Y (continued 35)
Reading edition
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:
1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
Constitution:
adopted 2 April 1976; subsequently revised
note: the revisions placed the military under strict civilian control, trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy; they allowed for the privatization of nationalized firms and government-owned communications media
Legal system:
based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (since 12 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 September 2009 (next to be held in fall 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 42%, PSD 35%, CDS/PP 9%, BE 7%, CDU 7%; seats by party - PS 97, PSD 81, CDS/PP 21, BE 16, CDU 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal de Justica); judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS]; Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pedro Manuel PASSOS COELHO]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; Unitarian Democratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes Portuguese Communist Party or PCP and Ecologist Party ("The Greens") or PEV)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
the media; labor unions
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, 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, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Allan J. KATZ
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description:
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation
National anthem:
name: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
lyrics/music: Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
note: adopted 1910; "A Portuguesa" was originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa; the lyrics refer to the "insult" that resulted from the event
Economy ::Portugal
Economy - overview:
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-08, shrank 2.6% in 2009, before growing 1% in 2010. GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average. A poor educational system and a rigid labor market have been obstacles to greater productivity and growth. Portugal also has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct investment. Portugal's competitiveness problems, low growth prospects, and high levels of public debt have made it vulnerable to bond market turbulence. Lisbon is implementing austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit from 9.4% of GDP in 2009 to 4.6% of GDP in 2011, but some investors have expressed concern about Portugal's ability to achieve these targets and cover its sovereign debt. Without the option for stimulus measures, the government is focusing instead on boosting exports and implementing labor market reforms to try to raise GDP growth and tackle Portugal's competitiveness problems, which may help mitigate investor concerns over time.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$247 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $244.5 billion (2009 est.)
$251 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$223.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 -2.6% (2009 est.)
0% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$23,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $22,800 (2009 est.)
$23,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 23%
services: 74.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.57 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 9.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.5 (2007) country comparison to the world: 72 35.6 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
19% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Public debt:
83.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 76.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 -0.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 125 3% (31 December 2008)
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:
6.12% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 8.35% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$98.23 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 31 $100.9 billion (31 December 2009 est)
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 circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$282 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $302.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$556.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $490.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$98.65 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 44 $68.71 billion (31 December 2008)
$132.3 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, dairy products; fish
Industries:
textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products, wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - production:
44.47 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - consumption:
48.78 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - exports:
1.313 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.74 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
4,721 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - consumption:
272,200 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - exports:
53,660 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - imports:
323,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - production:
NA (2008 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.846 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - imports:
4.895 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Current account balance:
-$19.03 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 -$23.95 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$46.27 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $44.49 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments
Exports - partners:
Spain 26.25%, Germany 12.99%, France 12.04%, Angola 7.21%, UK 5.54% (2009)
Imports:
$68.22 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $68.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments, computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and related devices, household goods, passenger cars new and used, and wine products
Imports - partners:
Spain 31.58%, Germany 12.41%, France 8.58%, Italy 5.55%, Netherlands 5.31% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$16.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$497.8 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 20 $507 billion (30 June 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$105.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $102.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$63.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $63.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.049 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 39
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.178 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 48
Telephone system:
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2008)
Broadcast media:
the publicly-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; overall, roughly 40 domestic TV stations; viewers have widespread access to international broadcasters with more than half of all households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; publicly-owned radio operates 3 national networks and provides regional and external services; several privately-owned national radio stations and some 300 regional and local commercial radio stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.pt
Internet hosts:
3.267 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 28
Internet users:
5.168 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 45
Transportation ::Portugal
Airports:
65 (2010) country comparison to the world: 77
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,786 km country comparison to the world: 59 broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 82,900 km country comparison to the world: 57 paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,613 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,606 km (2008)
Waterways:
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2008) country comparison to the world: 96
Merchant marine:
total: 111 country comparison to the world: 47 by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 33, carrier 1, chemical tanker 17, container 8, liquefied gas 9, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 80 (Belgium 8, Denmark 4, Germany 13, Greece 5, Italy 10, Japan 9, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Spain 15, Sweden 6, Switzerland 3, US 4)
registered in other countries: 14 (Cyprus 2, Malta 3, Panama 9) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
Military ::Portugal
Military branches:
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory military service; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,572,007
females age 16-49: 2,474,719 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,104,945
females age 16-49: 2,034,912 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 62,628
female: 55,737 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Transnational Issues ::Portugal
Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
page last updated on January 20, 2011
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@Puerto Rico (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Puerto Rico
Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status.
Geography ::Puerto Rico
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,790 sq km country comparison to the world: 162 land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
People ::Puerto Rico
Population:
3,978,702 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 402,473/female 384,655)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,260,191/female 1,361,359)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 239,957/female 317,578) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.8 years
male: 35 years
female: 38.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.27% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Birth rate:
11.42 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Death rate:
7.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Net migration rate:
-0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.23 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 162 male: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.77 years country comparison to the world: 43 male: 75.15 years
female: 82.57 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.62 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997) country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Puerto Rico
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Government type:
commonwealth
Capital:
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Luis FORTUNO (since 2 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 81.5%, PPD 18.5%; seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 72.5%, PPD 27.5%; seats by party - PNP 37, PPD 14
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace
note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
National anthem:
name: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican)
lyrics/music: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES
note: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's name is a reference to the indigenous name of the island, Borinquen; the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained popularity in the early 20th century; there is some evidence that the music was written by Francisco RAMIREZ; as a commonwealth of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)
Economy ::Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$64.84 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $68.84 billion (2009 est.)
$71.51 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$93.52 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-5.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 -3.7% (2009 est.)
-2.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $17,400 (2009 est.)
$18,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
1.479 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 133
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2002) country comparison to the world: 129
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
23.72 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - consumption:
22.06 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1,783 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - consumption:
164,100 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Oil - exports:
16,520 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - imports:
225,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - consumption:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - imports:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Exports:
$46.9 billion (2001) country comparison to the world: 55
Exports - commodities:
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Imports:
$29.1 billion (2001) country comparison to the world: 61
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
870,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 83
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.716 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 118
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability
domestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Broadcast media:
more than 30 television stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.pr
Internet hosts:
482 (2010) country comparison to the world: 182
Internet users:
1 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 100
Transportation ::Puerto Rico
Airports:
29 (2010) country comparison to the world: 117
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 26,670 km country comparison to the world: 102 paved: 25,337 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,333 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 3 country comparison to the world: 138 by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Military ::Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 704,833
females age 16-49: 788,234 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,616
female: 29,196 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Qatar (Middle East)
Introduction ::Qatar
Background:
Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita income in the world.
Geography ::Qatar
Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 11,586 sq km country comparison to the world: 165 land: 11,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
People ::Qatar
Population:
840,926 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 93,805/female 88,040)
15-64 years: 76.8% (male 454,714/female 185,004)
65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,792/female 4,930) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 25.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.869% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Birth rate:
15.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Death rate:
2.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 223
Net migration rate:
-4.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Urbanization:
urban population: 96% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.36 male(s)/female
total population: 1.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.24 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 137 male: 13.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.51 years country comparison to the world: 83 male: 73.78 years
female: 77.33 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.44 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:
Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 140
Government ::Qatar
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Government type:
emirate
Capital:
name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day, 18 December (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne)
Constitution:
ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
Legal system:
based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, fourth son of the amir (selected Heir Apparent by the amir on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
head of government: Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir Al Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the amir is hereditary
note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative branch:
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect 30 members and the Amir would appoint 15; elections to the Majlis al-Shura are tentatively scheduled for June 2010
Judicial branch:
Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note - all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable three-year terms
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA (observer), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI
chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4161
FAX: [974] 488 4150
Flag description:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916
note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted
National anthem:
name: "Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (The Peace for the Anthem)
lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
note: adopted 1996; the anthem was first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar
Economy ::Qatar
Economy - overview:
Despite the global financial crisis, Qatar has prospered in the last several years - in 2010 Qatar had the world's highest growth rate. Qatari authorities throughout the crisis sought to protect the local banking sector with direct investments into domestic banks. GDP rebounded in 2010 largely due to the increase in oil prices. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the second highest per-capita income country - following Liechtenstein - and likely the country with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 37 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, about 14% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar's successful 2022 world cup bid will likely accelerate large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar's metro system and the Qatar-Bahrain causeway.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$122.2 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $102.3 billion (2009 est.)
$93.44 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$126.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
19.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1 9.5% (2009 est.)
11.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$145,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1 $122,800 (2009 est.)
$113,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 78.8%
services: 21.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.254 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Unemployment rate:
0.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 0.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
33% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Public debt:
10.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 14% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 -4.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 80 5.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.04% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 6.84% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$15.98 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 66 $14.59 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$65.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $59.09 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$70.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $69.21 billion (31 December 2009)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$87.86 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 42 $76.31 billion (31 December 2008)
$95.49 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Industries:
liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
27.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - production:
15.11 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - consumption:
13.73 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1.213 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Oil - consumption:
142,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - exports:
753,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Oil - proved reserves:
25.41 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - production:
76.98 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - consumption:
20.2 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - exports:
56.78 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - proved reserves:
25.47 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
Current account balance:
$20.11 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 $809 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$57.82 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $33.28 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners:
Japan 34.68%, South Korea 22.44%, Singapore 10.03%, India 4.86% (2009)
Imports:
$23.38 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $20.89 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 13.43%, Italy 8.34%, South Korea 8.33%, Japan 8.04%, Germany 7.31%, France 6.26%, UK 5.59%, China 5%, UAE 4.67%, Saudi Arabia 3.96% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$22.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $18.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$71.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $70.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$26.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $20.75 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$19.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $14.27 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2010), 3.64 (2009), 3.64 (2008), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006)
Communications ::Qatar
Telephones - main lines in use:
285,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 116
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.472 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 122
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 300 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2009)
Broadcast media:
television and radio broadcast media are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari Government; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Doha (2007)
Internet country code:
.qa
Internet hosts:
822 (2010) country comparison to the world: 170
Internet users:
563,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 117
Transportation ::Qatar
Airports:
6 (2010) country comparison to the world: 173
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 145 km; condensate/gas 132 km; gas 980 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 382 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 7,790 km (2006) country comparison to the world: 144
Merchant marine:
total: 29 country comparison to the world: 86 by type: bulk carrier 3, chemical tanker 2, container 14, liquefied gas 6, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 7 (Kuwait 7)
registered in other countries: 30 (Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 24, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Doha, Mesaieed (Umaieed), Ra's Laffan
Military ::Qatar
Military branches:
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 387,399
females age 16-49: 163,652 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 320,277
females age 16-49: 138,558 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,403
female: 5,144 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
10% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
Transnational Issues ::Qatar
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation; the most common offense was forcing workers to accept worse contract terms than those under which they were recruited; other conditions include bonded labor, withholding of pay, restrictions on movement, arbitrary detention, and physical, mental, and sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Qatar does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in February 2009, Qatar enacted a new migrant worker sponsorship law that criminalizes some practices commonly used by trafficking offenders, and it announced plans to use that law effectively to prevent human trafficking; punishment for offenses related to trafficking in persons remains lower than that for crimes such as rape and kidnapping, and the Qatari government has yet to take significant action to investigate, prosecute, and punish trafficking offenses; the government continues to lack formal victim identification procedures and, as a result, victims of trafficking are likely punished for acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked (2009)
page last updated on January 27, 2011
======================================================================
@Romania (Europe)
Introduction ::Romania
Background:
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
Geography ::Romania
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 238,391 sq km country comparison to the world: 82 land: 229,891 sq km
water: 8,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources:
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 39.49%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30,770 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
42.3 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%)
per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
People ::Romania
Population:
21,959,278 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 1,772,583/female 1,681,539)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,711,062/female 7,784,041)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,332,120/female 1,934,076) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 39.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.247% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
Birth rate:
9.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Death rate:
11.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Net migration rate:
-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Urbanization:
urban population: 54% 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.32 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 145 male: 12.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.74 years country comparison to the world: 110 male: 70.26 years
female: 77.42 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.27 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
350 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Nationality:
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups:
Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 94
Government ::Romania
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 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:
41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:
8 December 1991; revised 29 October 2003
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Emil BOC (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Marko BELA (since 23 December 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 November 2009 with runoff on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in November-December 2014); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament
election results: Traian BASESCU reelected president; percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 50.3%, Mircea GEOANA 49.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (334 seats; members elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 34.2%, PDL 33.6%, PNL 18.7%, UDMR 6.4%, other 7.1%; seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 49, PDL 51, PNL 28, UDMR 9; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 33.1%, PDL 32.4%, PNL 18.6%, UDMR 6.2%, ethnic minorities 3.6%, other 6.1%; seats by alliance/party - PDL 115, PSD-PC 114, PNL 65, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party or PC [Daniel CONSTANTIN] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Liberal Party or PDL [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Crin ANTONESCU]; National Union for Romania's Progress or UNPR [Gabriel OPREA]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor PONTA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark GITENSTEIN
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1861 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed
note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
National anthem:
name: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian)
lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution
Economy ::Romania
Economy - overview:
Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Domestic consumption and investment have fueled strong GDP growth in recent years, but have led to large current account imbalances. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to handicap its business environment. Inflation rose in 2007-08, driven in part by strong consumer demand and high wage growth, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. Romania's GDP contracted markedly in the last quarter of 2008 as the country began to feel the effects of a global downturn in financial markets and trade, and GDP fell more than 7% in 2009, prompting Bucharest to seek a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders. Drastic austerity measures, as part of Romania's IMF-led agreement led to a further 1.9% GDP contraction in 2010. The economy is expected to return to positive growth in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$253.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $258.2 billion (2009 est.)
$277.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$158.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 -7.1% (2009 est.)
7.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $11,700 (2009 est.)
$12,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.8%
industry: 36%
services: 51.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
9.35 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 29.7%
industry: 23.2%
services: 47.1% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
8.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 7.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (2008) country comparison to the world: 103 28.8 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Public debt:
34.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 24% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 5.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17.28% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 14.99% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$24.39 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 60 $26.03 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$63.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $61.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$77.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $72.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$30.32 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 61 $19.92 billion (31 December 2008)
$44.93 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep
Industries:
electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - production:
58.28 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - consumption:
49.44 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - exports:
5.169 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
921 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
117,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Oil - consumption:
214,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - exports:
115,600 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Oil - imports:
217,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - proved reserves:
600 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - production:
11.42 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - consumption:
16.92 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - imports:
5.5 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - proved reserves:
63 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Current account balance:
-$7.934 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 -$7.139 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$51.91 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $40.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Germany 18.76%, Italy 15.42%, France 8.2%, Turkey 4.99%, Hungary 4.33% (2009)
Imports:
$59.84 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $50.03 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.3%, Italy 11.78%, Hungary 8.36%, France 6.14%, China 4.91%, Austria 4.75% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$50.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $44.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$108.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $110 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$80.16 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $73.96 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.831 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $1.731 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
lei (RON) per US dollar - 3.2 (2010), 3.0493 (2009), 2.5 (2008), 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006)
Communications ::Romania
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.313 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 30
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25.377 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 34
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telecommunications sector is being expanded and modernized; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services
domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, expanding rapidly, roughly 115 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2009)
Broadcast media:
a mixture of public and private TV stations; the public broadcaster operates multiple stations; roughly 100 private national, regional, and local stations operating; more than 75% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems that provide access to Romanian, European, and international stations; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations; more than 100 private radio stations broadcasting (2008)
Internet country code:
.ro
Internet hosts:
2.464 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 34
Internet users:
7.787 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 37
Transportation ::Romania
Airports:
54 (2010) country comparison to the world: 88
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 3,588 km; oil 2,424 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 10,788 km country comparison to the world: 21 broad gauge: 57 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 10,731 km 1.435-m gauge (3,965 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 198,817 km country comparison to the world: 25 paved: 60,043 km (includes 281 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,731 km country comparison to the world: 48 note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 15 country comparison to the world: 102 by type: cargo 10, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 35 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 7, Liberia 3, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 2, Moldova 2, North Korea 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 4, Syria 1, Togo 1, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Braila, Constanta, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Midia, Tulcea
Military ::Romania
Military branches:
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-35 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription officially ended October 2006; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive contracts for 3-year terms until age 36 (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,617,144
females age 16-49: 5,487,510 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,513,619
females age 16-49: 4,566,620 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 121,391
female: 115,258 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Transnational Issues ::Romania
Disputes - international:
the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to issue a rejoinder, in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos
page last updated on January 20, 2011
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@Russia (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Russia
Background:
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent republics. Since then, Russia has shifted its post-Soviet democratic ambitions in favor of a centralized semi-authoritarian state whose legitimacy is buttressed, in part, by carefully managed national elections, former President PUTIN's genuine popularity, and the prudent management of Russia's windfall energy wealth. Russia has severely disabled a Chechen rebel movement, although violence still occurs throughout the North Caucasus.
Geography ::Russia
Location:
Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 17,098,242 sq km country comparison to the world: 1 land: 16,377,742 sq km
water: 720,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 20,241.5 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 17.5 km, Latvia 292 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576 km
Coastline:
37,653 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast
Terrain:
broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources:
wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, reserves of rare earth elements, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources
Land use:
arable land: 7.17%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 92.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
46,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
4,498 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 76.68 cu km/yr (19%/63%/18%)
per capita: 535 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russia
volcanism: Russia experiences significant volcanic activity on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands; the peninsula alone is home to some 29 historically active volcanoes, with dozens more in the Kuril Islands; Kliuchevskoi (elev. 4,835 m, 15,863 ft), which erupted in 2007 and 2010, is Kamchatka's most active volcano; Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, which pose a threat to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, have been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Bezymianny, Chikurachki, Ebeko, Gorely, Grozny, Karymsky, Ketoi, Kronotsky, Ksudach, Medvezhia, Mutnovsky, Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Tiatia, Tolbachik, and Zheltovsky
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, 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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:
largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak
People ::Russia
Population:
139,390,205 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 10,644,833/female 10,095,011)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 48,004,040/female 52,142,313)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 5,880,877/female 13,274,173) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.5 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 41.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.465% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 222
Birth rate:
11.11 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Death rate:
16.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Net migration rate:
0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.5% 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.44 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.32 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 150 male: 11.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.16 years country comparison to the world: 160 male: 59.54 years
female: 73.17 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.41 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
940,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
40,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis
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: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian
Ethnic groups:
Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%, Bashkir 1.2%, Chuvash 1.1%, other or unspecified 12.1% (2002 census)
Religions:
Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.)
note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of Soviet rule
Languages:
Russian (official), many minority languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 109
Government ::Russia
Country name:
conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
local short form: Rossiya
former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Government type:
federation
Capital:
name: Moscow
geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: Russia is divided into 9 time zones
Administrative divisions:
46 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respublik, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnykh okrugov, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 krays (krayev, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous oblast (avtonomnaya oblast')
oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'
republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)
autonomous okrugs: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)
krays: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm', Primorskiy [Maritime] (Vladivostok), Stavropol', Zabaykal'sk (Chita)
federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg]
autonomous oblast: Yevrey [Jewish] (Birobidzhan)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)
National holiday:
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Constitution:
adopted 12 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dmitriy Anatolyevich MEDVEDEV (since 7 May 2008)
head of government: Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 8 May 2008); First Deputy Premiers Igor Ivanovich SHUVALOV and Viktor Alekseyevich ZUBKOV (since 12 May 2008); Deputy Premiers Sergey Borisovich IVANOV (since 12 May 2008), Aleksandr Gennadiyevich KHLOPONIN (since 19 January 2010), Dmitriy Nikolayevich KOZAK (since 14 October 2008), Aleksey Leonidovich KUDRIN (since 24 September 2007), Igor Ivanovich SECHIN (since 12 May 2008), Vyacheslav Viktorovich VOLODIN (since 21 October 2010), Aleksandr Dmitriyevich ZHUKOV (since 9 March 2004)
cabinet: the "Government" is composed of the premier, his deputies, and ministers; all are appointed by the president, and the premier is also confirmed by the Duma (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also reports directly to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 2 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); note - the term length was extended to six years in late 2008, to go into effect following the 2012 presidential election; there is no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is held, which must be within three months; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma
election results: Dmitriy MEDVEDEV elected president; percent of vote - Dmitriy MEDVEDEV 70.2%, Gennady ZYUGANOV 17.7%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKY 9.4%, Andrey BOGDANOV 1.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of an upper house, the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (166 seats; as of July 2000, members appointed by the top executive and legislative officials in each of the 83 federal administrative units - oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the federal cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg; members to serve four-year terms) and a lower house, the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats; as of 2007, all members elected by proportional representation from party lists winning at least 7% of the vote; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: State Duma - last held on 2 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: State Duma - United Russia 64.3%, CPRF 11.5%, LDPR 8.1%, Just Russia 7.7%, other 8.4%; total seats by party - United Russia 315, CPRF 57, LDPR 40, Just Russia 38
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Supreme Arbitration Court; judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders:
A Just Russia [Sergey MIRONOV]; Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF [Gennadiy Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR [Vladimir Volfovich ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Patriots of Russia [Gennadiy SEMIGIN]; Right Cause [Leonid Yakovlevich GOZMAN, Boris Yuriyevich TITOV, and Georgiy Georgiyevich BOVT] (formed from merger of Civic Force, Democratic Party of Russia, and Union of Right Forces); United Russia [Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN]; Yabloko Party [Sergey Sergeyevich MITROKHIN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Citizens with Initiative of Russia (TIGR); Confederation of Labor of Russia (KTR); Federation of Independent Labor Unions of Russia; Freedom of Choice Interregional Organization of Automobilists; Glasnost Defense Foundation; Golos Association in Defense of Voters' Rights; Greenpeace Russia; Human Rights Watch (Russian chapter); Institute for Collective Action; Memorial (human rights group); Movement Against Illegal Migration; Pamjat (preservation of historical monuments and recording of history); Russian Orthodox Church; Russian Federation of Car Owners; Russian-Chechen Friendship Society; SOVA Analytical-Information Center; Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers; World Wildlife Fund (Russian chapter)
International organization participation:
APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC, CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-8, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD (accession state), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey Ivanovich KISLYAK
chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708
FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. BEYRLE
embassy: Bolshoy Deviatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
note: the colors may have been based on those of the Dutch flag; despite many popular interpretations, there is no official meaning assigned to the colors of the Russian flag; this flag inspired other Slav countries to adopt horizontal tricolors of the same colors but in different arrangements, and so red, blue, and white became the Pan-Slav colors
National anthem:
name: "Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii" (National Anthem of the Russian Federation)
lyrics/music: Sergei Vladimirovich MIKHALKOV/Alexandr Vasilievich ALEXANDROV
note: in 2000, Russia adopted the tune of the anthem of the former Soviet Union (composed in 1939); the lyrics, also adopted in 2000, were written by the same person who authored the Soviet lyrics in 1943
Economy ::Russia
Economy - overview:
Russia has undergone significant changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union, moving from a globally-isolated, centrally-planned economy to a more market-based and globally-integrated economy. Economic reforms in the 1990s privatized most industry, with notable exceptions in the energy and defense-related sectors. The protection of property rights is still weak and the private sector remains subject to heavy state interference. Russian industry is primarily split between globally-competitive commodity producers - in 2009 Russia was the world's largest exporter of natural gas, the second largest exporter of oil, and the third largest exporter of steel and primary aluminum - and other less competitive heavy industries that remain dependent on the Russian domestic market. This reliance on commodity exports makes Russia vulnerable to boom and bust cycles that follow the highly volatile swings in global commodity prices. The government since 2007 has embarked on an ambitious program to reduce this dependency and build up the country's high technology sectors, but with few results so far. The economy had averaged 7% growth since the 1998 Russian financial crisis, resulting in a doubling of real disposable incomes and the emergence of a middle class. The Russian economy, however, was one of the hardest hit by the 2008-09 global economic crisis as oil prices plummeted and the foreign credits that Russian banks and firms relied on dried up. The Central Bank of Russia spent one-third of its $600 billion international reserves, the world's third largest, in late 2008 to slow the devaluation of the ruble. The government also devoted $200 billion in a rescue plan to increase liquidity in the banking sector and aid Russian firms unable to roll over large foreign debts coming due. The economic decline bottomed out in mid-2009 and the economy began to grow in the first quarter of 2010. However, a severe drought and fires in central Russia reduced agricultural output, prompting a ban on grain exports for part of the year, and slowed growth in other sectors such as manufacturing and retail trade. Russia's long-term challenges include a shrinking workforce, a high level of corruption, difficulty in accessing capital for smaller, non-energy companies, and poor infrastructure in need of large investments.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.229 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $2.147 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.331 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.477 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 -7.9% (2009)
5.2% (2008)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $15,300 (2009 est.)
$16,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 33.8%
services: 62% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
75.55 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 31.9%
services: 58.1% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 8.4% (2009)
Population below poverty line:
13.1% (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 30.4% (September 2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 53 39.9 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Public debt:
9.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 8.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 11.7% (2009)
Central bank discount rate:
8.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 28 13% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.31% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 12.23% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$269.1 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 16 $203.7 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$650.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $645.5 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of domestic credit:
$549.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $420.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$861.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $1.322 trillion (31 December 2008)
$1.503 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk
Industries:
complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced electronic components, shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
8.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Electricity - production:
925.9 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - consumption:
857.6 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - exports:
17.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.066 billion kWh (2009)
Oil - production:
10.12 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
Oil - consumption:
2.74 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Oil - exports:
5.43 million bbl/day (2009) country comparison to the world: 2
Oil - imports:
42,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - proved reserves:
74.2 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - production:
583.6 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 2
Natural gas - consumption:
439.6 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas - exports:
179.1 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - imports:
35.1 billion cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - proved reserves:
47.57 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
Current account balance:
$68.85 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 $48.97 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$376.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $303.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals, wood and wood products, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 10.62%, Italy 6.46%, Germany 6.24%, China 5.69%, Turkey 4.3%, Ukraine 4.01% (2009)
Imports:
$237.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $191.8 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, plastic, semi-finished metal products, meat, fruits and nuts, optical and medical instruments, iron, steel
Imports - partners:
Germany 14.39%, China 13.98%, Ukraine 5.48%, Italy 4.84%, US 4.46% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$483.1 billion (30 November 2010) country comparison to the world: 2 $439.4 billion (31 December 2009)
Debt - external:
$480.2 billion (30 November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $467.2 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$306.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 $256.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$260.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $224.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Russian rubles (RUB) per US dollar - 30 (2010), 31.742 (2009), 24.853 (2008), 25.581 (2007), 27.191 (2006)
Communications ::Russia
Telephones - main lines in use:
44.802 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 4
Telephones - mobile cellular:
230.5 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 4
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telephone system is experiencing significant changes; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to offer communication services; access to digital lines has improved, particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services are improving; Russia has made progress toward building the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy; the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1 million in 1998 to some 230 million in 2009; a large demand for fixed line service remains unsatisfied
domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low density
international: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationally by undersea fiber optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Orbita systems (2008)
Broadcast media:
6 national TV stations with the federal government owning 1 and holding a controlling interest in a second; state-owned Gazprom maintains a controlling interest in a third national channel; government-affiliated Bank Rossiya owns controlling interest in a fourth and fifth, while the sixth national channel is owned by the Moscow city administration; roughly 3,300 national, regional, and local TV stations operating with over two-thirds completely or partially controlled by the federal or local governments; satellite TV services are available; 2 state-run national radio networks with a third majority-owned by Gazprom; roughly 2,400 public and commercial radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.ru; note - Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su" that was allocated to the Soviet Union and is being phased out
Internet hosts:
10.382 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 12
Internet users:
40.853 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 10
Transportation ::Russia
Airports:
1,213 (2010) country comparison to the world: 5
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 593
over 3,047 m: 51
2,438 to 3,047 m: 201
1,524 to 2,437 m: 126
914 to 1,523 m: 98
under 914 m: 117 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 620
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 84
under 914 m: 452 (2010)
Heliports:
50 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 122 km; gas 159,552 km; liquid petroleum gas 127 km; oil 74,285 km; refined products 13,658 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 87,157 km country comparison to the world: 2 broad gauge: 86,200 km 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 957 km 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island)
note: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrier lines serve industries (2006)
Roadways:
total: 982,000 km country comparison to the world: 8 paved: 776,000 km (includes 30,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 206,000 km
note: includes public, local, and departmental roads (2009)
Waterways:
102,000 km (including 48,000 km with guaranteed depth) country comparison to the world: 2 note: 72,000 km system in European Russia links Baltic Sea, White Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,097 country comparison to the world: 11 by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 634, carrier 2, chemical tanker 38, combination ore/oil 39, container 13, passenger 15, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 236, refrigerated cargo 77, roll on/roll off 11, specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: 145 (Belgium 4, Cyprus 11, Italy 9, South Korea 1, Switzerland 4, Turkey 104, Ukraine 12)
registered in other countries: 443 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Belize 32, Bulgaria 2, Cambodia 60, Comoros 21, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 47, Dominica 6, Georgia 7, Hong Kong 1, Liberia 108, Malaysia 2, Malta 47, Marshall Islands 6, Moldova 5, Mongolia 4, Panama 39, Saint Kitts and Nevis 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15, Sierra Leone 6, Vanuatu 1, unknown 19) (2010)