$NA (continued 3)
Reading edition
15-64 years: 54.1% (male 10,956,133/female 11,255,868)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 513,959/female 663,233) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.3 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.04% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Birth rate:
34.29 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Death rate:
12.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Net migration rate:
-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 69.28 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 26 male: 76.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.01 years country comparison to the world: 203 male: 50.56 years
female: 53.51 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.46 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.4 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
96,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian
Ethnic groups:
mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African
Religions:
mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
Languages:
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources including Arabic and English; it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 69.4%
male: 77.5%
female: 62.2% (2002 census)
Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 164
Government ::Tanzania
Country name:
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
local short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dar es Salaam
geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets there on a regular basis
Administrative divisions:
26 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West
Independence:
26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
National holiday:
Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
Constitution:
25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001)
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Amani Abeid KARUME was reelected to that office on 30 October 2005
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2010); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE 80.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 11.7%, Freeman MBOWE 5.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats; 232 members elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; to serve five-year terms); note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5 Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take place soon
Judicial branch:
Permanent Commission of Enquiry (official ombudsman); Court of Appeal (consists of a chief justice and four judges); High Court (consists of a Jaji Kiongozi and 29 judges appointed by the president; holds regular sessions in all regions); District Courts; Primary Courts (limited jurisdiction and appeals can be made to the higher courts)
Political parties and leaders:
Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA] (unregistered); Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF; Free Zanzibar; Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ombeni Yohana SEFUE
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark GREEN
embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 266-8001
FAX: [255] (22) 266-8238, 266-8373
Flag description:
divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue
Economy ::Tanzania
Economy - overview:
Tanzania is in the bottom ten percent of the world's economies in terms of per capita income. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than 40% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of 7.1% in 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$54.38 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $50.77 billion (2007 est.)
$47.38 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$20.67 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 7.1% (2007 est.)
6.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201 $1,300 (2007 est.)
$1,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 27.1%
industry: 22.5%
services: 50.4% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
21.06 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
36% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 26.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (2000) country comparison to the world: 89 38.2 (1993)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Budget:
revenues: $4.099 billion
expenditures: $4.517 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
23.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15.99% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 11 16.4% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.98% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 36 16.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$2.464 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 66 $2.285 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.362 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 79 $3.212 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.297 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 88 $2.501 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$541.1 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate:
9.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - production:
3.786 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - consumption:
3.182 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - consumption:
32,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - imports:
28,070 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - production:
560.7 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - consumption:
560.7 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Current account balance:
-$3.536 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 -$1.856 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.413 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $2.227 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton
Exports - partners:
India 8.1%, Japan 6.5%, China 6.3%, UAE 5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, Germany 5.1% (2008)
Imports:
$7.08 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $4.861 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
Imports - partners:
China 14.4%, India 9%, South Africa 7.7%, Kenya 6.9%, UAE 5.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.869 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $2.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.195 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $4.382 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - 1,178.1 (2008 est.), 1,255 (2007), 1,251.9 (2006), 1,128.93 (2005), 1,089.33 (2004)
Communications ::Tanzania
Telephones - main lines in use:
179,849 (2009) country comparison to the world: 126
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.723 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 46
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications services are inadequate; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction
domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (1999)
Internet country code:
.tz
Internet hosts:
24,724 (2009) country comparison to the world: 96
Internet users:
520,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 106
Transportation ::Tanzania
Airports:
125 (2009) country comparison to the world: 47
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 116
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 34 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 253 km; oil 888 km; refined products 8 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,689 km country comparison to the world: 46 narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 78,891 km country comparison to the world: 60 paved: 6,808 km
unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)
Waterways:
Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 9 country comparison to the world: 117 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Dar es Salaam
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Military ::Tanzania
Military branches:
Tanzanian People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,108,177 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,473,552
females age 16-49: 5,493,188 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 487,742
female: 489,462 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Transnational Issues ::Tanzania
Disputes - international:
Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees, more than any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the international community's efforts at repatriation; disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 352,640 (Burundi); 127,973 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
targeted by traffickers moving hashish, Afghan heroin, and South American cocaine transported down the East African coastline, through airports, or overland through Central Africa; Zanzibar likely used by traffickers for drug smuggling; traffickers in the past have recruited Tanzanian couriers to move drugs through Iran into East Asia.
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Thailand (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Thailand
Background:
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US treaty ally following the conflict. A military coup in September 2006 ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. The interim government held elections in December 2007 that saw the former pro-THAKSIN People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition government. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government, eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August. Clashes in October 2008 between PAD protesters blocking parliament and police resulted in the death of at least two people. The PAD occupied Bangkok's international airports briefly, ending their protests in early December 2008 following a court ruling that dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for election violations. The Democrat Party then formed a new coalition government with the support of some of THAKSIN's former political allies, and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed as separatists in Thailand's southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces increased the violence associated with their cause.
Geography ::Thailand
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 513,120 sq km country comparison to the world: 50 land: 510,890 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
Coastline:
3,219 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain:
central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources:
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.54%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 65.53% (2005)
Irrigated land:
49,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
409.9 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 82.75 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,288 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People ::Thailand
Population:
65,905,410 country comparison to the world: 20 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 7,009,845/female 6,691,470)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 22,977,945/female 23,512,538)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 2,594,387/female 3,119,225) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.3 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 34.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.615% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Birth rate:
13.4 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Death rate:
7.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 33% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.63 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 117 male: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.1 years country comparison to the world: 110 male: 70.77 years
female: 75.55 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
610,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
30,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 99
Government ::Thailand
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai
former: Siam
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence:
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday:
Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)
Constitution:
24 August 2007
Legal system:
based on civil law system with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister KORBSAK Saphawasu, also spelled KORBSAK Sabhavasu (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SUTHEP Thueaksuban, also spelled SUTHEP Thaugsuban (since 22 December 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king
elections: monarch is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution, prime minister is elected from among members of House of Representatives; following national elections for House of Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king; prime minister is limited to two 4-year terms
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote representing 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independent government bodies; all serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of provinces; all serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 23 December 2007 (next to be held by December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5
note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are disqualified from being senators
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Chat Thai Phattana Party or CP (Thai Nation Development Party) [CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Motherland Party (Phuea Phaendin Party) [CHANCHAI Chairungrueang]; Phuea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHAVALIT Yongchaiyudh]; Phumchai (Bhumjai) Thai Party or PCT (Thai Pride) [CHAVARAT Charnvirakul]; Royalist People's Party (Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai Thai Party (Thai Unity Party) [WANNARAT Channukul]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD; United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador DON Pramudwinai
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric G. JOHN
embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
Economy ::Thailand
Economy - overview:
With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand was one of East Asia's best performers from 2002-04, averaging more than 6% annual real GDP growth. However, overall economic growth has fallen sharply - averaging 4.9% from 2005 to 2007 - as persistent political crisis stalled infrastructure mega-projects, eroded investor and consumer confidence, and damaged the country's international image. The growth rate fell to 2.6% in 2008. Exports were the key economic driver as foreign investment and consumer demand stalled. Export growth from January 2005 to November 2008 averaged 17.5% annually. Business uncertainty escalated, however, following the September 2006 coup when the military-installed government imposed capital controls and considered far-reaching changes to foreign investment rules and other business legislation. Although controversial capital controls have since been lifted and business rules largely remain unchanged, investor sentiment has not recovered. Moreover, the 2008 global financial crisis further darkened Thailand's economic horizon. Continued political uncertainty will hamper resumption of infrastructure mega-projects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$548.7 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $534.8 billion (2007 est.)
$509.8 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$273.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 4.9% (2007 est.)
5.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $8,200 (2007 est.)
$7,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 45.1%
services: 43.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
37.78 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 42.6%
industry: 20.2%
services: 37.1% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 1.4% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.7% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42 (2002) country comparison to the world: 55
Investment (gross fixed):
27.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Budget:
revenues: $48.24 billion
expenditures: $51.33 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
37.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 47.6% of GDP (November 2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 2.2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 127 3.75% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.04% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 117 7.25% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$28.76 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 29 $28.63 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$237.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 13 $224.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$274.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 26 $263.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$102.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 39 $196 billion (31 December 2007)
$141.1 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Industries:
tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate:
3.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - production:
135.2 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - consumption:
129.5 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - exports:
773 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.784 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
361,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Oil - consumption:
942,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - exports:
216,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - imports:
826,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - proved reserves:
441 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - production:
28.76 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - consumption:
37.31 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - imports:
8.55 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26
Natural gas - proved reserves:
317.1 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Current account balance:
-$113 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $15.76 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$175.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $150 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Exports - partners:
US 11.4%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.2%, Singapore 5.7%, Hong Kong 5.6%, Malaysia 5.6%, Australia 4.3% (2008)
Imports:
$157.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $124.5 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners:
Japan 18.8%, China 11.2%, US 6.4%, UAE 6%, Malaysia 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, Singapore 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$111 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $87.46 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$65.09 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 46 $61.74 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$80.83 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$7.013 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Exchange rates:
baht per US dollar - 33.37 (2008 est.), 34.52 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004)
Communications ::Thailand
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.024 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 26
Telephones - mobile cellular:
62 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 17
Telephone system:
general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok
domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines
international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 238, FM 351, shortwave 6 (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
111 (2006)
Internet country code:
.th
Internet hosts:
1.231 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 37
Internet users:
16.1 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 23
Transportation ::Thailand
Airports:
105 (2009) country comparison to the world: 56
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 6 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 27 (2009)
Heliports:
4 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,348 km; refined products 323 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 4,071 km country comparison to the world: 41 standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006) country comparison to the world: 28
Waterways:
4,000 km country comparison to the world: 27 note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 398 country comparison to the world: 25 by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container 22, liquefied gas 28, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UK 5)
registered in other countries: 40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
Military ::Thailand
Military branches:
Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN, includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongtap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males are registered at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,553,410
females age 16-49: 17,751,268 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,086,106
females age 16-49: 14,126,398 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 532,977
female: 510,737 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Transnational Issues ::Thailand
Disputes - international:
separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of 2006, over 116,000 Karen, Hmong, and other refugees and asylum seekers from Burma; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of historic boundary with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 132,241 (Burma) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer of methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government crackdowns
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Timor-Leste (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Timor-Leste
Background:
The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999, the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In late April 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a near breakdown of law and order in Dili. At the request of the Government of Timor-Leste, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste in late May. In August, the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing the Government of Timor-Leste to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in April and June 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack and the majority of the rebels surrendered to the government in April 2008.
Geography ::Timor-Leste
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 14,874 sq km country comparison to the world: 159 land: 14,874 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline:
706 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:
mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources:
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use:
arable land: 8.2%
permanent crops: 4.57%
other: 87.23% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,065 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands
People ::Timor-Leste
Population:
1,131,612 country comparison to the world: 155 note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 199,237/female 192,900)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 356,772/female 344,103)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 18,403/female 20,197) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 21.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.027% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Birth rate:
26.25 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Death rate:
5.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 27% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 40.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 66 male: 46.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.27 years country comparison to the world: 155 male: 64.92 years
female: 69.75 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.28 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)
Languages:
Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English
note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA
female: NA (2002)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Timor-Leste
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay)
conventional short form: Timor-Leste
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in place but is to be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been promulgated; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2007); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Vice Prime Minister Mario Viegas CARRASCALAO (since 5 March 2009); Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007 with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary from 52 to 65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections due by June 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT 24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic Alliance) 3.2%, UNDERTIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party - FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Zacarias Albano da COSTA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, ARF, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jorge Trindade NEVES de Camoes
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hans G. KLEMM
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag description:
red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle
Economy ::Timor-Leste
Economy - overview:
In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of Timor-Leste was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias. Three hundred thousand people fled westward. Over the next three years a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By the end of 2005, refugees had returned or had settled in Indonesia. The country continues to face great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of oil and gas resources in offshore waters has begun to supplement government revenues ahead of schedule and above expectations. The technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create jobs for the unemployed because there are no production facilities in Timor. Gas is piped to Australia. In June 2005, the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held assets of US$3.9 billion as of October 2008. The economy is recovering from the mid-2006 outbreak of violence and civil unrest, which disrupted both private and public sector economic activity. The government in 2008 resettled tens of thousands of an estimated 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and planned for all IDPs to return home by early 2009. The underlying economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and to reduce poverty.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.526 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $2.239 billion (2007 est.)
$2.066 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$499 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
12.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 8.4% (2007 est.)
-5.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $2,100 (2007 est.)
$1,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 12.8%
services: 55% (2005)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 note: data are for rural areas, unemployment rises to more than 40% among urban youth
Population below poverty line:
42% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38 country comparison to the world: 75
Budget:
revenues: $733 million
expenditures: $309 million
note: the government in 2008 moved to a fiscal year calendar; it passed a supplementary spending package to cover the latter half of 2008 (FY06/07 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.11% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 41 15.05% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$102.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 111 $74.94 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$89.88 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 122 $68.78 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Industries:
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Electricity - production:
kWh NA
Electricity - consumption:
kWh NA
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
100,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - consumption:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
553.8 million bbl (1 January 2008) country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - proved reserves:
200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Current account balance:
$1.161 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Exports:
$10 million (2005 est.); note - excludes oil country comparison to the world: 210
Exports - commodities:
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and vanilla exports
Imports:
$202 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Imports - commodities:
food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Timor-Leste
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 221
Telephones - mobile cellular:
101,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 182
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary service limited to urban areas
domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; extremely limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services and coverage limited primarily to urban areas
international: country code - 670; international service is available in major urban centers
Radio broadcast stations:
at least 21 (Timor-Leste has one national public broadcaster and 20 community and church radio stations - station frequency types NA) (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (Timor-Leste has one national public broadcaster)
Internet country code:
.tl
Internet hosts:
169 (2009) country comparison to the world: 192
Internet users:
1,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 210
Transportation ::Timor-Leste
Airports:
6 (2009) country comparison to the world: 172
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Heliports:
8 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 6,040 km country comparison to the world: 149 paved: 2,600 km
unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 country comparison to the world: 156 by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Dili
Military ::Timor-Leste
Military branches:
Timor-Leste Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 284,903
females age 16-49: 272,212 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 230,534
females age 16-49: 238,610 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 12,887
female: 12,529 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Timor-Leste
Disputes - international:
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with Australian claims in the south; many refugees who left Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; Australia and Timor-Leste agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for 50 years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 100,000 (2007)
Illicit drugs:
NA
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Togo (Africa)
Introduction ::Togo
Background:
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967 and maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. After years of political unrest and fire from international organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being re-welcomed into the international community.
Geography ::Togo
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 56,785 sq km country comparison to the world: 125 land: 54,385 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,647 km
border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline:
56 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 30 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 44.2%
permanent crops: 2.11%
other: 53.69% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
14.7 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%)
per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
People ::Togo
Population:
6,019,877 country comparison to the world: 107 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.5% (male 1,252,662/female 1,245,379)
15-64 years: 55.7% (male 1,640,982/female 1,714,278)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 65,427/female 101,149) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.7 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.711% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Birth rate:
36.44 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Death rate:
9.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.24 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 42 male: 63.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.69 years country comparison to the world: 187 male: 56.56 years
female: 60.88 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.79 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups:
African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions:
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Languages:
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 11 years
female: 7 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 156
Government ::Togo
Country name:
conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togoland
Government type:
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
name: Lome
geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
Independence:
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution:
adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system:
French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (adult)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005); note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, with the support of the military; following international condemnation for the unconstitutional move he then stepped aside pending elections, and Abass BONFOH served as interim president; Faure GNASSINGBE later won popular elections in April 2005
head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7 September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held in April 2010); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, Nicolas LAWSON 1%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - RPT 39.4%, UFC 37.0%, CAR 8.2%, independents 2.5%, other 12.9%; seats by party - RPT 50, UFC 27, CAR 4
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO]; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party for Renewal or PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace and Equality or MOCEP; Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP; Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE]; Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces for a Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kadangha Limbiya BARIKI
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS
embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20512-2300
telephone: [228] 261-5470
FAX: [228] 261-5501
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy ::Togo
Economy - overview:
This small, sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo is working with donors to write a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) that could eventually lead to a debt reduction plan. Economic growth remains marginal due to declining cotton production, underinvestment in phosphate mining, and strained relations with donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.13 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $5.074 billion (2007 est.)
$4.98 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.89 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 1.9% (2007 est.)
3.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 216 $900 (2007 est.)
$900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 25%
services: 35% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.595 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 108
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
20.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Budget:
revenues: $438.1 million
expenditures: $519.9 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 118 4.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$624.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$383.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$674,300 (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 129 $590.7 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Industries:
phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - production:
230 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - consumption:
640 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
514 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - exports:
1,547 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - imports:
15,270 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Current account balance:
-$272 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 -$154 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$777 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $702 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners:
Ghana 12.7%, Burkina Faso 11%, Germany 9.8%, South Africa 7.3%, Benin 6.9%, India 6.3%, Brazil 4.9%, Belgium 4.8%, Mali 4.4%, Netherlands 4.3% (2008)
Imports:
$1.541 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $1.264 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
China 34.2%, Netherlands 7.5%, France 6.8%, India 6.5%, Thailand 4.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$580 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $438 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2 billion (2005) country comparison to the world: 136
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Togo
Telephones - main lines in use:
140,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 136
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.547 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 131
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 30 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus 2 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.tg
Internet hosts:
784 (2009) country comparison to the world: 163
Internet users:
350,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 120
Transportation ::Togo
Airports:
8 (2009) country comparison to the world: 162
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Railways:
total: 532 km country comparison to the world: 114 narrow gauge: 532 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 7,520 km country comparison to the world: 145 paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)
Waterways:
50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2008) country comparison to the world: 104
Merchant marine:
total: 10 country comparison to the world: 113 by type: cargo 9, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Bangladesh 1, Denmark 1, Egypt 1, Lebanon 1, Syria 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Kpeme, Lome
Military ::Togo
Military branches:
Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Ground Forces, Togolese Navy (Marine du Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, FAT), National Gendarmerie (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,365,505
females age 16-49: 1,374,993 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 929,395
females age 16-49: 943,967 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 70,775
female: 70,051 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Transnational Issues ::Togo
Disputes - international:
in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006, 14,000 Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana)
IDPs: 1,500 (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Tokelau (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tokelau
Background:
Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925. Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of the islands from that of a New Zealand territory to one of free association with New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold for approval.
Geography ::Tokelau
Location:
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12 sq km country comparison to the world: 240 land: 12 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain:
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues:
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Geography - note:
consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m above sea level
People ::Tokelau
Population:
1,416 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 232
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.011% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate:
NA (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian
Religions:
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant
Languages:
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 10 years
female: 11 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Tokelau
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand; a UN-sponsored referendum on self governance in October 2007 did not produce the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status
Government type:
NA
Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:
none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Legal system:
New Zealand and local statutes
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Fono (20 seats; based upon proportional representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; Atafu has seven seats, Fakaofo has seven seats, Nukunonu has six seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
elections: last held 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: independents 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:
a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white, five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and symbolizes the country's navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies
Economy ::Tokelau
Economy - overview:
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public services with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.5 million (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 228
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 213
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
440 (2001) country comparison to the world: 220
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish
Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exports:
$0 (2002) country comparison to the world: 223
Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Imports:
$969,200 (2002) country comparison to the world: 218
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Communications ::Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:
300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 228
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides service to all islands) (2002)
Internet country code:
.tk
Internet hosts:
360 (2009) country comparison to the world: 177
Internet users:
800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 215
Transportation ::Tokelau
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Tokelau
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues ::Tokelau
Disputes - international:
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution
page last updated on November 10, 2009
======================================================================
@Tonga (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tonga
Background:
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Geography ::Tonga
Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 747 sq km country comparison to the world: 189 land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
419 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 14.67%
other: 65.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues:
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People ::Tonga
Population:
120,898 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.8% (male 20,270/female 19,428)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 37,837/female 38,166)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 2,163/female 3,034) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.3 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.482% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Birth rate:
19.84 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 147 male: 12.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.73 years country comparison to the world: 140 male: 68.18 years
female: 73.41 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian, Europeans
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1999 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 71
Government ::Tonga
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule'anga Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life; 4 appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including 2 each from the nobles' and peoples' representatives serving three-year terms
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the cabinet, and 2 governors
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and 9 elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 23-24 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - independents 54%, THRDM 28%, PDP 14%; seats - THRDM 4, independents 3, PDP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and approved by Privy Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Viliami MALOLO
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Flag description:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy ::Tonga
Economy - overview:
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 41,000 visitors in 2004. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$548.1 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 $543.7 million (2007 est.)
$545.4 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$258 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 -0.3% (2007 est.)
3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $4,600 (2007 est.)
$4,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)
Labor force:
39,960 (2007) country comparison to the world: 189
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31.8%
industry: 30.6%
services: 37.6% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% (FY03/04 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Population below poverty line:
24% (FY03/04)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $80.48 million
expenditures: $109.8 million (FY07/08 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.46% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 68 12.16% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$36.16 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 117 $46.38 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$100.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 120 $106.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$163.1 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Industries:
tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - production:
43 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - consumption:
39.99 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - imports:
1,173 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Current account balance:
-$23 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Exports:
$22 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 203
Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:
US 29.6%, Japan 12%, NZ 12%, Fiji 7.1%, Samoa 6%, Australia 4.8%, South Korea 4.4%, Hong Kong 4.3% (2008)
Imports:
$139 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 204
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Fiji 36.8%, NZ 23.9%, US 9.3%, Australia 8.8%, China 4.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.83 million (yearend, FY04/05) country comparison to the world: 153
Debt - external:
$80.7 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 189
Exchange rates:
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Communications ::Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 183
Telephones - mobile cellular:
50,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 193
Telephone system:
general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT granted approval to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the mobile-phone network; international telecom services are provided by government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International (TTI)
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 60 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2004)
Internet country code:
.to
Internet hosts:
20,107 (2009) country comparison to the world: 104
Internet users:
8,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 201
Transportation ::Tonga
Airports:
6 (2009) country comparison to the world: 171
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 680 km country comparison to the world: 188 paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 13 country comparison to the world: 109 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 8, carrier 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Cyprus 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Nuku'alofa
Military ::Tonga
Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 32,053
females age 16-49: 30,981 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 26,471
females age 16-49: 27,715 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,458
female: 1,403 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Transnational Issues ::Tonga
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Trinidad and Tobago (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Trinidad and Tobago
Background:
First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.
Geography ::Trinidad and Tobago
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5,128 sq km country comparison to the world: 173 land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
362 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:
mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use:
arable land: 14.62%
permanent crops: 9.16%
other: 76.22% (2005)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
3.8 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.31 cu km/yr (68%/26%/6%)
per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt
People ::Trinidad and Tobago
Population:
1,229,953 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 123,214/female 117,584)
15-64 years: 72.6% (male 457,868/female 434,486)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 41,467/female 55,334) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.1 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 32.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.102% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 214
Birth rate:
14.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Death rate:
8.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Net migration rate:
-7.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Urbanization:
urban population: 13% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.93 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 75 male: 31.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)