THE WORLD FACTBOOK :: WHAT'S NEW (continued 18)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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@Germany (Europe)

Introduction ::Germany

Background:

As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

Geography ::Germany

Location:

Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Geographic coordinates:

51 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 357,022 sq km country comparison to the world: 62 land: 348,672 sq km

water: 8,350 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 3,621 km

border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Coastline:

2,389 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind

Terrain:

lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m

highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m

Natural resources:

coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 33.13%

permanent crops: 0.6%

other: 66.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

4,850 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

188 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 38.01 cu km/yr (12%/68%/20%)

per capita: 460 cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

People ::Germany

Population:

82,329,758 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.7% (male 5,768,366/female 5,470,516)

15-64 years: 66.1% (male 27,707,761/female 26,676,759)

65 years and over: 20.3% (male 7,004,805/female 9,701,551) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 43.8 years

male: 42.6 years

female: 45.2 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.053% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Birth rate:

8.18 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Death rate:

10.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Net migration rate:

2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Urbanization:

urban population: 74% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.99 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 210 male: 4.41 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.26 years country comparison to the world: 32 male: 76.26 years

female: 82.42 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

53,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Nationality:

noun: German(s)

adjective: German

Ethnic groups:

German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)

Religions:

Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Languages:

German

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.6% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 82

People - note:

second most populous country in Europe after Russia

Government ::Germany

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany

conventional short form: Germany

local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland

local short form: Deutschland

former: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Berlin

geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen, and Thuringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat)

Independence:

18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991

National holiday:

Unity Day, 3 October (1990)

Constitution:

23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united Germany 3 October 1990

Legal system:

civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004)

head of government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)

cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor

elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) by a Federal Convention, including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election last held 23 May 2004 (next scheduled for 23 May 2009); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; Bundestag vote for Chancellor last held 22 November 2005 (next will follow the national elections to be held by 27 September 2009)

election results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604 votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN; Angela MERKEL elected chancellor; vote by Federal Assembly 397 to 202 with 12 abstentions

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments sit in the Council; each has three to six votes in proportion to population and are required to vote as a block)and the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (622 seats; members elected by popular vote for a four-year term under a system of personalized proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain proportional representation and caucus recognition)

elections: Bundestag - last held on 27 September 2009 (next to be held no later than autumn 2013); note - there are no elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election

election results: Bundestag - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU 33.8%, SPD 23%, FDP 14.6%, Left 11.9%, Greens 10.7%, other 6%; seats by party - CDU/CSU 239, SPD 146, FDP 93, Left 76, Greens 68

Judicial branch:

Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance '90/Greens [Claudia ROTH and Cem OZDEMIR]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social Union or CSU [Horst SEEHOFER]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Guido WESTERWELLE]; Left Party or Die Linke [Lothar BISKY and Oskar LAFONTAINE]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Franz MUENTEFERING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: business associations and employers' organizations; religious, trade unions, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Klaus SCHARIOTH

chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000

FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John KOENIG

embassy: Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin; note - new embassy opened 4 July 2008

mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265, Clayallee 170, 14195 Berlin

telephone: [49] (030) 2385174

FAX: [49] (030) 8305-1215

consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field

Economy ::Germany

Economy - overview:

The German economy - the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP terms and Europe's largest - began to contract in the second quarter of 2008 as the strong euro, high oil prices, tighter credit markets, and slowing growth abroad took their toll on Germany's export-dependent economy. At just 1% in 2008, GDP growth is expected to be negative in 2009. Recent stimulus and lender relief efforts will make demands on Germany's federal budget and undercut plans to balance its budget by 2011. The reforms launched by the former government of Chancellor Gerhard SCHOEDER, deemed necessary due to chronically high unemployment and low average growth, led to strong growth in 2007, while unemployment in 2008 fell below 8%, a new post-reunification low. Germany's aging population, combined with high chronic unemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a level exceeding contributions, but higher government revenues from the cyclical upturn in 2006-07 and a 3% rise in the value-added tax cut Germany's budget deficit to within the EU's 3% debt limit in 2007. The current government of Chancellor Angela MERKEL has initiated other reform measures, such as a gradual increase in the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 67 and measures to increase female participation in the labor market. The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy - where unemployment still exceeds 30% in some municipalities - continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $80 billion. While corporate restructuring and growing capital markets have set strong foundations to help Germany meet the longer-term challenges of European economic integration and globalization, Germany's export-oriented economy has proved a disadvantage in the context of weak global demand.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.925 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $2.887 trillion (2007 est.)

$2.817 trillion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.673 trillion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 2.5% (2007 est.)

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$35,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $35,000 (2007 est.)

$34,200 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.9%

industry: 30.1%

services: 69.1% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

43.6 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.4%

industry: 29.7%

services: 67.8% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

7.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 9% (2007 est.)

note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated rate for international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Office estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.8%

Population below poverty line:

11% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%

highest 10%: 22.1% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

27 (2006) country comparison to the world: 123 30 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Budget:

revenues: $1.591 trillion

expenditures: $1.591 trillion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

66% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 65.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 93 5% (31 December 2007)

note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.97% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 133 5.96% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

$NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.019 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 5 $4.457 trillion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 8 $2.106 trillion (31 December 2007)

$1.638 trillion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry

Industries:

among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

0.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - production:

593.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Electricity - consumption:

547.3 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity - exports:

61.7 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

41.67 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

150,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Oil - consumption:

2.569 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Oil - exports:

582,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Oil - imports:

2.777 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Oil - proved reserves:

276 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - production:

16.36 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - consumption:

95.79 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Natural gas - exports:

12.68 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 16

Natural gas - imports:

91.99 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Natural gas - proved reserves:

175.6 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Current account balance:

$243.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 $263.1 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.498 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 $1.35 trillion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners:

France 9.7%, US 7.1%, UK 6.7%, Netherlands 6.6%, Italy 6.4%, Austria 5.4%, Belgium 5.2%, Spain 4.4%, Poland 4% (2008)

Imports:

$1.232 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 $1.079 trillion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals

Imports - partners:

Netherlands 12.5%, France 8.3%, Belgium 7.5%, China 6.2%, Italy 5.7%, UK 5.4%, Austria 4.3%, Russia 4.2%, US 4.2% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$138 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $136.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.158 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 3 $5.155 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$1.027 trillion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $1.002 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.407 trillion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 $1.249 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Germany

Telephones - main lines in use:

51.5 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 3

Telephones - mobile cellular:

107.245 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 8

Telephone system:

general assessment: Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back to World War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part

domestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign countries

international: country code - 49; Germany's international service is excellent worldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cable facilities as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)

Internet country code:

.de

Internet hosts:

23.796 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 3

Internet users:

61.973 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 6

Transportation ::Germany

Airports:

550 (2009) country comparison to the world: 13

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 330

over 3,047 m: 13

2,438 to 3,047 m: 52

1,524 to 2,437 m: 58

914 to 1,523 m: 72

under 914 m: 135 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 220

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 33

under 914 m: 184 (2009)

Heliports:

25 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 24,364 km; oil 3,379 km; refined products 3,843 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 41,896 km country comparison to the world: 6 standard gauge: 41,641 km 1.435-m gauge (20,053 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 75 km 1.000-m gauge (75 km electrified); 24 km 0.750-m gauge (24 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 644,480 km country comparison to the world: 11 paved: 644,480 km (includes 12,400 km of expressways)

note: includes local roads (2006)

Waterways:

7,467 km country comparison to the world: 19 note: Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 393 country comparison to the world: 26 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 43, chemical tanker 13, container 284, liquefied gas 5, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 3

foreign-owned: 11 (China 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Finland 4, Netherlands 1, Sweden 1)

registered in other countries: 2,998 (Antigua and Barbuda 941, Australia 2, Bahamas 44, Bermuda 22, Brazil 6, Bulgaria 63, Burma 1, Canada 3, Cayman Islands 15, Cyprus 189, Denmark 9, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 1, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 129, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 56, Jamaica 4, Liberia 849, Luxembourg 5, Malaysia 1, Malta 91, Marshall Islands 235, Mongolia 4, Morocco 2, Netherlands 75, Netherlands Antilles 43, Norway 1, NZ 1, Panama 44, Portugal 20, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 24, Slovakia 3, Spain 5, Sri Lanka 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 1, UK 76, US 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bremen, Bremerhaven, Duisburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Lubeck, Rostock, Wilhemshaven

Military ::Germany

Military branches:

Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Joint Support Services (Streitkraeftbasis), Central Medical Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (conscripts serve a 9-month tour of compulsory military service) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 19,594,118

females age 16-49: 18,543,955 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,747,493

females age 16-49: 14,899,416 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 431,508

female: 409,111 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Transnational Issues ::Germany

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major financial center

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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@Ghana (Africa)

Introduction ::Ghana

Background:

Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS took over as head of state in early 2009.

Geography ::Ghana

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 238,533 sq km country comparison to the world: 81 land: 227,533 sq km

water: 11,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 2,094 km

border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Coastline:

539 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain:

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources:

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 17.54%

permanent crops: 9.22%

other: 73.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:

310 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

53.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%)

per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Environment - current issues:

recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

People ::Ghana

Population:

23,832,495 country comparison to the world: 47 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: 37.3% (male 4,503,331/female 4,393,104)

15-64 years: 59.1% (male 7,039,696/female 7,042,208)

65 years and over: 3.6% (male 393,364/female 460,792) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.7 years

male: 20.5 years

female: 21 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.882% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Birth rate:

28.58 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Death rate:

9.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Net migration rate:

-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Urbanization:

urban population: 50% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 51.09 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 50 male: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 46.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 59.85 years country comparison to the world: 184 male: 58.98 years

female: 60.75 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.68 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

260,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria

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: Ghanaian(s)

adjective: Ghanaian

Ethnic groups:

Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 57.9%

male: 66.4%

female: 49.8% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years

male: 10 years

female: 9 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

5.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 54

Government ::Ghana

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana

conventional short form: Ghana

former: Gold Coast

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

name: Accra

geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Independence:

6 March 1957 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Constitution:

approved 28 April 1992

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009)

cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament

elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 December 2008 with a second round held 28 December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012)

election results: John Evans Atta MILLS elected president in run-off election; percent of vote - John Evans Atta MILLS 50.23%, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO 49.77%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 7 December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 114, NPP 107, PNC 2, CPP 1, independent 4, other 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Convention People's Party or CPP [Ladi NYLANDER]; Democratic Freedom Party or DFP [Alhaji Abudu Rahman ISSAKAH]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTEY]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter MAC-MANU]; People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Charles WAYO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Christian Aid (water rights); Committee for Joint Action or CJA (education reform); National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights); Oxfam (water rights); Public Citizen (water rights); Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene OKAI] (education reform); Third World Network (education reform)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, 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, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adolphus K. ARTHUR

chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520

FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald G. TEITELBAUM

embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra

mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra

telephone: [233] (21) 741-000

FAX: [233] (21) 741-389

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Economy ::Ghana

Economy - overview:

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold and cocoa production, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural sector. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, and is also benefiting from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in 2006. Thematic priorities under its current Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which also provides the framework for development partner assistance, are: macroeconomic stability; private sector competitiveness; human resource development; and good governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2008.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$34.52 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $32.17 billion (2007 est.)

$30.27 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.65 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 6.3% (2007 est.)

6.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 $1,400 (2007 est.)

$1,300 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 37.3%

industry: 25.3%

services: 37.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

10.12 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 56%

industry: 15%

services: 29% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Population below poverty line:

28.5% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%

highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39.4 (2005-06) country comparison to the world: 65 40.7 (1999)

Investment (gross fixed):

32.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Budget:

revenues: $5.256 billion

expenditures: $7.492 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

53.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 58.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

16.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 10.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

17% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 18 13.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$2.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$2.174 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$3.394 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 $2.38 billion (31 December 2007)

$3.233 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Industries:

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Industrial production growth rate:

8.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - production:

6.746 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - consumption:

5.702 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - exports:

249 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

435 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

7,399 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Oil - consumption:

56,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Oil - exports:

4,843 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Oil - imports:

45,380 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Oil - proved reserves:

15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - proved reserves:

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Current account balance:

-$3.471 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 -$1.717 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$5.275 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $4.172 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticulture

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 13.5%, Ukraine 11.8%, UK 8%, France 5.7%, US 5.2% (2008)

Imports:

$10.26 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $8.066 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

China 15.6%, Nigeria 14.7%, India 7.4%, US 5.5%, France 4.4%, UK 4.4% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.028 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $2.831 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.055 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $4.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.1 (2008 est.), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004)

note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis

Communications ::Ghana

Telephones - main lines in use:

143,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 134

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.57 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 53

Telephone system:

general assessment: outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of 50 per 100 persons and rising

domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed

international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (2007)

Internet country code:

.gh

Internet hosts:

23,850 (2009) country comparison to the world: 97

Internet users:

997,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 91

Transportation ::Ghana

Airports:

11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 155

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Pipelines:

oil 5 km; refined products 309 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 947 km country comparison to the world: 91 narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 62,221 km country comparison to the world: 72 paved: 9,955 km

unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,293 km country comparison to the world: 58 note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 136 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3

foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Tema

Military ::Ghana

Military branches:

Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2008)

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: 5,802,096

females age 16-49: 5,729,939 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,849,113

females age 16-49: 3,840,083 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 272,954

female: 266,186 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Transnational Issues ::Ghana

Disputes - international:

Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

page last updated on November 11, 2009

======================================================================

@Gibraltar (Europe)

Introduction ::Gibraltar

Background:

Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite talks on other issues have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions on air movements, to speed up customs procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, and to allow mobile roaming agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Geography ::Gibraltar

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Geographic coordinates:

36 08 N, 5 21 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 6.5 sq km country comparison to the world: 241 land: 6.5 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than one-half the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

total: 1.2 km

border countries: Spain 1.2 km

Coastline:

12 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain:

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Geography - note:

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People ::Gibraltar

Population:

28,034 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 2,393/female 2,276)

15-64 years: 66.9% (male 9,532/female 9,219)

65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,125/female 2,489) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.5 years

male: 39.9 years

female: 41 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.111% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Birth rate:

10.67 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Death rate:

9.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.1% 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: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 194 male: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.19 years country comparison to the world: 20 male: 77.3 years

female: 83.22 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Gibraltarian(s)

adjective: Gibraltar

Ethnic groups:

Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans

Religions:

Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: NA

total population: above 80%

male: NA

female: NA

Education expenditures:

NA

Government ::Gibraltar

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Gibraltar

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

name: Gibraltar

geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain

Constitution:

5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006)

head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister

elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the Speaker appointed by Parliament; members serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%, Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4, Gibraltar Liberal Party 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Economy ::Gibraltar

Economy - overview:

Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.066 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 $769 million (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.066 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$38,200 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $27,900 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Labor force:

12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001) country comparison to the world: 207

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: negligible

industry: 40%

services: 60% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $455.1 million

expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)

Public debt:

15.7% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2005) country comparison to the world: 36

Agriculture - products:

none

Industries:

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - consumption:

146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Oil - consumption:

24,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Oil - imports:

25,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Exports:

$271 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Exports - commodities:

(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%

Imports:

$2.967 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Imports - commodities:

fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)

note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Communications ::Gibraltar

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 185

Telephones - mobile cellular:

18,400 (2004) country comparison to the world: 207

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities

domestic: automatic exchange facilities

international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code:

.gi

Internet hosts:

1,955 (2009) country comparison to the world: 149

Internet users:

6,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 202

Transportation ::Gibraltar

Airports:

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 231

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 29 km country comparison to the world: 216 paved: 29 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 240 country comparison to the world: 32 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51, container 43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned: 225 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 3, Germany 129, Greece 6, Iceland 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 21, Norway 33, Sweden 13, UAE 3, UK 2)

registered in other countries: 7 (Liberia 5, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Gibraltar

Military ::Gibraltar

Military branches:

Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,308 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,234

females age 16-49: 5,242 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 186

female: 179 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992

Transnational Issues ::Gibraltar

Disputes - international:

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy

page last updated on October 28, 2009

======================================================================

@Greece (Europe)

Introduction ::Greece

Background:

Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001.

Geography ::Greece

Location:

Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

39 00 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 131,957 sq km country comparison to the world: 96 land: 130,647 sq km

water: 1,310 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries:

total: 1,228 km

border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km

Coastline:

13,676 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Natural resources:

lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 20.45%

permanent crops: 8.59%

other: 70.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,530 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

72 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%)

per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)

Natural hazards:

severe earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Geography - note:

strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

People ::Greece

Population:

10,737,428 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.3% (male 788,722/female 742,270)

15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,660/female 3,578,344)

65 years and over: 19.2% (male 902,617/female 1,156,815) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.8 years

male: 40.7 years

female: 42.9 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.127% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Birth rate:

9.45 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Death rate:

10.51 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Net migration rate:

2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Urbanization:

urban population: 61% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 187 male: 5.68 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.66 years country comparison to the world: 26 male: 77.11 years

female: 82.37 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.37 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Nationality:

noun: Greek(s)

adjective: Greek

Ethnic groups:

population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)

note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

Religions:

Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Languages:

Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96%

male: 97.8%

female: 94.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years

male: 17 years

female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 92

Government ::Greece

Country name:

conventional long form: Hellenic Republic

conventional short form: Greece

local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia

local short form: Ellas or Ellada

former: Kingdom of Greece

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Athens

geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos

Independence:

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

Constitution:

11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001

Legal system:

based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005)

head of government: Prime Minister Yeoryios PAPANDREOU (since 6 October 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010); president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government

election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of parliamentary votes, 279 out of 300

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 4 October 2009 (next to be held by 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.9%, ND 33.5%, KKE 7.5%, LAOS 5.6%, SYRIZA 4.6%, other 4.9%; seats by party - PASOK 160, ND 91, KKE 21, LAOS 15, SYRIZA 13

Judicial branch:

Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges are appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Political parties and leaders:

Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) [Gr. KONSTANTOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Democratic Revival [Stelios PAPATHEMELIS]; Democratic Universal Hellas [Stergio KRIKELISI]; Ecologist Greens [Ioanna KONTOULI]; Fighting Socialist Party [Nikos KARGOPOULOS]; Greek Ecologists [Dimosthenis VERGIS]; Liberal Alliance [Foris PERIKOS]; Liberal Party [Manolis KALIGIANNIS]; Light-Truth-Justice [Konstantinos MELISSOURGOS]; New Democracy or ND [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece [Ilias ZAFIROPOULOS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]; Radical Left Front [D. DESILLAS]; Regional Urban Development [Nikolaos KOLITIS]; Salvation Party Christian Democracy [Alkiviadis STOILIS]; Union of Centrists [Vassilis LEVENTIS]; United Anti-Capitalist Left [Konstantinos PAPDAKIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS]; General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Vassilis KASKARELIS

chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300

FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324

consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tampa

consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD

embassy: 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens

mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108

telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951

FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282

consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Flag description:

nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Economy ::Greece

Economy - overview:

Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by nearly 4.0% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has sustained record levels of consumer spending. But growth dropped to 2.9% in 2008, as a result of the world financial crisis and tightening credit conditions. Greece violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criteria in 2007-08. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the euro-zone average, but are falling. The Greek Government continues to grapple with cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor and pension systems, in the face of often vocal opposition from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. The economy remains an important domestic political issue in Greece and, while the ruling New Democracy government has had some success in improving economic growth and reducing the budget deficit, Athens faces long-term challenges in its effort to continue its economic reforms, especially social security reform and privatization.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$343.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $334.1 billion (2007 est.)

$321.3 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$357.5 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 4% (2007 est.)

4.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$32,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $31,200 (2007 est.)

$30,100 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.7%

industry: 20.6%

services: 75.7% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

4.96 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 12.4%

industry: 22.4%

services: 65.1% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 8.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5%

highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33 (2005) country comparison to the world: 96 35.4 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Budget:

revenues: $126.5 billion

expenditures: $144.4 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

97.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 112% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 2.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 92 5% (31 December 2007)

note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.65% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 112 7.71% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

$NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$394.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 21 $365.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 $264.9 billion (31 December 2007)

$208.3 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries:

tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - production:

58.79 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity - consumption:

58.28 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity - exports:

1.962 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

7.575 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

4,891 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Oil - consumption:

434,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Oil - exports:

151,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Oil - imports:

553,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Oil - proved reserves:

10 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - production:

14 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Natural gas - consumption:

4.206 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - imports:

4.205 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.982 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Current account balance:

-$51.53 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 -$44.4 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$29.14 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $23.91 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles

Exports - partners:

Italy 11.5%, Germany 10.5%, Bulgaria 7%, Cyprus 6.2%, US 5%, UK 4.7%, Romania 4.4% (2008)

Imports:

$93.91 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $80.79 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Germany 13.3%, Italy 12.8%, China 6.2%, France 5.6%, Netherlands 5.1%, Russia 4.7% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.473 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $3.658 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$504.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 19 $454.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$36.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $53.22 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$32.44 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $31.65 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Greece

Telephones - main lines in use:

5.975 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 29

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13.799 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 47

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service

domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands

international: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

36 (plus 1,341 repeaters); also 2 stations in the American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Internet country code:

.gr

Internet hosts:

2.342 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 28

Internet users:

4.253 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 47

Transportation ::Greece

Airports:

81 (2009) country comparison to the world: 69

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 67

over 3,047 m: 5

2,438 to 3,047 m: 15

1,524 to 2,437 m: 20

914 to 1,523 m: 18

under 914 m: 9 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 12 (2009)

Heliports:

9 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 1,197 km; oil 75 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 2,548 km country comparison to the world: 65 standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 117,533 km country comparison to the world: 37 paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways)

unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)

Waterways:

6 km country comparison to the world: 108 note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 869 country comparison to the world: 12 by type: bulk carrier 260, cargo 66, carrier 1, chemical tanker 66, combination ore/oil 2, container 45, liquefied gas 10, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 115, petroleum tanker 274, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2

foreign-owned: 64 (Belgium 16, Cyprus 7, Turkey 1, UK 32, US 8)

registered in other countries: 2,357 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Bahamas 209, Barbados 12, Belize 1, Bermuda 9, Brazil 1, Cambodia 3, Cayman Islands 16, China 2, Comoros 6, Cyprus 259, Denmark 4, Dominica 10, Egypt 8, Georgia 5, Gibraltar 6, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 22, Isle of Man 50, Italy 6, Jamaica 6, North Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Liberia 358, Maldives 1, Malta 452, Marshall Islands 269, Norway 3, Panama 510, Philippines 4, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 71, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 15, Slovakia 2, Turkey 1, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 3, unknown 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Military ::Greece

Military branches:

Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 1 year for all services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,535,174

females age 16-49: 2,517,273 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,067,878

females age 16-49: 2,050,289 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 53,401

female: 50,084 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Transnational Issues ::Greece

Disputes - international:

Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy

Illicit drugs:

a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime

page last updated on November 11, 2009

======================================================================

@Greenland (North America)

Introduction ::Greenland

Background:

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired complete responsibilty for internal affairs in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.

Geography ::Greenland

Location:

Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Geographic coordinates:

72 00 N, 40 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 2,166,086 sq km country comparison to the world: 13 land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered)

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

44,087 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Climate:

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain:

flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use:

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Environment - current issues:

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Geography - note:

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

People ::Greenland

Population:

57,600 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23% (male 6,727/female 6,533)

15-64 years: 70.1% (male 21,696/female 18,669)

65 years and over: 6.9% (male 2,000/female 1,975) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.5 years

male: 34.9 years

female: 31.9 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.062% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Birth rate:

14.76 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Death rate:

8.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Net migration rate:

-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Urbanization:

urban population: 84% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.9% 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: 1.16 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female

total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 10.72 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 151 male: 12.26 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.07 years country comparison to the world: 143 male: 67.44 years

female: 72.85 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.19 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100 (1999) country comparison to the world: 164

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Greenlander(s)

adjective: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups:

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (2000)

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran

Languages:

Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 100% (2001 est.)

Education expenditures:

NA

Government ::Greenland

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Greenland

local long form: none

local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Dependency status:

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Government type:

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Nuuk (Godthab)

geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W

time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

note: Greenland is divided into four time zones

Administrative divisions:

3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)

note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

Independence:

none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

National holiday:

June 21 (longest day)

Constitution:

(November 2008) Act on Greenland Self Government

Legal system:

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since April 2005)

head of government: Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009)

cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament (Landsting) on the basis of the strength of parties

elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party)

election results: Kuupik KLEIST elected prime minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 2 June 2009 (next to be held by 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - Inuit Ataqatigiit 43.7%, Siumut 26.5%, Demokratiit 12.7%, Atassut 10.9%; Kattusseqatigiit 3.8%, other 2.4%; seats by party - IA 14, Siumut 9, Demokraatiit 4, Atassut 3, Kattusseqatigiit 1

note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1

Judicial branch:

High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)

Political parties and leaders:

Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Finn KARLSEN] (a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood) [Josef MOTZFELDT] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List) (an independent right-of-center party with no official platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Hans ENOKSEN] (a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: conservationists; environmentalists

International organization participation:

Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark

Economy ::Greenland

Economy - overview:

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish and on a substantial subsidy - about $700 million in 2008-09 - from the Danish Government, which supplies about 60% of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Several interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities are ongoing and in 2007 a US firm signed an agreement with the Greenland Home Rule government to study the feasibility of building a multi-billion dollar aluminum smelter and hydropower plant. Denmark plans to reduce its subsidies to Greenland as revenues from oil exports come onstream.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.1 billion (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.7 billion (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$20,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Labor force:

32,120 (2004) country comparison to the world: 195

Unemployment rate:

9.3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $1.36 billion

expenditures: $1.27 billion (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Agriculture - products:

forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish

Industries:

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

325 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - consumption:

302.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - consumption:

4,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Oil - exports:

149.5 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Oil - imports:

4,172 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Exports:

$480 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 164

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%) (2001 est.)

Exports - partners:

Denmark 63.5%, Japan 11.1%, China 4.9%, Canada 4.8% (2008)

Imports:

$712 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 181

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Denmark 59.1%, Sweden 20.9%, Norway 4.7%, UK 4.4% (2008)

Debt - external:

$25 million (1999) country comparison to the world: 196

Exchange rates:

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)

Communications ::Greenland

Telephones - main lines in use:

22,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Telephones - mobile cellular:

55,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 191

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995

domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite

international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 0 (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)

Internet country code:

.gl

Internet hosts:

14,134 (2009) country comparison to the world: 111

Internet users:

36,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 177

Transportation ::Greenland

Airports:

15 (2009) country comparison to the world: 146

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Roadways:

note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 country comparison to the world: 144 by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Sisimiut

Military ::Greenland

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,221 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,809

females age 16-49: 11,437 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 532

female: 491 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues ::Greenland

Disputes - international:

managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland

page last updated on November 10, 2009

======================================================================

@Grenada (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Grenada

Background:

Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full independence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.

Geography ::Grenada

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

12 07 N, 61 40 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 344 sq km country comparison to the world: 206 land: 344 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

121 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain:

volcanic in origin with central mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Natural resources:

timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Land use:

arable land: 5.88%

permanent crops: 29.41%

other: 64.71% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Total renewable water resources:

NA

Natural hazards:

lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

People ::Grenada

Population:

90,739 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32% (male 14,608/female 14,410)

15-64 years: 65.2% (male 31,278/female 27,873)

65 years and over: 2.8% (male 1,268/female 1,302) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.8 years

male: 23.3 years

female: 22.3 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.468% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Birth rate:

21.32 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Death rate:

6.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Net migration rate:

-10.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Urbanization:

urban population: 31% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female

total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.23 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 135 male: 12.95 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 13.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.95 years country comparison to the world: 163 male: 64.06 years

female: 67.85 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Grenadian(s)

adjective: Grenadian

Ethnic groups:

black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96%

male: NA

female: NA (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 62

Government ::Grenada

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Grenada

Government type:

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital:

name: Saint George's

geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Independence:

7 February 1974 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Constitution:

19 December 1973

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Carlyle Arnold GLEAN (since 27 November 2008)

head of government: Prime Minister Tillman THOMAS (since 9 July 2008)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats, 10 appointed by the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 8 July 2008 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 11, NNP 4

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice (two High Court judges are assigned to and reside in Grenada); Itinerant Court of Appeal three judges; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Political parties and leaders:

Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG; New Jewel Movement Support Group; The British Grenada Friendship Society; The New Jewel 19 Committee

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian M.S. BRISTOL

chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561

FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada

embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's

mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's

telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1177

FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820

Flag description:

a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions

Economy ::Grenada

Economy - overview:

Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005) severely damaged the agricultural sector - particularly nutmeg and cocoa cultivation - which had been a key driver of economic growth. Grenada has rebounded from the devastating effects of the hurricanes but is now saddled with the debt burden from the rebuilding process. Public debt-to-GDP is nearly 110%, leaving the THOMAS administration limited room to engage in public investments and social spending. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of tourism and an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output; however, economic growth will likely slow in 2009 because of the global economic slowdown's effects on tourism and remittances.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.19 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $1.165 billion (2007 est.)

$1.11 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$678 million (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 4.9% (2007 est.)

-2.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $12,900 (2007 est.)

$12,400 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.4%

industry: 18%

services: 76.6% (2003)

Labor force:

42,300 (1996) country comparison to the world: 186

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 24%

industry: 14%

services: 62% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12.5% (2000) country comparison to the world: 140

Population below poverty line:

32% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $85.8 million

expenditures: $102.1 million (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 67 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.53% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 88 9.76% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$141.4 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 109 $151.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$578.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 106 $533.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$658 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 $575.8 million (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Industries:

food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction

Electricity - production:

178.7 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - consumption:

155.7 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Oil - consumption:

3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Oil - imports:

1,923 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Current account balance:

-$138 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Exports:

$38 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 200

Exports - commodities:

bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

Exports - partners:

Saint Lucia 16.4%, US 11.4%, UK 11.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 11.1%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 10%, Dominica 10%, France 6.4% (2008)

Imports: