor force: NA by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry 14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9% (1991) note: excluding Israeli settlers
Unemployment rate: 25%-30% (1995 est.)
Budget: $NA
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: NA kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants
Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables partners: Jordan, Israel
Imports: $791 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials partners: Jordan, Israel
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledged in 1995 (includes aid to Gaza Strip)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295 (January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish settlements
Ports: none
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA note: 8% of Palestinian households have telephones (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA note: Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication services in the West Bank
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note - 82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 note: 1 broadcast station is planned for Jericho
Televisions: NA; note - 54% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: NA
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Western Sahara ———————
Map —-
Location: 24 30 N, 13 00 W — Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 266,000 sq km land area: 266,000 sq km comparative area: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes: claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 0% other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: sparse water and arable land natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility international agreements: NA
People ———
Population: 222,631 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.46% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 46.51 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 18.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
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: 145.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.01 years male: 46 years female: 48.34 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.85 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic divisions: Arab, Berber
Religions: Muslim
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy: NA
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara
Data code: WI
Type of government: legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991
Capital: none
Administrative divisions: none (under defacto control of Morocco)
Executive branch: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none
US diplomatic representation: none
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $NA
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 12,000 by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 79 million kWh consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by the nomads)
Exports: $NA commodities: phosphates 62% partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports: $NA commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.607 (January 1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 6,200 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6,200 km
Ports: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, El Aaiun
Airports: total: 12 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: sparse and limited system domestic: NA international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Branches: NA
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Western Samoa ——————-
Map —-
Location: 13 35 S, 172 20 W — Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Flag ——
Description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total area: 2,860 sq km land area: 2,850 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 24% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 47% other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: soil erosion natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
People ———
Population: 214,384 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 43,540; female 42,185) 15-64 years: 56% (male 62,742; female 57,323) 65 years and over: 4% (male 4,089; female 4,505) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.37% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 31.12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.73 years male: 66.35 years female: 71.24 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Western Samoan(s) adjective: Western Samoan
Ethnic divisions: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971 est.) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Independent State of Western Samoa conventional short form: Western Samoa
Data code: WS
Type of government: constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital: Apia
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)
Constitution: 1 January 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (co-chief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963); upon his death, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term head of government: Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988) was appointed by the chief of state with approval of the Legislative Assembly cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono): elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held 26 April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1 note: only matai (head of family) are able to run for the Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman; Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party, LEOTA Ituau Ale; Samoa All People's Party (SAPP), Matatumua MAIMOAGA
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197 FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Western Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand) embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia telephone: [685] 21631 FAX: [685] 22030
Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Agriculture employs more than one-half of the labor force, contributes 50% to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earnings comes from the sale of coconut oil and copra. The economy depends on emigrant remittances and foreign aid to supplement GDP and to support a level of imports much greater than export earnings. Tourism has become the most important growth industry. The economy continued to falter in 1994, as remittances and tourist earnings remained low. Production of taro, the primary food export crop, dropped 97% in 1993/94 when a fungal disease threatened the country's basic food crops. Nevertheless, the government is relying on recovery and further expansion in agricultural production to sustain economic growth of around 5% over the next several years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $415 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (1994)
Labor force: 45,635 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $78.6 million expenditures: $81.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 29,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 200 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coconuts, bananas, taro, yams
Exports: $6.4 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: coconut oil and cream, taro, copra, cocoa partners: New Zealand 34%, American Samoa 21%, Germany 18%, Australia 11%
Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12% partners: New Zealand 37%, Australia 25%, Japan 11%, Fiji 9%
External debt: $141 million (June 1993)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5195 (January 1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994), 2.5681 (1993), 2.4655 (1992), 2.3975 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,030 km paved: 373 km unpaved: 1,657 km (1988 est.)
Ports: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Merchant marine: total: 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 7,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: no regular armed services; Western Samoa Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@World ——-
Map —-
Geography ————-
Map references: World, Time Zones
Area: total area: 510.072 million sq km land area: 148.94 million sq km water area: 361.132 million sq km comparative area: land area about 15 times the size of the US note: 70.8% of the world is water, 29.2% is land
Land boundaries: the land boundaries in the world total 250,883.64 km (not counting shared boundaries twice)
Coastline: 356,000 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm claimed by most but can vary continental shelf: 200-m depth claimed by most or to depth of exploitation, others claim 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm claimed by most but can vary exclusive economic zone: 200 nm claimed by most but can vary territorial sea: 12 nm claimed by most but can vary note: boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm; 43 nations and other areas that are landlocked include Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Climate: two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropical climates
Terrain: the greatest ocean depth is the Marianas Trench at 10,924 m in the Pacific Ocean lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: the rapid using up of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality (especially in Eastern Europe and the former USSR) pose serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only beginning to address
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 24% forest and woodland: 31% other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion natural hazards: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions) international agreements: selected international environmental agreements are included under the Environment entry for each country and in the Selected International Environmental Agreements appendix
People ———
Population: 5,771,939,007 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 919,402,570; female 874,330,478) 15-64 years: 62% (male 1,824,524,365; female 1,776,639,084) 65 years and over: 7% (male 162,216,128; female 213,712,993)
Population growth rate: 1.4% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62 years male: 61 years female: 64 years
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Government —————
Data code: none; there is no FIPS 10-4 country code for the World, so the Factbook uses the "W" data code from DIAM 65-18 "Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features," Data Standard No. 3, March 1984, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency; see the Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes appendix
Administrative divisions: 266 nations, dependent areas, other, and miscellaneous entries
Legal system: varies by individual country; 186 (not including Yugoslavia) are parties to the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ or World Court)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Real global output - gross world product (GWP) - again rose 3% in 1995, with the newly industrializing Third World countries setting the pace. And once more, results varied widely among regions and countries. Average growth of 2.5% in the GDP of industrialized countries (56% of GWP in 1995) and average growth of 5% in the GDP of less developed countries (38% of GWP) were partly offset by a small 1.5% drop in the GDP of the former USSR/Eastern Europe area (only 6% of GWP). With the notable exception of Japan at 3.1%, unemployment was typically 6%-12% in the industrial world. The US accounted for 22% of GWP in 1995; Western Europe accounted for 21%; and Japan accounted for 8%. These are the three "economic superpowers" presumably destined to compete for mastery in international markets on into the 21st century. As for the less developed countries: China, India, and the Four Dragons - South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore - once again posted records of 5% growth or better; however, many other countries, especially in Africa, continued to suffer from drought, rapid population growth, inflation, and civil strife. Central Europe continued its progress in moving toward "market-friendly" economies. The 15 ex-Soviet countries typically experienced further declines in output, although considerably less than in 1992-94. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology. Internally, the central government in a number of cases is losing control over resources as separatist regional movements - typically based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in India, and in Canada. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition of nearly 100 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own internal problems, the industrialized countries have inadequate resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from the economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. (For specific economic developments in each country, see the individual country entries in this volume.)
GDP: GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $33.7 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): all countries: 25% developed countries: 2% to 6% typically developing countries: 10% to 60% typically (1995 est.) note: national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from stable prices in Japan to hyperinflation in a number of Third World countries
Labor force: 2.24 billion (1992) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 6%-12% unemployment (1995 est.)
Industries: dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the rapid development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental problems
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 2,773,000,000 kW production: 11.601 trillion kWh consumption per capita: 1,937 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: the whole gamut of crops, livestock, forest products, and fish
Exports: $4.3 trillion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services partners: in value, about 75% of exports from the developed countries
Imports: $4.4 trillion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services partners: in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries
External debt: $2 trillion for less developed countries (1995 est.)
Economic aid: worldwide traditional foreign aid $50 billion (1995 est.)
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 1,201,337 km includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km in the Far East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in South America, and 4,160 km in North America; note - fastest speed in daily service is 300 km/hr attained by France's Societe Nationale des Chemins-de-Fer Francais (SNCF) Le Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) - Atlantique line broad gauge: 251,153 km standard gauge: 710,754 km narrow gauge: 239,430 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille, Mina' al Ahmadi (Kuwait), New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
Merchant marine: total: 25,521 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 442,276,527 GRT/701,647,274 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 22, bulk 5,308, cargo 8,089, chemical tanker 920, combination bulk 307, combination ore/oil 279, container 1,938, liquefied gas tanker 709, livestock carrier 52, multifunction large-load carrier 62, oil tanker 4,320, passenger 298, passenger-cargo 117, railcar carrier 21, refrigerated cargo 1,022, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,034, short-sea passenger 484, specialized tanker 81, vehicle carrier 458 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Branches: ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technology
Defense expenditures: probably a small decline in 1995 in aggregate real expenditure on arms worldwide and somewhat less than three-quarters of a trillion dollars in money terms, or roughly 2% of gross world product (1995 est.)
======================================================================
@Yemen ——-
Map —-
Location: 15 00 N, 48 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria which has two green stars and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total area: 527,970 sq km land area: 527,970 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)
Land boundaries: total: 1,746 km border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline: 1,906 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm in the North; 24 nm in the South continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: large section of boundary with Saudi Arabia not defined; a dispute with Eritrea over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to arbitration under the auspices of the International Court of Justice
Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain: narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 30% forest and woodland: 7% other: 57%
Irrigated land: 3,100 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summer international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Geographic note: controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
People ———
Population: 13,483,178 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 3,302,489; female 3,122,246) 15-64 years: 50% (male 3,327,682; female 3,364,787) 65 years and over: 2% (male 158,018; female 207,956) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.56% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 45.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9.59 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.58 years male: 58.23 years female: 60.99 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.29 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic divisions: predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small European communities in major metropolitan areas
Religions: Muslim including Sha'fi (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 38% male: 53% female: 26%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman
Data code: YM
Type of government: republic
Capital: Sanaa
Administrative divisions: 17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, Aden, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramaut, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz note: there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa
Independence: 22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990 with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen} and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen {Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen}; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
Constitution: 16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994
Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Representatives; election last held 1 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since NA October 1994) was appointed by the president head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Aziz ABD AL-GHANI (since NA October 1994) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Ministers Abd al-Wahhab al-ANISI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Abd al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Muhammad Said al-ATTAR (since NA October 1994), and Abd al-Qadir al-BA JAMAL (since NA October 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives: elections last held 27 April 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (301 total) GPC 124, Islaah 61, YSP 55, others 13, independents 47, election nullified 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: over 40 political parties are active in Yemen, but only three project significant influence; since the May-July 1994 civil war, President SALIH's General People's Congress (GPC) and Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR's Yemeni Grouping for Reform, or Islaah, have joined to form a coalition government; the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), headed by Ali Salih UBAYD, has regrouped as a loyal opposition
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International organization participation: ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhsin Ahmad al-AYNI chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760, 4761 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David G. NEWTON embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa telephone: [967] (1) 238843 through 238852 FAX: [967] (1) 251563
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria which has two green stars and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Whereas the northern city Sanaa is the political capital of a united Yemen, the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port facilities, is the economic and commercial capital. Future economic development depends heavily on Western-assisted development of the country's moderate oil resources. Former South Yemen's willingness to merge stemmed partly from the steady decline in Soviet economic support. The low level of domestic industry and agriculture has made northern Yemen dependent on imports for practically all of its essential needs. Once self-sufficient in food production, northern Yemen has become a major importer. Land once used for export crops - cotton, fruit, and vegetables - has been turned over to growing a shrub called qat, whose leaves are chewed for their stimulant effect by Yemenis and which has no significant export market. Economic growth in former South Yemen has been constrained by a lack of incentives, partly stemming from centralized control over production decisions, investment allocation, and import choices. Yemen's large trade deficits have been compensated for by remittances from Yemenis working abroad and by foreign aid. Since the Gulf crisis, remittances have dropped substantially. High inflation and political divisions hinder the development of a forward-looking economic policy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $37.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,520 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 24% services: 55%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 71.3% (1994 est.)
Labor force: no reliable estimates exist, most people are employed in agriculture and herding or as expatriate laborers; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-half of the labor force
Unemployment rate: 30% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.4 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 810,000 kW production: 1.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 149 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, poultry, meat; fish
Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables, dried and salted fish partners: US 17%, Japan 16%, Singapore 15%, China 13% (1994)
Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: textiles and other manufactured consumer goods, petroleum products, sugar, grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement, machinery, chemicals partners: US 11%, UK 7%, France 7%, Germany 5%, Japan 5% (1994)
External debt: $8 billion (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $148 million (1993)
Currency: Yemeni rial (new currency)
Exchange rates: Yemeni rials per US$1 - 12.010 (official fixed rate); 90 (market rate, December 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 51,392 km paved: 4,831 km unpaved: 46,561 km (1992 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 644 km; petroleum products 32 km
Ports: Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, Mocha, Nishtun
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,059 GRT/18,563 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 2 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 41 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 131,655 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network domestic: the network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Police)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,985,764 males fit for military service: 1,685,517 males reach military age (18) annually: 145,161 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Zaire ——-
Map —-
Location: 0 00 N, 25 00 E — Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Flag ——
Description: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Geography ————-
Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 2,345,410 sq km land area: 2,267,600 sq km comparative area: slightly more than one-fourth the size of US
Land boundaries: total: 10,271 km border countries: Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline: 37 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along the Congo river is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)
Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October
Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Margherita Peak (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 78% other: 15%
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; 1.2 million Rwandan refugees are responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in eastern Zaire natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification
Geographic note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
People ———
Population: 46,498,539 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 11,161,347; female 11,124,583) 15-64 years: 49% (male 11,197,097; female 11,783,524) 65 years and over: 3% (male 539,775; female 692,213) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.67% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 48.1 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 16.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -14.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: in 1994, more than one million refugees fled into Zaire to escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi; a small number of these returned to their homes in 1995 despite fear of the ongoing violence; additionally, Zaire is host to about 100,000 Angolan, and about 100,000 Sudanese refugees
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 108 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.7 years male: 44.97 years female: 48.47 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.64 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Zairian(s) adjective: Zairian
Ethnic divisions: over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%
Languages: French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba (1995 est.) total population: 77.3% male: 86.6% female: 67.7%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Zaire conventional short form: Zaire local long form: Republique du Zaire local short form: Zaire former: Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa
Data code: CG
Type of government: republic with a strong presidential system
Capital: Kinshasa
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-Kivu
Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)
Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April 1990; new transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994
Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24 November 1965) elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election last held 29 July 1984 (next to be held by 9 July 1997); results - President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition head of government: Prime Minister Leon KENGO wa Dondo (since 14 June 1994) elected by the High Council of the Republic cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by mutual agreement of the president and the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral parliament: a single body consisting of the High Council of the Republic and the Parliament of the Transition with membership equally divided between presidential supporters and opponents
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January 1991 - Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba; Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC); Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI); Unified Lumumbast Party (PALU), Antoine GIZENGA; Union of Independent Democrats (UDI), Leon KENGO wa Dondo
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador TATANENE Manata chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone: [243] (12) 21533 through 21535 FAX: [243] (88) 43805, ext. 2308 or 43467
Flag: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Zaire's economy has continued to disintegrate, although Prime Minister KENGO has had some success in slowing the rate of economic decline. While meaningful economic figures are difficult to come by, Zaire's hyperinflation, chronic large government deficits, and plunging mineral production have made the country one of the world's poorest. Most formal transactions are conducted in hard currency as indigenous bank notes have lost almost all value, and a barter economy now flourishes in all but the largest cities. Most individuals and families hang on grimly through subsistence farming and petty trade. The government has not been able to meet its financial obligations to the IMF nor put in place the financial measures advocated by it. Although short-term prospects for improvement remain doubtful, improved political stability would boost Zaire's long-term potential to effectively exploit its vast mineral and agricultural resources.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -7.4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% monthly average (1995 est.)
Labor force: 14.51 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $479 million expenditures: $479 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: -20% (1993)
Electricity: capacity: 2,830,000 kW production: 6.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 133 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption
Exports: $419 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oil partners: US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa
Imports: $382 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels partners: South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
External debt: $11.3 billion (December 1993 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta
Exchange rates: new zaires (Z) per US$1 - 10,618 (October 1995), 1,194 (1994), 3 (1993); zaire (Z) per US$1 - 645,549 (1992), 15,587 (1991) note: on 22 October 1993 the new zaire, equal to 3,000,000 old zaires, was introduced
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 5,138 km (1995); note - severely reduced trackage in use because of civil strife narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge
Highways: total: 145,000 km paved: 290 km unpaved: 144,710 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes
Pipelines: petroleum products 390 km
Ports: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 217 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 82 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 94 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 34,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.87 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 18
Televisions: 55,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, paramilitary Civil Guard, Special Presidential Division
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,025,536 males fit for military service: 5,108,385 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $46 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990)
======================================================================
@Zambia ———
Map —-
Location: 15 00 S, 30 00 E — Southern Africa, east of Angola
Flag ——
Description: green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 752,610 sq km land area: 740,720 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,664 km border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zaire 1,930 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m highest point: in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 47% forest and woodland: 27% other: 19%
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 9,159,072 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 49% (male 2,272,981; female 2,244,403) 15-64 years: 48% (male 2,157,106; female 2,256,935) 65 years and over: 3% (male 110,433; female 117,214) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.11% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.73 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 23.65 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 96.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.31 years male: 36.15 years female: 36.46 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian
Ethnic divisions: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions: Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages: English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in English (1995 est.) total population: 78.2% male: 85.6% female: 71.3%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia
Data code: ZA
Type of government: republic
Capital: Lusaka
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence: 24 October 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution: 2 August 1991
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991) elected for a five-year term by popular vote; Vice President General Godfrey MIYANDA (since NA August 1994) appointed by the president; election last held 31 October 1991 (next to be held October 1996); results - Frederick CHILUBA 84%, Kenneth KAUNDA 16% cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held 31 October 1991 (next to be held October 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150 total) MMD 125, UNIP 25; note - the MMD's majority was weakened by the defection of 13 of its parliamentary members during 1993 and the defeat of its candidates in four of the resulting byelections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Frederick CHILUBA; United National Independence Party (UNIP), Kenneth KAUNDA; National Party (NP), Humphrey MULEMBIA; Labor Party (LP), Chibiza MFUNI; Zambia Democratic Congress (ZDC), Dean MUNG'OMBA; Liberal Progressive Front (LPF), Roger CHONGWE, president
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roland K. KUCHEL embassy: corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusaka mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (1) 250-955, 252-230 FAX: [260] (1) 252-225
Flag: green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Despite continuing progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy is showing little improvement. Inflation, while slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA government. Four of Zambia's 20 banks collapsed in 1995, and the nation's debt stood at about $7 billion. Zambia's copper mining sector, which accounts for over 80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling. Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Food production is insufficient to meet the country's needs due to previous droughts and an end to government subsidization of agriculture. While the government's economic program aims for 6% growth in each of the next three years, a growth rate of 3-5% is more likely.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.9 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 22% services: 46% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 55% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 3.4 million by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1991)
Budget: revenues: $665 million expenditures: $767 million, including capital expenditures of $300 million (1991 est.)
Industries: copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: -1% (1992)
Electricity: capacity: 2,440,000 kW production: 7.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 650 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, beef, eggs
Illicit drugs: increasingly a regional transshipment center for methaqualone and heroin
Exports: $1.075 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco partners: EU countries, Japan, South Africa, US, India, Thailand, Malaysia
Imports: $845 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, manufactures partners: EU countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, US
External debt: $7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $734 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 909.09 (December 1995), 833.33 (1995), 769.23 (1994), 434.78 (1993), 156.25 (1992), 61.7284 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 2,164 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track) note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri M'poshi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways
Highways: total: 37,359 km paved: 6,575 km (including 56 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,784 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake Tanganyika
Pipelines: crude oil 1,724 km
Ports: Mpulungu
Airports: total: 104 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 35 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 54 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 80,900 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 1,889,140
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 215,000 (1995 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,934,845 males fit for military service: 1,020,851 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $96 million, 2.7% of GDP (1995)
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@Zimbabwe ————
Map —-
Location: 20 00 S, 30 00 E — Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana
Flag ——
Description: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 390,580 sq km land area: 386,670 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 3,066 km border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreement
Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east lowest point: junction of the Lundi and Savi rivers 162 m highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: NEGL (coffee) meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 49% other: 31%
Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 11,271,314 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 2,513,606; female 2,481,478) 15-64 years: 53% (male 2,935,188; female 3,030,270) 65 years and over: 3% (male 152,244; female 158,528) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.41% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 32.34 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 18.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: there is a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa in search of better paid employment
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 72.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.85 years male: 41.91 years female: 41.78 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.09 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic divisions: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%
Religions: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in English (1995 est.) total population: 85% male: 90% female: 80%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia
Data code: ZI
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Harare
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria), Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution: 21 December 1979
Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987) was nominated by the House of Assembly (if more than one nomination, electoral college of members of the House of Assembly elect the president); election last held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2002); results - Robert MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA 4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%; Co-Vice President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990) was appointed by the president cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president; responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150 total, 120 elected) ZANU-PF 118, ZANU-Ndonga 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert MUGABE; Zimbabwe African National Union-NDONGA (ZANU-NDONGA), Ndabaningi SITHOLE; Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM), Edgar TEKERE; Democratic Party (DP), Emmanuel MAGOCHE; Forum Party of Zimbabwe, Enock DUMBUTSHENA; United Parties, Abel MUZOREWA
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone: [263] (4) 794521 FAX: [263] (4) 796488
Flag: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Agriculture employs 70% of the labor force of this landlocked nation and supplies almost 40% of exports. Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment, but minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Severe drought caused GDP to drop 8% in 1992, with growth rebounding to 2% in 1993 and 4.5% in 1994, only to drop by 2.4% in 1995. The government is continuing to push its IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program aimed at encouraging exports and foreign investment. Officials face the difficult task of restraining expenditures in their effort to keep inflation within bounds.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -2.4% (1995)
GDP per capita: $1,620 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 18.3% industry: 35.3% services: 46.4% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25.8% (1995)
Labor force: 4.228 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 70%, transport and services 22%, industry 8%
Unemployment rate: at least 45% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $253 million (FY92/93)
Industries: mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals, foodstuffs, fertilizer, beverage, transportation equipment, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)
Electricity: capacity: 2,040,000 kW production: 9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 913 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs
Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: agricultural 35% (tobacco 30%, other 5%), manufactures 25%, gold 12%, ferrochrome 10%, textiles 8% (1992) partners: UK 14%, Germany 11%, South Africa 10%, Japan 7%, US 5% (1991)
Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 41%, other manufactures 23%, chemicals 16%, fuels 12% (1991) partners: South Africa 25%, UK 15%, Germany 9%, US 6%, Japan 5% (1991)
External debt: $4.4 billion (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $362 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 -9.3633 (January 1996), 8.6580 (1995), 8.1500 (1994), 6.4725 (1993), 5.0942 (1992), 3.4282 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 2,759 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km double track) (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 91,078 km paved: 14,572 km unpaved: 76,506 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: Lake Kariba is a potential line of communication
Pipelines: petroleum products 212 km
Ports: Binga, Kariba
Airports: total: 403 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 with paved runways under 914 m: 185 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 198 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 301,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 18, shortwave 0
Radios: 890,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 280,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,629,880 males fit for military service: 1,632,391 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $236 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY95/96)
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