P (continued 10)
Reading edition
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 250,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are five low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 40,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA) standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)
Highways: total: 7,670 km paved: 629 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,041 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports and harbors: Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,613 GRT/22,599 DWT (1998 est.) ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 62 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 52 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 280,719 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 144,133 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually: males: 11,392 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $91 million (1996)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.6% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
======================================================================
@Gambia, The —————-
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 28% other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years
Environment—current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
People
Population: 1,336,320 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 305,839; female 304,905) 15-64 years: 52% (male 341,947; female 348,163) 65 years and over: 2% (male 18,706; female 16,760) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.35% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 42.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.39 years male: 52.02 years female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.6% male: 52.8% female: 24.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia
Data code: GA
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Banjul
Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western note: it has been reported but not verified that the name of the MacCarthy Island division has been changed to Central River
Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK); note—The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution: 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997
Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent of vote—Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; all for five-year terms) elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—APRC 33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS note—in August 1996 the government banned the following from participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Crispin GREY-JOHNSON chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George W. HALEY embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
Economy
Economy—overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the reexport trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in tourism after its decline in response to the military's takeover in July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 13% services: 64% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $88.6 million expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishery resources not fully exploited
Exports: $120 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
Exports—partners: Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, UK, US, Indonesia (1997)
Imports: $207 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports—partners: Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium (1997)
Debt—external: $426 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $45.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1—10.947 (December 1998), 10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 11,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 180,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government owned) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 400 km
Ports and harbors: Banjul
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes marine unit), National Police, National Guard
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 296,976 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 149,670 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $1.2 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip —————
Introduction
Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes 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 took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, and the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. 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.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 360 sq km land: 360 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 62 km border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement—permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 39% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 11% other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment
Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1998 est.)
People
Population: 1,112,654 (July 1999 est.) note: in addition, there are some 6,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip (August 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 52% (male 294,196; female 280,017) 15-64 years: 46% (male 255,209; female 251,317) 65 years and over: 2% (male 13,475; female 18,440) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.44% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 48.24 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.44 years male: 72.01 years female: 74.95 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.46 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Data code: GZ
Economy
Economy—overview: Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip?under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority since the Cairo Agreement of May 1994—have deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36% between 1992 and 1996 owing to the combined effect of falling aggregate incomes and robust population growth. The downturn in economic activity was largely the result of Israeli closure policies—the imposition of generalized border closures in response to security incidents in Israel—which disrupted previously established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative social effect of this downturn has been the emergence of chronic unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were generally under 5%, by the mid-1990s this level had risen to over 20%. Since 1997 Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor. These positive changes to the conduct of economic activity, combined with international donor pledges of over $3 billion made to the Palestinian Authority in November, may fuel a moderate economic recovery in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (1995 est., includes West Bank)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.8% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA note: excluding Israeli settlers
Labor force—by occupation: services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 26.8% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $816 million expenditures: $866 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) note: includes West Bank
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by Israel
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh
Agriculture—products: olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports: $781 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank)
Exports—commodities: citrus
Exports—partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank)
Imports—commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports—partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt—external: $108 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1—4.2260 (November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications
Telephones: NA; 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note—95% of Palestinian households have radios (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corp.) (1997)
Televisions: NA; note—59% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; note—one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little trackage remains
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network
Ports and harbors: Gaza
Airports: 2 (1998 est.) note: includes Gaza International Airport that opened on 24 November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement—permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
======================================================================
@Georgia ———-
Introduction
Background: Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991, Georgia began to stabilize in 1994. Political settlements for separatist conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia remain elusive. The conflict in South Ossetia has been dormant since spring 1994, but sporadic violence continues between Abkhaz forces and Georgian partisans in western Georgia. Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts, Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In 1995, Georgia adopted a new constitution and conducted generally free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. In 1996, the government focused its attention on implementing an ambitious economic reform program and professionalizing its parliament. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in 1995 and 1996, but corruption remains rife. Georgia has taken some steps to reduce its dependence on Russia, acquiring coastal patrol boats in 1997 to replace Russian border units along the Black Sea coast. In 1998, Georgia assumed control of its Black Sea coast and about half of its land border with Turkey in line with a June 1998 agreement with Russia. Since 1997, Georgia's parliament has sharpened its rhetoric against Russia's continued military presence on Georgian territory. In February 1998 an assassination attempt was made against President SHEVARDNADZE by supporters of the late former president Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA. In October 1998, a disaffected military officer led a failed mutiny in western Georgia; the armed forces continue to feel the ripple effect of the uprising. Georgia faces parliamentary elections this fall, and presidential elections next spring. After two years of robust growth, the economy, hurt by the financial crisis in Russia, slowed in 1998.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
Coastline: 310 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m
Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 34% other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes
Environment—current issues: air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals
Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Desertification
People
Population: 5,066,499 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 544,055; female 522,491) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,628,993; female 1,753,527) 65 years and over: 12% (male 236,124; female 381,309) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.74% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.3 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.01 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.63 years male: 61.13 years female: 68.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religions: Christian Orthodox 75% (Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian Orthodox 10%), Muslim 11%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Languages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 100% female: 98% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: GG
Government type: republic
Capital: T'bilisi
Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular—raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular—k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular—avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis, Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*, Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)
Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995; note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995; note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote—Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—CUG 24%, NDP 8%, AGUR 7%, all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party—CUG 107, NDP 34, AGUR 32, Progress Bloc 4, SPG 4, others 9, Abkazian deputies 12, independents 29, not filled 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG groups: Democratic Union of Georgia or DUG, Political Association "Georgian Proprietors"—Electoral Association "T'bilisi", Political Union of Young Democrats "Our Choice", Political Union Tanadgoma)
Political pressure groups and leaders: supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition; separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; Georgian refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament)
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026 mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
Economy
Economy—overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, made substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy suffered some setbacks in late 1998, including a large budget deficit due to a failure to collect tax revenue and to the impact of the Russian economic crisis. Georgia also still suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The construction of a Caspian oil pipeline through Georgia—scheduled to open in early 1999—should spur greater Western investment in the economy. The global economic slowdown, a growing trade deficit, continuing problems with corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$11.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 16% services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.08 million (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $364 million expenditures: $568 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, foundry equipment, electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors, process control equipment, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 6.845 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 29.88% hydro: 70.12% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 6.949 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 404 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; livestock
Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles; chemicals; fuel reexports
Exports—partners: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Armenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, US, UK, Italy, Germany, Romania (1997)
Imports: $931 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment
Imports—partners: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan (1996); note?EU and US send humanitarian food shipments
Debt—external: $1.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $212.7 million (1995)
Currency: lari introduced September 1995 replacing the coupon
Exchange rates: lari per US$1 (end of period)—1.82 (December 1998), 1.32 (December 1997), 1.28 (December 1996), 1.24 (December 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 760,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: local—T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks with about 10,000 customers total; urban areas 20 telephones/100 people; rural areas 4 phones/100 people; intercity—a fiber-optic line connects T'bilisi to K'ut'aisi (Georgia's second largest city); nationwide pager service international: Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is available by microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service available
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note 2 national broadcast stations, 3 regional broadcast stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: total: 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)
Highways: total: 20,700 km paved: 19,354 km unpaved: 1,346 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 86,667 GRT/121,679 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 5, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 28 (1994 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
Transportation—note: transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 1,287,225 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,018,309 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually: males: 40,604 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $57 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1% (1998)
Military—note: a CIS peacekeeping force consisting of Russian troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe
======================================================================
@Germany ———-
Introduction
Background: Germany—first united in 1871?suffered defeats in successive world wars and was occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the beginning of the Cold War and increasing tension between the US and Soviet Union, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The newly democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EU and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War cleared the path for the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and German re-unification in 1990. Germany has expended considerable funds—roughly $100 billion a year—in subsequent years working to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards, with mixed results. Unemployment—which in the east is nearly double that in the west—has grown over the last several years, primarily as a result of structural problems like an inflexible labor market. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other members of the EU formed a common European currency, the euro, and the German government is now looking toward reform of the EU budget and enlargement of the Union into Central Europe.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 356,910 sq km land: 349,520 sq km water: 7,390 sq km note: includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, and Berlin, following formal unification on 3 October 1990
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 3,621 km border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline: 2,389 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m highest point: Zugspitze 2,962 m
Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 31% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding
Environment—current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result of continued use of leaded fuels) contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal
Environment—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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea
People
Population: 82,087,361 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 6,495,882; female 6,172,359) 15-64 years: 69% (male 28,687,267; female 27,526,698) 65 years and over: 16% (male 4,990,090; female 8,215,065) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.01% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.76 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.17 years male: 74.01 years female: 80.5 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: German(s) adjective: German
Ethnic groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 4.6% (made up largely of people fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia)
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%, unaffiliated or other 26.3%
Languages: German
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1977 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland
Data code: GM
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Berlin note: the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of years, with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several ministries even after parliament moves in 1999
Administrative divisions: 16 states (Laender, singular—Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen
Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991
National holiday: German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990)
Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Roman HERZOG (since 1 July 1994) head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the proposal of the chancellor elections: president elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the Land Parliaments; election last held 23 May 1994 (next to be held 23 May 1999); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held in the fall of 2002) election results: Roman HERZOG elected president; percent of Federal Convention vote—52.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor; percent of Federal Assembly—52.8%
Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the two chambers as a whole) consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (656 seats usually, but 669 for the 1998 term; elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block) elections: Federal Assembly—last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by the fall of 2002); note—there are no elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election election results: Federal Assembly—percent of vote by party—SPD 40.9%, Alliance 90/Greens 6.7%, CDU/CSU 35.1%, FDP 6.2%, PDS 5.1%; seats by party—SPD 298, Alliance 90/Greens 47, CDU/CSU 245, FDP 43, PDS 36; Federal Council—current composition—votes by party—SPD-led states 45, CDU-led states 24
Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht, half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union or CDU
Political pressure groups and leaders: employers' organizations, expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John C. KORNBLUM embassy: Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn mailing address: PSC 117, APO AE 09080 branch office: Berlin; mailing address: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
Economy
Economy—overview: Germany possesses the world's third most powerful economy, with its capitalist market system tempered by generous welfare benefits. On 1 January 1999, Germany and 10 other European Union countries launched the European Monetary Union (EMU) by permanently fixing their bilateral exchange rates and giving the new European Central Bank control over the zone's monetary policy. Germans expect to have the new European currency, the euro, in pocket by 2002. Domestic demand contributed to a moderate economic upswing in early 1998, although unemployment remains high. Job-creation measures have helped superficially, but structural rigidities—like high wages and costly benefits—make unemployment a long-term, not just a cyclical, problem. Although minimally affected by the Asian crisis in 1998, Germany revised its 1999 forecast downward at the beginning of the year to reflect anticipated effects from the global economic slowdown. Over the long term, Germany faces budgetary problems—lower tax revenues and higher pension outlays—as its population ages. Meanwhile, the German nation continues to wrestle with the integration of eastern Germany, whose adjustment may take decades to complete despite annual transfers from the west of roughly $100 billion a year.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.813 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 33.1% services: 65.8% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 38.2 million (1998)
Labor force—by occupation: industry 33.7%, agriculture 2.7%, services 63.6% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 10.6% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $977 billion expenditures: $1.024 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: western: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages; eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1998)
Electricity—production: 515.058 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 66.23% hydro: 3.5% nuclear: 29.81% other: 0.46% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 509.458 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 42.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 36.9 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: western?potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry; eastern—wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; pork, beef, chickens, milk, hides
Exports: $510 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: machinery 31%, vehicles 17%, chemicals 13%, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles (1997)
Exports—partners: EU 55.5% (France 10.7%, UK 8.5%, Italy 7.4%, Netherlands 7.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.8%), US 8.6%, Japan 2.3% (1997 est.)
Imports: $426 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery 22%, vehicles 10%, chemicals 9%, foodstuffs 8%, textiles, metals (1997)
Imports—partners: EU 54.3% (France 10.5%, Netherlands 8.5%, Italy 7.8%, UK 7.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.2%), US 7.7%, Japan 4.9% (1997)
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $7.5 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige
Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1—1.69 (January 1999), 1.7597 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 1.95583 deutsche marks per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 44 million
Telephone system: Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part domestic: the region which was formerly West Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign countries; since the reunification of Germany, the telephone system of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys all of the advantages of the national system international: satellite earth stations—14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean region); 7 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers; tropospheric scatter links
Radio broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 1,621, shortwave 37, digital audio broadcasting 130
Radios: 47.1 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9,513 (including repeaters)
Televisions: 51.4 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 46,300 km including 18,866 km electrified and 14,768 km double- or multiple-tracked (1996) note: since privatization in 1994, Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG) no longer publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the DBAG system there are 102 privately owned railway companies which own an approximate 3,000 km to 4,000 km of the total tracks
Highways: total: 656,074 km paved: 650,169 km (including 11,309 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,905 km all-weather (1997 est.)
Waterways: 7,467 km (1997); major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea
Pipelines: crude oil 2,460 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden, Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck, Magdeburg, Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
Merchant marine: total: 594 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,699,596 GRT/9,629,163 DWT ships by type: cargo 227, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 1, container 306, liquefied gas tanker 5, multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil tanker 7, passenger 3, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 618 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 319 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 62 1,524 to 2,437 m: 68 914 to 1,523 m: 54 under 914 m: 121 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 299 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 227 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 61 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air Force, Medical Corps, Border Police, Coast Guard
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 20,860,710 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 17,799,070 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually: males: 472,708 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $32.8 billion (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.5% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin and hashish, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs
======================================================================
@Ghana ——-
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 238,540 sq km land: 230,020 sq km water: 8,520 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,093 km border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 35% other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Environment—current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography—note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
People
Population: 18,887,626 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 4,020,493; female 3,982,816) 15-64 years: 54% (male 5,050,736; female 5,231,951) 65 years and over: 4% (male 284,423; female 317,207) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 31.79 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
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: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.14 years male: 55.08 years female: 59.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: black African 99.8% (major tribes—Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 75.9% female: 53.5% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast
Data code: GH
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Accra
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by the Parliament elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent of vote—RAWLINGS 57%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
Economy
Economy—overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 41% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. Power shortages also helped slow growth in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$33.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,800 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 14% services: 45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 31.4% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.3% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and fishing 61%, industry 10%, services 29% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.39 billion expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370 million (1996 est.)
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 6.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.66% hydro: 99.34% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 5.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 225 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 5 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Exports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: gold 39%, cocoa 35%, timber 9.4%, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, and diamonds (1996 est.)
Exports—partners: UK, Germany, US, Netherlands, Japan, Nigeria
Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports—commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods
Imports—partners: UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands
Debt—external: $5.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $477.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1—2,324.70 (September 1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995), 956.71 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: poor to fair system domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 0 (1997)
Radios: 12.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are eight repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.9 million (1997 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation) narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)
Highways: total: 39,409 km paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,552 GRT/14,839 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 12 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 4,520,125 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,507,954 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually: males: 184,360 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $53 million (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.7% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US
======================================================================
@Gibraltar ————-
Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
People
Population: 29,165 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 3,129; female 2,749) 15-64 years: 66% (male 10,888; female 8,247) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,729; female 2,423) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.39% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.65 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.32 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years male: 75.1 years female: 81.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Literacy: definition: NA total population: above 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code: GI
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Gibraltar
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Constitution: 30 May 1969
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have been residents six months or more
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable Sir Richard LUCE (since 24 February 1997) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats—15 elected, on for the Speaker, and two ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party—SD 8, SL 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or
Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
Economy
Economy—overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism (more than 5 million visitors in 1995), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,500 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1996)
Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
Labor force—by occupation: services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL%
Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $111.6 million expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and repairing; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral water, beer, canned fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: none
Exports: $83.7 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports—commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Exports—partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports: $778 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports—commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports—partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (LG) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note—the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 19,356 (1994)
Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities domestic: automatic exchange facilities international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 3 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways: total: 49.9 km paved: 49.9 km unpaved: 0 km
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Gibraltar
Merchant marine: total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 346m951 GRT/588,765 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: source of friction between Spain and the UK
======================================================================
@Glorioso Islands ————————
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
Area—comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources: guano, coconuts
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment—current issues: NA
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Data code: GO
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy—overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claimed by Madagascar
======================================================================
@Greece ———
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries: total: 1,210 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 6 nm
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 20% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes
Environment—current issues: air pollution; water pollution
Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
People
Population: 10,707,135 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 878,349; female 818,311) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,619,982; female 3,587,591) 65 years and over: 17% (male 799,053; female 1,003,849) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.41% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years male: 75.87 years female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages: Greek (official), English, French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 98% female: 93% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece
Data code: GR
Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
Capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular—nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)
Constitution: 11 June 1975
Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president; percent of Parliament vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%, KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%, Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party—PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9; note—seating has subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK, ND, and DIKKI; 1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
Political parties and leaders: New Democracy or ND (conservative)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandre PHILON chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country
Economy
Economy—overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP, although the government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises. Tourism is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 4% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government has tightened policy with the goal of qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in 2001. In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to just over 2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that inflation fell below 4% by the end of 1998—the lowest rate in 26 years. The outlook for 1999 is good with the budget deficit and inflation both expected to decline further, while GDP growth stays near 3% and the current account deficit remains below 2% of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$143 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 8.5% industry: 23.5% services: 68% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.28 million (1998)
Labor force—by occupation: services 59.2%, agriculture 19.8%, industry 21% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $45 billion expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 40.028 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 89.16% hydro: 10.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0.09% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 41.388 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 1.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 2.66 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels (1998)
Exports—partners: EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France 6%), US 16% (1997)
Imports: $27.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels, chemicals (1998)
Imports—partners: EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)
Debt—external: $40.8 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1—278.78 (January 1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,571,293 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable international: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 64 (in addition, there are about 1,000 low-power repeaters and two stations in the US armed forces network) (1997)
Televisions: 2.3 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 2,548 km standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km double track) narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)
Highways: total: 117,000 km paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine: total: 810 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,798,431 GRT/44,056,618 DWT ships by type: bulk 307, cargo 66, chemical tanker 19, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 12, container 45, liquefied gas tanker 5, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 76, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 78 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 63 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police
Military manpower—military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 2,707,628 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,071,670 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually: males: 79,376 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $4.04 billion (1998 est.)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Illicit drugs: a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece
======================================================================
@Greenland ————-
Geography
Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 2,175,600 sq km land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Area—comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 44,087 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Environment—current issues: protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note—Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
People
Population: 59,827 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 7,789; female 7,728) 15-64 years: 68% (male 22,248; female 18,678) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,562; female 1,822) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.1 years male: 65.98 years female: 74.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
Literacy: NA note: similar to Denmark proper
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Data code: GL
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type: NA
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997) cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote—23 out of 31 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidates' League 12.3%; seats by party—Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidates' League 4, independent 1 note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of vote by party—Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party—Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
Judicial branch: High Court or Landsret
Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors
International organization participation: NC, NIB
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center—the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white
Economy
Economy—overview: Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$945 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 0.6% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,100 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 24,500 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $706 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 245 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 245 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep; fish
Exports: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports—commodities: fish and fish products 95%
Exports—partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Imports: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6%
Imports—partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Debt—external: $243 million (1995)
Economic aid—recipient: $427 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1—6.401 (January 1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 19,600 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some local radio and TV stations
Radios: 23,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some local low-power stations; in addition, there are three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations which broadcast in the NTSC system (1997)
Televisions: 12,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km
Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut
Merchant marine: total: 1 passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,211 GRT/162 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 13 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Grenada ———-
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 340 sq km land: 340 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 18% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 9% other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People
Population: 97,008 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 21,055; female 20,365) 15-64 years: 53% (male 27,524; female 23,766) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,034; female 2,264) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.87% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.6 years male: 68.97 years female: 74.29 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant sects 33.2%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada
Data code: GJ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint George's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution: 19 December 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor general from among the members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 18 January 1999 (next to be held by NA October 2004) election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NNP 15
Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judge resides in Grenada)
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies
Flag description: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions
Economy
Economy—overview: In this island economy progress in fiscal reforms and prudent macroeconomic management have boosted annual growth to nearly 5% in 1997-98. The increase in economic activity has been led by construction and trade. Tourist facilities are being expanded; tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner. Major short-term concerns are the rising fiscal deficit and the deterioration in the external account balance. Grenada shares a common central bank and a common currency with seven other members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
GDP: purchasing power parity—$340 million (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 9.7% industry: 15% services: 75.3% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)
Labor force: 36,000
Labor force—by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1 October 1996)
Budget: revenues: $85.8 million expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997)
Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Exports: $22 million (1997)
Exports—commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports—partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)
Imports: $166.5 million (1997)
Imports—commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
Imports—partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)
Debt—external: $74 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $8.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,650 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: automatic, islandwide telephone system domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 80,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 30,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 638 km unpaved: 402 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US
======================================================================
@Guadeloupe —————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 1,780 sq km land: 1,706 sq km water: 74 sq km note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes, Saint Barthelemy, and part of Saint Martin
Area—comparative: 10 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 39% other: 29% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere is an active volcano
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 420,943 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 53,427; female 51,234) 15-64 years: 66% (male 138,215; female 141,243) 65 years and over: 9% (male 15,536; female 21,288) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.06% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.33 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.01 years male: 74.98 years female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guadeloupian(s) adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant sects 1%
Languages: French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90% male: 90% female: 90% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe
Data code: GP
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA 1996) head of government: President of the General Council Marcellin LUBETH (since NA 1998); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils election results: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council—last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); Regional Council—last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: General Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—various left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, various right parties 5, PCC 3, UDF 1; Regional Council—percent of vote by party—RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/DVG 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, DVD 5.73%; seats by party—RPR 25, PS/PPDG/DVG 12, PCG 2, DVD 2 note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1, FGPS 1; Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May—1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—FGPS 2, RPR 1, PPDG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR REIETTE]; Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or IBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Movement for Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department of France)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions