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Afghanistan

Introduction

Afghanistan

Background:  Afghanistan's recent history is characterized by war
and civil strife, with intermittent periods of relative calm and
stability. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 but was forced to withdraw 10
years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces supplied and trained by the
US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting subsequently continued
among the various mujahidin factions, giving rise to a state of warlordism
that spawned the Taliban in the early 1990s. The Taliban was able to seize
most of the country, aside from Northern Alliance strongholds primarily
in the northeast, until US and allied military action in support of the
opposition following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks forced the
group's downfall. The four largest Afghan opposition groups met in Bonn,
Germany, in late 2001 and agreed on a plan for the formulation of a new
government structure that resulted in the inauguration of Hamid KARZAI
as Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001.
In addition to occasionally violent political jockeying and ongoing
military action to root out remaining terrorists and Taliban elements,
the country suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure,
and widespread land mines.

Geography Afghanistan

Location:  Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Geographic coordinates:  33 00 N, 65 00 E

Map references:  Asia

Area:  total: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 647,500 sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:  total: 5,529 km border countries: China 76 km, Iran
936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km,
Uzbekistan 137 km

Coastline:  0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:  none (landlocked)

Climate:  arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Terrain:  mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m highest point:
Nowshak 7,485 m

Natural resources:  natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc,
barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious
stones

Land use:  arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% other: 88% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  23,860 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:  damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
flooding; droughts

Environment - current issues:  limited natural fresh water resources;
inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing;
deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel
and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution

Environment - international agreements:  party to: Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:  landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast
to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country;
the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)

People Afghanistan

Population:  27,755,775 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 42% (male 5,953,291; female 5,706,542) 15-64
years: 55.2% (male 7,935,101; female 7,382,101) 65 years and over: 2.8%
(male 410,278; female 368,462) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  3.43% note: this rate reflects the continued
return of refugees from Iran (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  41.03 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  17.43 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.11 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  144.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   45.85 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  5.72 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  NA

Nationality:  noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan

Ethnic groups:  Pashtun 44%, Tajik 25%, Hazara 10%, minor ethnic groups
(Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others) 13%, Uzbek 8%

Religions:  Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%

Languages:  Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages
(primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi
and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write male: 51%
female: 21% (1999 est.)  total population: 36%

People - note:  large numbers of Afghan refugees create burdens on
neighboring states

Government Afghanistan

Country name:  conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan local short form: Afghanestan former:
Republic of Afghanistan local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan

Government type:  transitional

Capital:  Kabul

Administrative divisions:  32 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat);
Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni,
Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz,
Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan,
Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol, Nurestan, and Khowst

Independence:  19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign
affairs)

National holiday:  Independence Day, 19 August (1919)

Constitution:  the Bonn Agreement calls for a Constitutional Loya Jirga
(Grand Council) to be convened within 18 months of the establishment of
the Transitional Authority to draft a new constitution for the country;
the basis for the next constitution is the 1963/64 Constitution, according
to the Bonn Agreement

Legal system:  the Bonn Agreement calls for a judicial commission
to rebuild the justice system in accordance with Islamic principles,
international standards, the rule of law, and Afghan legal traditions

Suffrage:  NA; previously males 15-50 years of age

Executive branch:  note: following the Taliban's refusal to hand over
Usama bin LADIN to the US for his suspected involvement in the 11
September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, a US-led international
coalition was formed; after several weeks of aerial bombardment by
coalition forces and military action on the ground, including Afghan
opposition forces, the Taliban was ousted from power on 17 November 2001;
in December 2001 a number of prominent Afghans met under UN auspices in
Bonn, Germany, to decide on a plan for governing the country; as a result,
the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) - made up of 30 members, headed by a
chairman and five deputy chairmen - was inaugurated on 22 December 2001
with about a six-month mandate to be followed by a two-year Transitional
Authority (TA) after which elections are to be held; the structure of
the follow-on TA will be announced on 10 June 2002 when the Loya Jirga
(grand assembly) is convened chief of state: Chairman of the AIA, Hamad
KARZAI (since 22 December 2001); note - presently the chairman is both
chief of state and head of government head of government: Chairman of
the AIA, Hamad KARZAI (since 22 December 2001); note - presently the
chairman is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: the
30-member AIA elections: NA

Legislative branch:  nonfunctioning as of June 1993

Judicial branch:  the Bonn Agreement calls for the establishment of a
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:  NA; note - political parties in
Afghanistan are in flux and many prominent players have plans to create
new parties; the three main groups represented in the Afghan Interim
Authority (AIA) are: the Northern Alliance (also known as the United
Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan) - the main opposition to
the Taliban - composed of different ethnic and political groups; the Rome
Group, associated with the former king of Afghanistan, composed mainly
of expatriate Afghans; and the Peshawar Group, another expatriate group;
there are also several ""independent"" groups

Political pressure groups and leaders:  NA; note - ministries formed under
the Afghan Interim Authority(AIA) include former pressure
group leaders

International organization participation:  AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IOC (suspended), IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:   ambassador Ishaq SHAHRYAR (as
of 19 June 2002) chancery:  consulate(s) general: New York telephone:
202-483-6410

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
Robert Patrick John FINN; note - embassy in Kabul reopened 16 December
2001 following closure in January 1989 embassy:  FAX: NA

Flag description:  three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and
green with a gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features
a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right and
by a bold Islamic inscription above

Economy Afghanistan

Economy - overview:  Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked
country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and
goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political
and military upheavals during two decades of war, including the nearly
10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During
that conflict one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan
and Iran sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees.
Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 20 years
because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade
and transport; severe drought added to the nation's difficulties
in 1998-2001. The majority of the population continues to suffer
from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care, problems
exacerbated by military operations and political uncertainties. Inflation
remains a serious problem. Following the US-led coalition war that led
to the defeat of the Taliban in November 2001 and the formulation of
the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) resulting from the December 2001 Bonn
Agreement, International efforts to rebuild Afghanistan were addressed at
the Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002,
when $4.5 billion was collected for a trust fund to be administered
by the World Bank. Priority areas for reconstruction include the
construction of education, health, and sanitation facilities, enhancement
of administrative capacity, the development of the agricultural sector,
and the rebuilding of road, energy, and telecommunication links.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $21 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  NA%

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $800 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 60% industry: 20% services:
20% (1990 est.)

Population below poverty line:  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  NA%

Labor force:  10 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:  agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10%
(1990 est.)

Unemployment rate:  NA%

Budget:  revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures
of $NA

Industries:  small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,
fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper

Electricity - production:  375 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 36% hydro: 64% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:  453.75 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  105 million kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskin,
and lambskin

Exports:  $1.2 billion (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:  opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool,
cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems

Exports - partners:  Pakistan 32%, India 8%, Belgium 7%, Germany 5%,
Russia 5%, UAE 4% (1999)

Imports:  $1.3 billion (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:  capital goods, food and petroleum products;
most consumer goods

Imports - partners:  Pakistan 19%, Japan 16%, Kenya 9%, South Korea 7%,
India 6%, Turkmenistan 6% (1999)

Debt - external:  $5.5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:  international pledges made by more than 60
countries and international financial institutions at the Tokyo Donors
Conference for Afghan reconstruction in January 2002 reached $4.5 billion
through 2006, with $1.8 billion allocated for 2002; according to a joint
preliminary assessment conducted by the World Bank, the Asian Development
Bank, and the UN Development Program, rebuilding Afghanistan will cost
roughly $15 billion over the next ten years

Currency:  afghani (AFA)

Currency code:  AFA

Exchange rates:  afghanis per US dollar - 4,700 (January 2000), 4,750
(February 1999), 17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900
(January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note - these rates reflect
the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate,
which was fixed at 50.600 afghanis to the dollar until 1996, when it
rose to 2,262.65 per dollar, and finally became fixed again at 3,000.00
per dollar in April 1996

Fiscal year:  21 March - 20 March

Communications Afghanistan

Telephones - main lines in use:  29,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  NA

Telephone system:   very limited telephone and telegraph service domestic:
Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave
systems international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian
Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station
is in Kabul), FM 1, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian
(Dari), Urdu, and English) (1999)

Radios:  167,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:  at least 10 (one government-run central
television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32
provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also,
in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern
Afghanistan provinces) (1998)

Televisions:  100,000 (1999)

Internet country code:  .af

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  1 (2000)

Internet users:  NA

Transportation Afghanistan

Railways:  total: 24.6 km broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from
Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz
(Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya
(2001)

Highways:  total: 21,000 km paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1998 est.)

Waterways:  1,200 km note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up
to 500 DWT (2001)

Pipelines:  natural gas 180 km note: product pipelines from Uzbekistan
and Turkmenistan have been in disrepair and disuse for years (2002)

Ports and harbors:  Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Airports:  46 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047
m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

Airports - with unpaved runways:   7 1,524 to 2,437 m: Heliports:  2
(2001)

Military Afghanistan

Military branches:  NA; note - the December 2001 Bonn Agreement calls
for all militia forces to come under Afghan Interim Authority (AIA)
control, but formation of a national army is likely to be a gradual
process; Afghanistan's forces continue to be factionalized largely along
ethnic lines

Military manpower - military age:  22 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability:  males age 15-49: 6,896,623 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:  males age 15-49: 3,696,379
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:  males: 252,869
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  NA%

Transnational Issues Afghanistan

Disputes - international:  close ties with Pashtuns in Pakistan make
long border difficult to control

Illicit drugs:  poppy ban cut 2001 cultivation by 97% to 1,695 hectares,
with potential production of 74 tons of opium; a major source of
hashish; many heroin-processing laboratories throughout the country;
major political factions in the country profit from the drug trade

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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Bermuda

Introduction

Bermuda

Background:  Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English
colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North
American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues
to be important to the island's economy, although international business
has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly
successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was
soundly defeated in 1995.

Geography Bermuda

Location:  North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of North Carolina (US)

Geographic coordinates:  32 20 N, 64 45 W

Map references:  North America

Area:  total: 53.3 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 53.3 sq km

Area - comparative:  about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:  0 km

Coastline:  103 km

Maritime claims:  exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:  subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter

Terrain:  low hills separated by fertile depressions

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:
Town Hill 76 m

Natural resources:  limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use:  arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% other: 94% (55% developed,
45% rural/open space) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  NA sq km

Natural hazards:  hurricanes (June to November)

Environment - current issues:  asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space; sustainable development

Geography - note:  consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed
and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995

People Bermuda

Population:  63,960 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 19.2% (male 6,058; female 6,225) 15-64 years:
69.4% (male 21,950; female 22,442) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 3,163;
female 4,122) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  0.69% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  11.82 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  2.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 0.94 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.97
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  9.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   79.27 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  1.81 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  NA

Nationality:  noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups:  black 58%, white 36%, other 6%

Religions:  non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%,
other 19%

Languages:  English (official), Portuguese

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.)

Government Bermuda

Country name:   Bermuda former: Dependency status:  overseas territory
of the UK

Government type:  parliamentary British overseas territory with internal
self-government

Capital:  Hamilton

Administrative divisions:  9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire,
Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's,
Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick

Independence:  none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:  Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution:  8 June 1968, amended 1989

Legal system:  English law

Suffrage:  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since NA April 2002)
head of government:  by the premier, appointed by the governor elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch;
governor invites the leader of largest party in Parliament to form a
government as premier

Legislative branch:  bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an
11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition)
and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last general election held
9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results:
percent of vote by party - PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%, independents 1%;
seats by party - PLP 26, UBP 14

Judicial branch:  Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:  National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline
WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; United Bermuda
Party or UBP [Dr. Grant GIBBONS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:  Bermuda Employer's Union
[Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS];
Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [leader NA]; Bermuda Union
of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

International organization participation:  Caricom (observer), CCC,
ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation in the US:  none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: Acting Consul
General Karen EMMERSON consulate(s)
 Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVQ3 mailing address:  Department
 of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342 FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

Flag description:  red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a
red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea
Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

Economy Bermuda

Economy - overview:  Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world, with its economy primarily based on providing
financial services for international business and luxury facilities for
tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and
negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of
new reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to
the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On
the negative side, Bermuda's already weakening tourism industry - which
derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - has been further hit as
American tourists have chosen not to travel. Most capital equipment
and food must be imported, with the US serving as the primary source
of goods, followed by the UK. Bermuda's industrial sector is small,
although construction continues to be important. Agriculture is limited,
only 6% of the land being arable.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  2.9% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $34,800 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89%
(1995 est.)

Population below poverty line:  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  3% (July 2001)

Labor force:  37,472 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:  clerical 22%, services 20%, laborers 17%,
professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%,
sales 8%, agriculture and fishing 3% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:  4.5% (1993)

Budget:  revenues: $609.5 million expenditures: $574.6 million, including
capital expenditures of $54.8 million (FY00/01)

Industries:  tourism, international business, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:  NA%

Electricity - production:  595 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:  553.35 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy
products

Exports:  $51 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:  reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners:  EU excluding UK 77.9%, US 9.8%, UK 6.9% (1999)

Imports:  $719 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:  machinery and transport equipment, construction
materials, chemicals, food and live animals

Imports - partners:  EU excluding UK 35.4%, US 17.8%, UK 15.4%, Russia
14.6% (1999)

Debt - external:  $145 million (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient:  $NA

Currency:  Bermudian dollar (BMD)

Currency code:  BMD

Exchange rates:  Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate
pegged to the US dollar)

Fiscal year:  1 April - 31 March

Communications Bermuda

Telephones - main lines in use:  52,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  7,980 (1996)

Telephone system:  general assessment: NA domestic: modern, fully
automatic telephone system international: 3 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:  82,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:  3 (1997)

Televisions:  66,000 (1997)

Internet country code:  .bm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  20 (2000)

Internet users:  25,000 (2000)

Transportation Bermuda

Railways:  0 km

Highways:  total: 450 km paved: NA note: public roads - 209 km; private
roads - 241 km (2002) unpaved: NA

Waterways:  none

Ports and harbors:  Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard

Merchant marine:  total: 102 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,485,450
GRT/8,782,869 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered
here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 5, Denmark 2, Germany 1, Greece 1,
Hong Kong 9, Indonesia 1, Norway 2, Sweden 11, United Kingdom 52, United
States 13 (2002 est.)  ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 4, container 16,
liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 16,
roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 3

Airports:  1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2960 m)
(2002)

Military Bermuda

Military branches:  no regular indigenous military forces; Bermuda
Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $4,027,970 (January 2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  0.11% (FY00/01)

Military - note:  defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Bermuda

Disputes - international:  none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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East Timor

Introduction East Timor

Background:  The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent
from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by
Indonesian forces nine days later. It was subsequently incorporated
into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur. A so-called
campaign of pacification followed, during which time an estimated
100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999,
in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people of Timor Timur
voted for independence from Indonesia. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was
internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's
newest democracy.

Geography East Timor

Location:  Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East
Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi
(Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and
the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Geographic coordinates:  8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references:  Southeast Asia

Area:  total: 15,007 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:  total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Coastline:  706 km

Maritime claims:   NA NM territorial sea:  economic zone: NA NM

Climate:  tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain:  mountainous

Elevation extremes:   Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m highest
point: Natural resources:  gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use:  arable land: NA% other: NA% permanent crops: NA%

Irrigated land:  1,065 sq km (est.)

Natural hazards:  floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis,
tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:  widespread use of slash and burn
agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:  NA

Geography - note:  Timor is the Malay word for ""Orient""; the island of
Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost
of the Lesser Sunda Islands

People East Timor

Population:  952,618 (July 2002 est.)  note: other estimates range as
low as 800,000 (2002 est.)

Age structure:  NA

Population growth rate:  7.26% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  28.07 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  51.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  NA

Infant mortality rate:  51.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:  total population: 64.85 years male: 62.64
years female: 67.17 years (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate:  3.88 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  NA

Nationality:  noun: Timorese adjective: Timorese

Ethnic groups:  Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese
minority

Religions:  Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%,
Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)

Languages:  Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian,
English note:  Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant
numbers of people

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 48% (2001) male: NA% female: NA%

Government East Timor

Country name:  conventional long form: Democratic Republic of East Timor
conventional short form: East Timor local short form: Timor Lorosa'e
[Tetum];
 Portuguese Timor local long form:  Timor-Leste [Portuguese]

Government type:  republic

Capital:  Dili

Administrative divisions:  13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro,
Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los
Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque

Independence:  28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence
from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international
recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia

National holiday:  Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Constitution:  22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Legal system:  NA

Suffrage:  17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:  chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO
(since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic
role but is able to veto some legislation head of government: Prime
Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002) cabinet: Council
of State elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of
vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do Amaral 17.3%

Legislative branch:  unicameral National Parliament (number of seats
can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first
term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members
on an exceptional basis elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to
be held NA August 2006) election results: percent of vote by party -
FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%,
KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%;
seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2,
PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:  Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the
National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for
the Judiciary

Political parties and leaders:  Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or
ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor
or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC
[Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Pary or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];
Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or
PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or
FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario
CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of
the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)
or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT
[Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or TRABALHISTA [Paulo Freitas
DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese
Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida Santos COSTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:  NA

International organization participation:  IBRD, IMF note: UN membership
is expected in September

Diplomatic representation in the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Constancio PINTO chancery: NA consulate(s)
general: NA FAX: NA telephone: NA

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant) embassy: Farol district, Dili mailing address: NA telephone:
(670) 390 324 684 FAX: (670) 390 313 206

Flag description:  red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the
hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that
extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center
of the black triangle

Economy East Timor

Economy - overview:  In late 1999, about 70% of the economic
infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and
anti-independence militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the
next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by
5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to
substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By mid-2002,
all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces
great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the
strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term
project would be development of oil resources in nearby waters.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $415 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  18% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 25.4% industry: 17.2% services:
57.4% (2001)

Population below poverty line:  42% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:  38

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  NA%

Labor force:  NA

Labor force - by occupation:  NA

Unemployment rate:  50% (including underemployment)

Budget:  revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Industries:  printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate:  8.5%

Electricity - production:  NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other:
0% nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:  NA kWh

Electricity - exports:  0 kWh

Electricity - imports:  0 kWh

Agriculture - products:  coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes,
soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Exports:  $8 million (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:  coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential
for oil and vanilla exports

Exports - partners:  NA

Imports:  $237 million (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:  NA

Imports - partners:  NA

Debt - external:  $NA

Economic aid - recipient:  $2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)

Currency:  US dollar (USD)

Currency code:  USD

Fiscal year:  1 July - 30 June

Communications East Timor

Telephones - main lines in use:  NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:  NA

Telephone system:  NA

Radio broadcast stations:  AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios:  NA

Television broadcast stations:  NA

Televisions:  NA

Internet country code:  .tp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  NA

Internet users:  NA

Transportation East Timor

Railways:  0 km

Highways:  total: 3,800 km paved: 428 km unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)

Waterways:  NA

Pipelines:  NA

Ports and harbors:  NA

Merchant marine:  total: NA ships by type: NA

Airports:  8 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to
2,427 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways:  total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m:
2 (2001)

Heliports:  1 (2001)

Military East Timor

Military branches:  the East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL
comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note -
plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve
personnel over the next five years

Military manpower - military age:  18-21 years of age

Military manpower - availability:  NA

Military manpower - fit for military service:  NA

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:  NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $4.4 million (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  NA%

Transnational Issues East Timor

Disputes - international:  East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets
to survey and delimit land boundary; Indonesia seeks resolution of East
Timor refugees in Indonesia; Australia-East Timor-Indonesia are working to
resolve maritime boundary and sharing of seabed resources in ""Timor Gap""

Illicit drugs:  NA

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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Ecuador

Introduction

Ecuador

Background:  The ""Republic of the Equator"" was one of three countries
that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others
being Colombia and Venezuela).  Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost
territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war
with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999.

Geography Ecuador

Location:  Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the
Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Geographic coordinates:  2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references:  South America

Area:  total: 283,560 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands water:
6,720 sq km land: 276,840 sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries:  total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km,
Peru 1,420 km

Coastline:  2,237 km

Maritime claims:  continental shelf: claims continental shelf between
mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 NM

Climate:  tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher
elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Terrain:  coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra),
and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Chimborazo 6,267 m

Natural resources:  petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:  arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% other: 89% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  8,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:  frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity;
floods; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:  deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes
in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements:  party to: Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none
of the selected agreements

Geography - note:  Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People Ecuador

Population:  13,447,494 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 35.4% (male 2,415,764; female 2,337,095)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 4,007,495; female 4,090,957) 65 years and over:
4.4% (male 276,482; female 319,701) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  1.96% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  25.47 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  -0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  33.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   74.57 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  3.05 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  0.3% (2001)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  20,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  232 (2001)

Nationality:  noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Ethnic groups:  mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%,
Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Religions:  Roman Catholic 95%

Languages:  Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 90.1% male: 92% female: 88.2% (1995 est.)

Government Ecuador

Country name:   Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Government
type:  republic

Capital:  Quito

Administrative divisions:  22 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El
Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi,
Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios,
Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Independence:  24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday:  Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August
(1809)

Constitution:  10 August 1998

Legal system:  based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:  18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons
ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Executive branch:  chief of state: President Gustavo NOBOA Bejarano
(since 22 January 2000) selected president following coup that deposed
President Jamil MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO Rubianes (since 28
January 2000) elected by National Congress from a slate of candidates
submitted by President NOBOA; note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government elections: formerly, the president
and vice president were elected on the same ticket by popular vote for
four-year term (no reelection); election last held 31 May 1998; runoff
election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held 20 October 2002) head of
government: President Gustavo NOBOA Bejarano (since 22 January 2000)
selected president following coup that deposed President Jamil MAHUAD;
Vice President Pedro PINTO Rubianes (since 28 January 2000) elected by
National Congress from a slate of candidates submitted by President
NOBOA; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election results:
results of the last election prior to the coup were: Jamil MAHUAD elected
president; percent of vote - 51% note: a military-indigenous coup toppled
democratically-elected President Jamil MAHAUD on 21 January 2000; the
military quickly handed power over to Vice President Gustavo NOBOA on
22 January 2000; National Congress then elected a new vice president
from a slate of candidates submitted by NOBOA; the new administration
is scheduled to complete the remainder of MAHAUD's term, due to expire
in January 2003

Legislative branch:  unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional
(123 seats; 20 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to
serve four-year terms; 103 members are popularly elected by province
to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be
held 20 October 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3,
MPD 2, CFP 1; note - defections by members of National Congress are
commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held
by the various parties

Judicial branch:  Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (new justices are
elected by the full Supreme Court)

Political parties and leaders:  Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP
[Averroes BUCARAM]; Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos];
Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Jacinto JIJON Y CAMANO]; Independent
National Movement or MIN [Eliseo AZUERO]; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP
[Miguel LLUCO]; Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular
Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista Front
or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM
Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:  Confederation of Indigenous
Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Leonidas IZA, president]; Coordinator
of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous
Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National
Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN
[Pedro DE LA CRUZ, president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]

International organization participation:  CAN, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:   Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI
consulate(s) general:  Philadelphia, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202)
667-3482 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 chancery: 2535 15th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry L.  PALMER embassy: Avenida 12 de
Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 telephone:
[593] (2) 256-2890 FAX: [593] (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag description:  three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width),
blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the
flag; similar to the flag of Colombia which is shorter and does not bear
a coat of arms

Economy Ecuador

Economy - overview:  Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich
agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products such
as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can
have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade
Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession
commitments. The aftermath of El Nino and depressed oil market of 1997-98
drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in 1999. The beginning of 1999
saw the banking sector collapse, which helped precipitate an unprecedented
default on external loans later that year. Continued economic instability
drove a 70% depreciation of the currency throughout 1999, which forced
a desperate government to ""dollarize"" the currency regime in 2000. The
move stabilized the currency, but did not stave off the ouster of the
government. Gustavo NOBOA, who assumed the presidency in January 2000,
has managed to pass substantial economic reforms and mend relations
with international financial institutions. Ecuador completed its first
standby agreement since 1986 when the IMF Board approved a 10 December
2001 disbursement of $96 million, the final installment of a $300 million
standby credit agreement.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $39.6 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  4.3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 11% industry: 25% services:
64% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:  70% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:  43.7 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  22% (2001 est.)

Labor force:  3.7 million (urban)

Labor force - by occupation:  agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45%
(2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:  14%; note - widespread underemployment (2001 est.)

Budget:  revenues: $5.6 billion expenditures: planned $5.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Industries:  petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper
products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber

Industrial production growth rate:  5.1% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:  10.395 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 25.01% hydro: 74.99%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:  9.667 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc
(tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy
products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Exports:  $4.8 billion (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:  petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa,
cut flowers, fish

Exports - partners:  US 38%, Peru 6%, Chile 5%, Colombia 5%, Italy 3%
(2000)

Imports:  $4.8 billion (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:  machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials,
fuels; consumer goods

Imports - partners:  US 25%, Colombia 13%, Japan 8%, Venezuela 8%,
Brazil 4% (2000)

Debt - external:  $14 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:  $120 million (2001)

Currency:  US dollar (USD)

Currency code:  USD

Exchange rates:  sucres per US dollar - 25,000.0 (January 2002), 25,000.0
(2001), 24,988.4 (2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997)
note: on 13 March 2000, the National Congress approved a new exchange
system whereby the US dollar was adopted as the main legal tender in
Ecuador for all purposes; on 20 March 2000, the Central Bank of Ecuador
started to exchange sucres for US dollars at a fixed rate of 25,000 sucres
per US dollar; since 30 April 2000, all transactions are denominated in
US dollars

Fiscal year:  calendar year

Communications Ecuador

Telephones - main lines in use:  1,115,272 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  384,000 (1999)

Telephone system:   generally elementary but being expanded domestic:
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Radios:  5 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:  7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:  2.5 million (2001)

Internet country code:  .ec

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  31 (2001)

Internet users:  180,000 (2001)

Transportation Ecuador

Railways:  total: 965 km narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2000 est.)

Highways:  total: 43,197 km paved: 8,165 km unpaved: 35,032 km (2001)

Waterways:  1,500 km

Pipelines:  crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km

Ports and harbors:  Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto
Bolivar, San Lorenzo

Merchant marine:  total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 239,876
GRT/393,680 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of convenience: Chile 1, Greece 1 (2002 est.)  ships by type:
cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum
tanker 23, specialized tanker 1

Airports:  205 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 61 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047
m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 19 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18

Airports - with unpaved runways:  total: 144 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under
914 m: 113 (2001)

Heliports:  1 (2001)

Military Ecuador

Military branches:  Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National
Police

Military manpower - military age:  20 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability:  males age 15-49: 3,468,678 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:  males age 15-49: 2,337,944
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:  males: 132,978
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $720 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  3.4% (FY98)

Transnational Issues Ecuador

Disputes - international:  none

Illicit drugs:  significant transit country for cocaine originating in
Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production
of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub; increased activity
on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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Howland Island

Introduction

Howland Island

Background:  Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island
was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies
mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near
the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World
War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of the famed
aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the US Department
of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.

Geography Howland Island

Location:  Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way
between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates:  0 48 N, 176 38 W

Map references:  Oceania

Area:  total: 1.6 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 1.6 sq km

Area - comparative:  about three times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Land boundaries:  0 km

Coastline:  6.4 km

Maritime claims:  exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:  equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain:  low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a
narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources:  guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife

Land use:  arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:  the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:  no natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:  almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines,
and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily
a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife

People Howland Island

Population:  uninhabited note: American civilians evacuated in 1942
after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by
US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public
entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only
and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually
by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  NA

Government Howland Island

Country name:  conventional long form: none conventional short form:
Howland Island

Dependency status:  unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department
of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system:  the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:  the flag of the US is used

Economy Howland Island

Economy - overview:  no economic activity

Transportation Howland Island

Waterways:  none

Ports and harbors:  none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one
small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports:  airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop
on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they
left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again;
the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Transportation - note:  Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle
of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but
has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART

Military Howland Island

Military - note:  defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard

Transnational Issues Howland Island

Disputes - international:  none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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Palau

Introduction

Palau

Background:  After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of
the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the
Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the
Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the
US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered into
force the following year when the islands gained independence.

Geography Palau

Location:  Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast
of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:  7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references:  Oceania

Area:  total: 458 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 458 sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries:  0 km

Coastline:  1,519 km

Maritime claims:   3 NM extended fishing zone: Climate:  wet season May
to November; hot and humid

Terrain:  varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island
of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Natural resources:  forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products,
deep-seabed minerals

Land use:  arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% other: 78% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  NA sq km

Natural hazards:  typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:  inadequate facilities for disposal of
solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging,
illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:  party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements

Geography - note:  westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists
of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War
II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

People Palau

Population:  19,409 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,678; female 2,522) 15-64 years:
68.6% (male 7,241; female 6,074) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 426;
female 468) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  1.61% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  19.32 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  16.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   72.5 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  2.47 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  NA

Nationality:  noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups:  Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian
admixtures) 70%, Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese,
and Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.)

Religions:  Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, Seventh-Day Adventists,
Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and
Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population
observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

Languages:  English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral
(Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are
official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 92% male: 93% female: 90% (1980 est.)

Government Palau

Country name:   Republic of Palau conventional short form:  of the
Pacific Islands) local long form: Beluu er a Belau

Government type:  constitutional government in free association with
the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital:  Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast
of Koror

Administrative divisions:  16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei,
Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang,
Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsoral

Independence:  1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday:  Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution:  1 January 1981

Legal system:  based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage:  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:  chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU,
Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since
19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr.
(since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19
January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president
elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms;
election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results:  Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 53%, Peter SUGIYAMA 46%; Sandra
PIERANTOZZI elected vice president; percent of vote - Sandra PIERANTOZZI
52%, Alan SEID 45%

Legislative branch:  bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK)
consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a
population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates
(16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November
2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held
NA November 2004) election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%;
seats - independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%;
seats - independents 16

Judicial branch:  Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

Political parties and leaders:  none

Political pressure groups and leaders:  NA

International organization participation:  ACP, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey
KYOTA FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281 telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814 chancery:
1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: the Ambassador
to the Philippines is accredited to Palau; Charge d'Affaires Ronald
A. HARMS embassy: address NA, Koror
 P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone:
Flag description:  light blue with a large yellow disk (representing
the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economy Palau

Economy - overview:  The economy consists primarily of tourism,
subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major
employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from
the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in FY00/01. The
population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and
much of Micronesia.  Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have
been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific,
the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness
of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $174 million (2001 est.)  note: GDP
numbers reflect US spending

GDP - real growth rate:  1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line:  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  3.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force:  8,300 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:  agriculture 20%, industry NA%, services NA%
(1990)

Unemployment rate:  2.3% (2000 est.)

Budget:  revenues: $57.7 million expenditures: $80.8 million, including
capital expenditures of $17.1 million (FY98/99 est.)

Industries:  tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls),
construction, garment making

Industrial production growth rate:  NA%

Agriculture - products:  coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet
potatoes

Exports:  $11 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities:  shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners:  US, Japan, Singapore

Imports:  $126 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities:  machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:  US

Debt - external:  $0 (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient:  $155.8 million (1995); note - the Compact
of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN
trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million
in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities

Currency:  US dollar (USD)

Currency code:  USD

Exchange rates:  the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:  1 October - 30 September

Communications Palau

Telephones - main lines in use:  6,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  1,000 (2002)

Telephone system:  general assessment: NA domestic: NA international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:  12,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:  1 (1997)

Televisions:  11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:  .pw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  1 (2002)

Transportation Palau

Railways:  0 km

Highways:  total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km

Waterways:  none

Ports and harbors:  Koror

Merchant marine:  none (2002 est.)

Airports:  3 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways:  total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)

Military Palau

Military branches:  NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  NA%

Military - note:  defense is the responsibility of the US; under a
Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military
is granted access to the islands for 50 years

Transnational Issues Palau

Disputes - international:  none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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Taiwan

Introduction

Taiwan

Background:  In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan
to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War
II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million
Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947
constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades,
the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the
native population within its governing structure. This culminated in
2000, when Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from
the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this
period, the island has prospered to become one of East Asia's economic
""Tigers."" The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship
between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual
unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

Geography Taiwan

Location:  Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine
Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines,
off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates:  23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references:  Southeast Asia

Area:  total: 35,980 sq km note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and
Quemoy water: 3,720 sq km land: 32,260 sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries:  0 km

Coastline:  1,566.3 km

Maritime claims:  exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:  tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June
to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain:  eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently
rolling plains in west

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point:
Yu Shan 3,997 m

Natural resources:  small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos

Land use:  arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% other: 75%

Irrigated land:  NA sq km

Natural hazards:  earthquakes and typhoons

Environment - current issues:  air pollution; water pollution from
industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water
supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste
disposal

Environment - international agreements:  party to: none of the
selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status signed,
but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's
international status

Geography - note:  strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait
and the Luzon Strait

People Taiwan

Population:  22,548,009 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 21% (male 2,464,290; female 2,268,627) 15-64
years: 70% (male 8,010,014; female 7,774,296) 65 years and over: 9%
(male 1,053,975; female 976,807) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  0.78% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  14.21 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  6.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.09
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   79.71 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  1.76 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  NA

Nationality:  noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:  Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%,
aborigine 2%

Religions:  mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian
4.5%, other 2.5%

Languages:  Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 86%
 79% (1980 est.)  note:  (1998 est.)

Government Taiwan

Country name:  conventional long form: none conventional short form:
Taiwan local short form: T'ai-wan local long form: none former: Formosa

Government type:  multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly
elected president and unicameral legislature

Capital:  Taipei

Administrative divisions:  the central administrative divisions include
the provinces of Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province
including Quemoy and Matsu) and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the
Pescadores islands); Taiwan is further subdivided into 16 counties
(hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and
plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and
plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*,
Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu,
P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei,
T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital
is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system
for romanization

National holiday:  Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution),
10 October (1911)

Constitution:  1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999

Legal system:  based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:  20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:  chief of state: President Shui-bian CHEN (since 20 May
2000) and Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien LU (since 20 May 2000) election
results:  (DPP) 39.3%, James SOONG (independent) 36.84%, LIEN Chan (KMT)
23.1%, HSU Hsin-liang (independent) 0.63%, LEE Ao (CNP) 0.13% elections:
for four-year terms; election last held 18 March 2000 (next to be held NA
March 2004); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed
by the president on the recommendation of the premier head of government:
2002) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) Hsin-yi LIN
(since 1 February 2002) cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president

Legislative branch:  unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168
elected by popular vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion
of islandwide votes received by participating political parties,
eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of
the proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political
parties, eight elected by popular vote among the aboriginal populations;
members serve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (300
seat nonstanding body; delegates nominated by parties and elected by
proportional representation within three months of a Legislative Yuan
call to amend the Constitution, impeach the president, or change national
borders) elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 8 December 2001 (next to
be held NA December 2004); note - the National Assembly is a nonstanding
body and is called into session election results: Legislative Yuan -
percent of vote by party - DPP 39%, KMT 30%, PFP 20%, TSU 6%, independents
and other parties 5%; seats by party - DPP 87, KMT 68, PFP 46, TSU 13,
independents and other parties 11

Judicial branch:  Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president
with consent of the National Assembly; note - beginning in 2003, justices
will be appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)

Political parties and leaders:  Democratic Progressive Party or DPP
[Frank Chang-ting HSIEH, chairman]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party)
[LIEN Chan, chairman]; People First Party or PFP [James Chu-yu SOONG,
chairman]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [Chu-wen HUANG, chairman];
other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:  Taiwan independence movement,
various business and environmental groups note: debate on Taiwan
independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic
politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased
representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened
public debate on the island's national identity; a broad popular consensus
has developed that Taiwan currently enjoys de facto independence and -
whatever the ultimate outcome regarding reunification or independence -
that Taiwan's people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan
independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify
with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include
establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other
organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United
Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

International organization participation:  APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, ICFTU,
IFRCS, IOC, WCL, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:  none; unofficial commercial and
cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through
an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office (TECRO) in the US with headquarters in Taipei and
field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities

Diplomatic representation from the US:  none; unofficial commercial and
cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an
unofficial instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)
- which has offices in the US and Taiwan; US office located at 1700
N. Moore St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1]
(703) 525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices located at #7
Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2)
2709-2000, FAX: [886] (2) 2702-7675; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX: [886]
(7) 223-8237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade
Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei,
Taiwan 10548, telephone: Flag description:  red with a dark blue rectangle
in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Economy Taiwan

Economy - overview:  Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy
with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign
trade by government authorities. In keeping with this trend,
some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being
privatized. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8% during the
past three decades. Exports have provided the primary impetus for
industrialization. The trade surplus is substantial, and foreign
reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes 2%
to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries
are steadily being moved offshore and replaced with more capital- and
technology-intensive industries.  Taiwan has become a major investor in
China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam; 50,000
Taiwanese businesses are established in China. Because of its conservative
financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered
little compared with many of its neighbors from the Asian financial
crisis in 1998-99. The global economic downturn, however, combined
with poor policy coordination by the new administration and increasing
bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in 2001,
the first whole year of negative growth since 1947.  Unemployment also
reached a level not seen since the 1970s oil crisis.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $386 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  -2.2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 2% industry: 32% services: 66%
(2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:  1% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:  32.6 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  0.5% (2001 est.)

Labor force:  9.8 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:  services 56%, industry 36%, agriculture 8%
(2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:  4.5% (2001 est.)

Budget:  revenues: $36 billion expenditures: $36.1 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)

Industries:  electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles,
iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:  -5% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:  149.78 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 69.48% hydro: 5.82%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 24.7%

Electricity - consumption:  139.295 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs,
poultry, beef, milk; fish

Exports:  $122 billion (f.o.b., 2001)

Exports - commodities:  machinery and electrical equipment 55%, metals,
textiles, plastics, chemicals

Exports - partners:  US 23.5%, Hong Kong 21.1%, Europe 16%, ASEAN 12.2%,
Japan 11.2% (2000)

Imports:  $109 billion (f.o.b., 2001)

Imports - commodities:  machinery and electrical equipment 50%, minerals,
precision instruments

Imports - partners:  Japan 27.5%, US 17.9%, Europe 13.6%, South Korea 6.4%
(2000)

Debt - external:  $40 billion (2000)

Currency:  new Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Currency code:  TWD

Exchange rates:  new Taiwan dollars per US dollar - 34.494 (yearend
2001), 33.082 (yearend 2000), 31.395 (yearend 1999), 32.216 (1998),
32.052 (1997), 27.5 (1996)

Fiscal year:  1 July - 30 June (up to FY98/99); 1 July 1999 - 31 December
2000 for FY00; calendar year (after FY00)

Communications Taiwan

Telephones - main lines in use:  12.49 million (September 2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  16 million (September 2000)

Telephone system:  general assessment: provides telecommunications
service for every business and private need domestic: thoroughly modern;
completely digitalized international: satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan
(Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia,
Middle East, and Western Europe (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)

Radios:  16 million (1994)

Television broadcast stations:  29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:  8.8 million (1998)

Internet country code:  .tw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  8 (2000)

Internet users:  11.6 million (2001)

Transportation Taiwan

Railways:  total: 1,108 km narrow gauge: 1,108 km 1.067-m gauge (519
km electrified) note: in addition to the above routes in common carrier
service, there are several thousand kilometers of 1.067-m gauge routes
that are dedicated to industrial use (2001)

Highways:  total: 34,901 km paved: 31,271 km (including 538 km of
expressways) unpaved: 3,630 km (1998 est.)

Waterways:  NA

Pipelines:  petroleum products 3,400 km; natural gas 1,800 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:  Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao,
T'ai-chung

Merchant marine:  total: 152 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,262,451
GRT/6,596,950 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of convenience: Hong Kong 3, Japan 1 (2002 est.)  ships by type:
bulk 40, cargo 28, combination bulk 3, container 53, petroleum tanker 17,
refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 2

Airports:  39 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047
m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 3 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8

Airports - with unpaved runways:  total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under
914 m: 2 (2001)

Heliports:  3 (2001)

Military Taiwan

Military branches:  Army, Navy (including Marine Corps), Air Force,
Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined
Service Forces Command

Military manpower - military age:  19 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability:  males age 15-49: 6,575,625 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:  males age 15-49: 5,018,882
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:  males: 198,766
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $8,041,200,000 (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  2.8% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Taiwan

Disputes - international:  involved in complex dispute over the Spratly
Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam;
claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai),
as does China

Illicit drugs:  regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine;
major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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United Kingdom

Introduction

United Kingdom

Background:  Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power
of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary
democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the
British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The
first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted
in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the
Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous
European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security
Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK
pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing
the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the
EU, it chose to remain outside the European Monetary Union for the time
being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The
Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern
Ireland Assembly were established in 1999.

Geography United Kingdom

Location:  Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of
the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea,
northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:  54 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:  Europe

Area:  total: 244,820 sq km water: 3,230 sq km note: includes Rockall
and Shetland Islands land: 241,590 sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:  total: 360 km border countries: Ireland 360 km

Coastline:  12,429 km

Maritime claims:  continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf
orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries exclusive fishing
zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:  temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the
North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Terrain:  mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains
in east and southeast

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Fenland -4 m highest point: Ben Nevis
1,343 m

Natural resources:  coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron
ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land

Land use:  arable land: 26% permanent crops: 0% other: 74% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  1,080 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:  winter windstorms; floods

Environment - current issues:  continues to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990
levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a
domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the Government
aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed
of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at
least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99
and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3%

Environment - international agreements:  party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:  lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35
km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel;
because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km
from tidal waters

People United Kingdom

Population:  59,778,002 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 18.7% (male 5,732,385; female 5,443,900) 15-64
years: 65.5% (male 19,803,478; female 19,381,734) 65 years and over: 15.8%
(male 3,931,463; female 5,485,042) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  0.21% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  11.34 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  5.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   80.84 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  1.73 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  0.11% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  20,800 (1999)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  450 (1999 est.)

Nationality:  noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) adjective:
British

Ethnic groups:  English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%,
Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%

Religions:  Anglican and Roman Catholic 40 million, Muslim 1.5 million,
Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 500,000, Hindu 500,000,
Jewish 350,000

Languages:  English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales),
Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years
of schooling total population: 99% (2000 est.)  male: NA% female: NA%

Government United Kingdom

Country name:  conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland conventional short form: United Kingdom abbreviation: UK

Government type:  constitutional monarchy

Capital:  London

Administrative divisions:  England - 47 boroughs, 36 counties*, 29 London
boroughs**, 12 cities and boroughs***, 10 districts****, 12 cities*****,
3 royal boroughs******; Barking and Dagenham**, Barnet**, Barnsley, Bath
and North East Somerset****, Bedfordshire*, Bexley**, Birmingham***,
Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bracknell
Forest, Bradford***, Brent**, Brighton and Hove, City of Bristol*****,
Bromley**, Buckinghamshire*, Bury, Calderdale, Cambridgeshire*, Camden**,
Cheshire*, Cornwall*, Coventry***, Croydon**, Cumbria*, Darlington,
Derby*****, Derbyshire*, Devon*, Doncaster, Dorset*, Dudley, Durham*,
Ealing**, East Riding of Yorkshire****, East Sussex*, Enfield**, Essex*,
Gateshead, Gloucestershire*, Greenwich**, Hackney**, Halton, Hammersmith
and Fulham**, Hampshire*, Haringey**, Harrow**, Hartlepool, Havering**,
Herefordshire*, Hertfordshire*, Hillingdon**, Hounslow**, Isle of Wight*,
Islington**, Kensington and Chelsea******, Kent*, City of Kingston upon
Hull*****, Kingston upon Thames******, Kirklees, Knowsley, Lambeth**,
Lancashire*, Leeds***, Leicester*****, Leicestershire*, Lewisham**,
Lincolnshire*, Liverpool***, City of London*****, Luton, Manchester***,
Medway, Merton**, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle upon Tyne***,
Newham**, Norfolk*, Northamptonshire*, North East Lincolnshire****, North
Lincolnshire****, North Somerset****, North Tyneside, Northumberland*,
North Yorkshire*, Nottingham*****, Nottinghamshire*, Oldham, Oxfordshire*,
Peterborough*****, Plymouth*****, Poole, Portsmouth*****, Reading,
Redbridge**, Redcar and Cleveland, Richmond upon Thames**, Rochdale,
Rotherham, Rutland****, Salford***, Shropshire*, Sandwell, Sefton,
Sheffield***, Slough, Solihull, Somerset*, Southampton*****,
Southend-on-Sea, South Gloucestershire****, South Tyneside,
Southwark**, Staffordshire*, St. Helens, Stockport, Stockton-on-Tees,
Stoke-on-Trent*****, Suffolk*, Sunderland***, Surrey*, Sutton**, Swindon,
Tameside, Telford and Wrekin****, Thurrock, Torbay, Tower Hamlets**,
Trafford, Wakefield***, Walsall, Waltham Forest**, Wandsworth**,
Warrington, Warwickshire*, West Berkshire****, Westminster***, West
Sussex*, Wigan, Wiltshire*, Windsor and Maidenhead******, Wirral,
Wokingham****, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire*, York*****; Northern Ireland
- 24 districts, 2 cities*, 6 counties**; Antrim, County Antrim**,
Ards, Armagh, County Armagh**, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge,
Belfast*, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon,
Down, County Down**, Dungannon, Fermanagh, County Fermanagh**, Larne,
Limavady, Lisburn, County Londonderry**, Derry*, Magherafelt, Moyle,
Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane, County
Tyrone**; Scotland - 32 council areas; Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire,
Angus, Argyll and Bute, The Scottish Borders, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries
and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East
Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow
City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland
Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire,
Eilean Siar (Western Isles), West Lothian; Wales - 11 county boroughs,
9 counties*, 2 cities and counties**; Isle of Anglesey*, Blaenau Gwent,
Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff**, Ceredigion*, Carmarthenshire*, Conwy,
Denbighshire*, Flintshire*, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire*,
Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire*, Powys*, Rhondda Cynon Taff,
Swansea**, Torfaen, The Vale of Glamorgan*, Wrexham

Dependent areas:  Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,
Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena,
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

Independence:  England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th
century; the union between England and Wales was enacted under the
Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284; in the Act of Union of 1707, England and
Scotland agreed to permanent union as Great Britain; the legislative
union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the
adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six
northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern
Ireland and the current name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927

National holiday:  Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, celebrated on the
second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:  unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:  common law tradition with early Roman and modern
continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; British courts and
legislation are increasingly subject to review by European Union courts

Suffrage:  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November
1948) head of government: Prime Minister Anthony (Tony) BLAIR (since 2
May 1997)
 Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections:  majority
 party in the House of Commons (assuming there is no majority
party, a prime minister would have a majority coalition or at least a
coalition that was not rejected by the majority)

Legislative branch:  bicameral Parliament comprised of House of Lords
(consists of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers and 26
clergy) and House of Commons (659 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
elections:  elections); House of Commons - last held 7 June 2001 (next
to be held by NA May 2006) election results: House of Commons - percent
of vote by party - Labor 42.1%, Conservative and Unionist 32.7%, Liberal
Democrats 18.8%, other 6.4%; seats by party - Labor 412, Conservative
and Unionist 166, Liberal Democrat 52, other 29; note - seating as of 15
February 2002:  1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Parliament
(because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer of
power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of 1999 and
was twice rescinded before reinstatement in November 2001); in 1999 there
were elections for a new Scottish Parliament and a new Welsh Assembly

Judicial branch:  House of Lords (highest court of appeal; several
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life);
Supreme Courts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (comprising the
Courts of Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts);
Scotland's Court of Session and Court of the Justiciary

Political parties and leaders:  Conservative and Unionist Party [Iain
Duncan SMITH]; Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Rev. Ian
PAISLEY]; Labor Party [Anthony (Tony) BLAIR]; Liberal Democrats [Charles
KENNEDY]; Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Ieuan Wyn JONES]; Scottish
National Party or SNP [John SWINNEY]; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry
ADAMS]; Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland)
[Mark DURKAN]; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [David TRIMBLE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament;
Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Trades
Union Congress

International organization participation:  AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, C, CCC, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
Sir Christopher J. R. MEYER chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008 FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870
 Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Seattle consulate(s) general:  and San
 Francisco telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
William S. FARISH embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A1AE
mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 telephone: [44]
(0) 207499-9000 (switchboard) FAX: [44] (0) 207 629-8288 consulate(s)
general: Belfast, Edinburgh

Flag description:  blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint
of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of
Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) and which is superimposed on the
diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known
as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the
Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including
other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces,
as well as British overseas territories

Economy United Kingdom

Economy - overview:  The UK, a leading trading power and financial center,
is one of the quartet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. Over
the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership
and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is
intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards,
producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force.
The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy
production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of
any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and
business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while
industry continues to decline in importance. GDP growth slipped in 2001
as the global downturn, the high value of the pound, and the bursting
of the ""new economy"" bubble hurt manufacturing and exports. Still, the
economy is one of the strongest in Europe; inflation, interest rates,
and unemployment remain low, and the government expects growth of 2% to
2.5% in 2002. The relatively good economic performance has complicated
the BLAIR government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the
European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). The Prime Minister has
pledged to hold a public referendum if membership meets Chancellor of
the Exchequer BROWN's five economic ""tests."" Scheduled for assessment
by mid-2003, the tests will determine whether joining EMU would have a
positive effect on British investment, employment, and growth. Critics
point out, however, that the economy is thriving outside of EMU, and
they point to public opinion polls that continue to show a majority of
Britons opposed to the single currency.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $1.47 trillion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  2.4% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $24,700 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 1.7% industry: 24.9% services:
73.4% (1999)

Population below poverty line:  17%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1991)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:  36.1 (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  1.8% (2001 est.)

Labor force:  29.7 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:  agriculture 1%, industry 25%, services 74%
(1999)

Unemployment rate:  5.1% (2001 est.)

Budget:  revenues: $565 billion expenditures: $540 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY01)

Industries:  machine tools, electric power equipment, automation
equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles
and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals,
coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles,
clothing, and other consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate:  -1.6% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:  355.761 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 73.26% hydro: 1.46%
other: 2.31% (2000) nuclear: 22.97%

Electricity - consumption:  345.032 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  134 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  14.308 billion kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle,
sheep, poultry; fish

Exports:  $287 billion (f.o.b., 2001)

Exports - commodities:  manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food,
beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners:  EU 54% (Germany 11%, France 9%, Netherlands 7%,
Ireland 7%), US 15% (2000)

Imports:  $337 billion (c.i.f., 2001)

Imports - commodities:  manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:  EU 48% (Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 6%),
US 13%, Japan 5% (2000)

Debt - external:  $NA

Economic aid - donor:  ODA, $4.5 billion (2000)

Currency:  British pound (GBP)

Currency code:  GBP

Exchange rates:  British pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002),
0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997)

Fiscal year:  1 April - 31 March

Communications United Kingdom

Telephones - main lines in use:  34.878 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  13 million (yearend 1998)

Telephone system:  general assessment: technologically advanced domestic
and international system domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave
radio relay, and fiber-optic systems international: 40 coaxial submarine
cables; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and
3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat;
at least 8 large international switching centers

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:  84.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:  228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:  30.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:  .uk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  245 (2000)

Internet users:  33 million (2001)

Transportation United Kingdom

Railways:  total: 16,878 km standard gauge: 16,536 km 1.435-m gauge
(4,928 km electrified; 12,591 km double- or multiple-tracked) broad
gauge: 342 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double-tracked) note: all 1.600-m
gauge track is in common carrier service in Northern Ireland (1996)

Highways:  total: 371,603 km paved: 371,603 km (including 3,303 km of
expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)

Waterways:  3,200 km

Pipelines:  crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; petroleum
products 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km

Ports and harbors:  Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover, Falmouth,
Felixstowe, Glasgow, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, London,
Manchester, Peterhead, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Scapa Flow, Southampton,
Sullom Voe, Tees, Tyne

Merchant marine:  total: 212 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,308,232
GRT/4,171,757 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 32, chemical tanker 13,
combination ore/oil 1, container 53, liquefied gas 3, passenger 13,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 48, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll
off 26, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 1 note: includes some
foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Bermuda 1,
Cyprus 1, Denmark 21, Germany 6, Greece 3, Hong Kong 4, Italy 1, Monaco 4,
Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Russia 1, South Africa 2, Sweden 11, Taiwan 2,
United States 5 (2002 est.)

Airports:  470 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 332 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047
m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 84 under 914 m: 57 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 150

Airports - with unpaved runways:  total: 138 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to
1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 114 (2001)

Heliports:  13 (2001)

Military United Kingdom

Military branches:  Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal
Air Force

Military manpower - availability:  males age 15-49: 14,632,418 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:  males age 15-49: 12,151,734
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $31.7 billion (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  2.32% (2002)

Transnational Issues United Kingdom

Disputes - international:  Spain and UK are discussing ""total shared
sovereignty"" over Gibraltar, subject to a constitutional referendum
by Gibraltarians, who have largely expressed opposition to any form of
cession to Spain; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago
(British Indian Ocean Territory) and its former inhabitants, who
reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship
and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; Argentina claims
the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark and
Iceland; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory)
overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; disputes
with Iceland, Denmark, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental
shelf boundary outside 200 NM

Illicit drugs:  gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering
the European market; major consumer of synthetic drugs, producer of
limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals;
major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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United States

Introduction

United States

Background:  Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country
in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of
America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th
centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation
expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of
overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's
history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the
1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold
War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation-state. The
economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation,
and rapid advances in technology.

Geography United States

Location:  North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Geographic coordinates:  38 00 N, 97 00 W

Map references:  North America

Area:   470,131 sq km note: Area - comparative:  about half the size
of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size
of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than
China; about two and a half times the size of Western Europe

Land boundaries:  total: 12,034 km border countries: Canada 8,893 km
(including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km note: US Naval Base at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba;
the base boundary is 29 km

Coastline:  19,924 km

Maritime claims:  contiguous zone: 24 NM continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:  mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic
in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River,
and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures
in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February
by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

Terrain:  vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains
in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged,
volcanic topography in Hawaii

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Death Valley -86 m highest point:
Mount McKinley 6,194 m

Natural resources:  coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium,
bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc,
petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use:  arable land: 19% other: 81% (1998 est.)  permanent crops: NEGL%

Irrigated land:  214,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:  tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around
Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts;
tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California;
forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska,
a major impediment to development

Environment - current issues:  air pollution resulting in acid rain in
both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon
dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of
pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources
in much of the western part of the country require careful management;
desertification

Environment - international agreements:  party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

Geography - note:  world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and
Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest
point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent

People United States

Population:  280,562,489 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 21% (male 30,116,782; female 28,765,183) 15-64
years: 66.4% (male 92,391,120; female 93,986,468) 65 years and over: 12.6%
(male 14,748,522; female 20,554,414) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  0.89% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  14.1 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  6.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:  total population: 77.4 years male: 74.5 years
female: 80.2 years (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate:  2.07 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  0.61% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  850,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  20,000 (1999 est.)

Nationality:  noun: American(s) adjective: American

Ethnic groups:  white 77.1%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and
Alaska native 1.5%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.3%,
other 4% (2000) note:  Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin
American descent (especially of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin)
living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black,
Asian, etc.)

Religions:  Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%,
none 10% (1989)

Languages:  English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write male: 97%
female: 97% (1979 est.)  total population: 97%

People - note:  note: data for the US are based on projections that do
not take into consideration the results of the 2000 census

Government United States

Country name:   United States of America conventional short form:
Government type:  federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Capital:  Washington, DC

Administrative divisions:  50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District
of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Dependent areas:  American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island,
Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa
Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands, Wake Island note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the
US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently
entered into a new political relationship with all four political units:
the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with
the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free
Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States
of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective
3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact
of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986)

Independence:  4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)

National holiday:  Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution:  17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Legal system:  based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:  chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20
January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government head of government:  Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by
a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state;
president and vice president serve four-year terms; election last held 7
November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004) election results: George
W. BUSH elected president; percent of popular vote - George W. BUSH
(Republican Party) 48%, Albert A.  GORE, Jr. (Democratic Party) 48%,
Ralph NADER (Green Party) 3%, other 1%

Legislative branch:  bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100
seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are elected
from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House
of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms) election results: Senate - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 50, Republican Party
49, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party
- NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 221, Democratic Party 211,
independent 2, vacant 1 elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000
(next to be held 4 November 2002); House of Representatives - last held
7 November 2000 (next to be held 4 November 2002)

Judicial branch:  Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for
life by the president with confirmation by the Senate); United States
Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts

Political parties and leaders:  Democratic Party [Terence McAULIFFE,
national committee chairman]; Green Party [leader NA]; Republican Party
[Governor Marc RACICOT, national committee chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:  NA

International organization participation:  AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF
(dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC,
ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Flag description:  thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top
and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the
upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom)
alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states,
the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory;
the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags,
including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

Economy United States

Economy - overview:  The US has the largest and most technologically
powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $36,300. In this
market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make
most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed
goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business
firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts
in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay
off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they
face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the
barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or near
the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in
medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their advantage has
narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely
explains the gradual development of a ""two-tier labor market"" in which
those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical
skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable
pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975,
practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20%
of households. The years 1994-2000 witnessed solid increases in real
output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%. The
year 2001 witnessed the end of the boom psychology and performance,
with output increasing only 0.3% and unemployment and business failures
rising substantially. The response to the terrorist attacks of September
11 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. Moderate recovery is
expected in 2002, with the GDP growth rate rising to 2.5% or more. A major
short-term problem in first half 2002 was a sharp decline in the stock
market, fueled in part by the exposure of dubious accounting practices in
some major corporations. Long-term problems include inadequate investment
in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of
an aging population, sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family
income in the lower economic groups.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $10.082 trillion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  0.3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $36,300 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 2% industry: 18% services: 80%
(2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:  12.7% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:  40.8 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  2.8% (2001)

Labor force:  141.8 million (includes unemployed) (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:  managerial and professional 31%, technical,
sales and administrative support 28.9%, services 13.6%, manufacturing,
mining, transportation, and crafts 24.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing
2.4% (2001) note: Unemployment rate:  5% (2001)

Budget:  revenues: $1.828 trillion expenditures: $1.703 trillion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)

Industries:  leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and
technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace,
telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer
goods, lumber, mining

Industrial production growth rate:  -3.7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:  3,799.944 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 70.76% hydro: 7.19%
other: 2.21% (2000) nuclear: 19.84%

Electricity - consumption:  3.613 trillion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  14.829 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  48.879 billion kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables,
cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish

Exports:  $723 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:  capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies
and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products

Exports - partners:  Canada 22.4%, Mexico 13.9%, Japan 7.9%, UK 5.6%,
Germany 4.1%, France, Netherlands (2001)

Imports:  $1.148 trillion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:  crude oil and refined petroleum products,
machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food
and beverages

Imports - partners:  Canada 19%, Mexico 11.5%, Japan 11.1%, China 8.9%,
Germany 5.2%, UK, Taiwan (2001)

Debt - external:  $862 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid - donor:  ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)

Currency:  US dollar (USD)

Currency code:  USD

Exchange rates:  British pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002),
0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106
(1997); Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.6003 (January 2002), 1.5488
(2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997);
French francs per US dollar - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367
(1997); Italian lire per US dollar - 1,668.7 (January 1999), 1,763.2
(1998), 1,703.1 (1997); Japanese yen per US dollar - 132.66 (January
2002), 121.53 (2001), 107.77 (2000), 113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99
(1997); German deutsche marks per US dollar - 1.69 (January 1999), 1.9692
(1998), 1.7341 (1997); euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175
(2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863 (1999) note: financial institutions in
France, Italy, and Germany and eight other European countries started
using the euro on 1 January 1999 with the euro replacing the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year:  1 October - 30 September

Communications United States

Telephones - main lines in use:  194 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  69.209 million (1998)

Telephone system:  general assessment: a very large, technologically
advanced, multipurpose communications system domestic: a large system of
fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic
satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing
cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
international:  (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
regions) (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 4,762, FM 5,542, shortwave 18 (1998)

Radios:  575 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:  more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000
stations affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX,
and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)

Televisions:  219 million (1997)

Internet country code:  .us

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  7,800 (2000 est.)

Internet users:  166 million (2001)

Transportation United States

Railways:  total: 212,433 km mainline routes standard gauge: 212,433 km
1.435-m gauge note: represents the aggregate length of roadway of all
line-haul railroads including an estimate for Class II and III railroads
(1998)

Highways:  total: 6,370,031 km paved: 5,733,028 km (including 74,091 km
of expressways) unpaved: 637,003 km (1997)

Waterways:  41,009 km note: navigable inland channels, exclusive of the
Great Lakes

Pipelines:  petroleum products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)

Ports and harbors:  Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago,
Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon),
Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo

Merchant marine:  total: 264 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,911,641
GRT/9,985,660 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 11, cargo 14,
chemical tanker 16, collier 1, combination bulk 4, combination tanker 11,
container 86, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger/cargo 2,
petroleum tanker 81, roll on/roll off 28, specialized tanker 3, vehicle
carrier 2 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Canada 4, Denmark 15, France 1,
Germany 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 7, Puerto Rico 4, Singapore 11, Sweden 1,
United Kingdom 3 (2002 est.)

Airports:  14,695 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:   222 914 to 1,523 m: Airports - with
unpaved runways:   1 2,438 to 3,047 m: Heliports:  132 (2001)

Military United States

Military branches:  Department of the Army, Department of the Navy
(includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force note: the Coast
Guard is normally subordinate to the Department of Transportation,
but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy

Military manpower - military age:  18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability:  males age 15-49: 70,819,436 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:  NA (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:  males: 2,053,179
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $276.7 billion (FY99 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  3.2% (FY99 est.)

Military - note:  note: 2002 estimates for military manpower are based
on projections that do not take into consideration the results of the
2000 census

Transnational Issues United States

Disputes - international:  maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon
Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island);
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti
claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica
(but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims
of any other state; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island

Illicit drugs:  consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico
and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly
methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian
heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants,
hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



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Uruguay

Introduction

Uruguay

Background:  A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros,
launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to military
control of his administration in 1973. By the end of the year the rebels
had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold throughout
the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985.  Uruguay's
political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.

Geography Uruguay

Location:  Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Argentina and Brazil

Geographic coordinates:  33 00 S, 56 00 W

Map references:  South America

Area:  total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Land boundaries:  total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km,
Brazil 985 km

Coastline:  660 km

Maritime claims:  contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM

Climate:  warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain:  mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:
Cerro Catedral 514 m

Natural resources:  arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Land use:  arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% other: 93% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  1,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:  seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas),
droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as
weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid
changes from weather fronts

Environment - current issues:  water pollution from meat packing/tannery
industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:  party to: Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Geography -
note:  second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of
the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland,
ideal for cattle and sheep raising

People Uruguay

Population:  3,386,575 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 24.4% (male 422,826; female 402,324) 15-64
years: 62.6% (male 1,047,740; female 1,072,032) 65 years and over: 13%
(male 181,522; female 260,131) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  0.79% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  17.28 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  9 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  -0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   79.17 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  2.35 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  0.33% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  6,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  150 (1999 est.)

Nationality:  noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Ethnic groups:  white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically
nonexistent

Religions:  Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population
attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or
other 31%

Languages:  Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on
the Brazilian frontier)

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 97.3% male: 96.9% female: 97.7% (1995 est.)

Government Uruguay

Country name:  conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay local short form: Uruguay former:
Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province local long form: Republica Oriental
del Uruguay

Government type:  constitutional republic

Capital:  Montevideo

Administrative divisions:  19 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores,
Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera,
Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres

Independence:  25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

National holiday:  Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Constitution:  27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27
June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980;
two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and
7 January 1997

Legal system:  based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:  18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:  chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since
1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government head
of government:  Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council
of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October 1999,
with runoff election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected president; percent of vote -
Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44%

Legislative branch:  bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General
consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of
Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber
of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004);
Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held
NA 2004) election results:  Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10,
Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista
40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/Space Coalition 4

Judicial branch:  Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president
and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:  Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez];
National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space
Coalition or Nuevo Espacio [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad
Front Coalition or Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio [Tabare VAZQUEZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders:  NA

International organization participation:  CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM
(observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo
FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLD consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami,
and New York FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
through 1316 chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
Martin J. SILVERSTEIN embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777 FAX: [598]
(2) 410-0022

Flag description:  nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom)
alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side
corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May
and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

Economy Uruguay

Economy - overview:  Uruguay's economy is characterized by an
export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce,
and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5%
annually in 1996-98, in 1999-2001 the economy suffered from lower
demand in Argentina and Brazil, which together account for nearly
half of Uruguay's exports. Despite the severity of the trade shocks,
Uruguay's financial indicators remained more stable than those of its
neighbors, a reflection of its solid reputation among investors and its
investment-grade sovereign bond rating - one of only two in South America.
Challenges for the government of President Jorge BATLLE include reducing
the budget deficit, expanding Uruguay's trade ties beyond its Mercosur
trade partners, and reducing the costs of public services. GDP fell by
1.3% in 2000 and by 1.5% in 2001.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $31 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  -1.5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $9,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 6% industry: 29% services: 65%
(2001)

Population below poverty line:  6% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:  42.3 (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  3.6% (2001)

Labor force:  1.2 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:  agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%

Unemployment rate:  15.2% (2001)

Budget:  revenues: $3.7 billion expenditures: $4.6 billion, including
capital expenditures of $500 million (2000)

Industries:  food processing, electrical machinery, transportation
equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:  -2.4% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:  7.527 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 6.64% hydro: 92.83%
other: 0.53% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:  7.35 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  950 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  1.3 billion kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish

Exports:  $2.24 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:  meat, rice, leather products, wool, vehicles,
dairy products

Exports - partners:  Mercosur partners 40%, EU 20%, US 8% (2001 est.)

Imports:  $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:  machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude
petroleum

Imports - partners:  Mercosur partners 44%, EU 18%, US 9% (2001 est.)

Debt - external:  $7.7 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:  $NA

Currency:  Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Currency code:  UYU

Exchange rates:  Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 14.3325 (January 2002),
13.3191 (2001), 12.0996 (2000), 11.3393 (1999), 10.4719 (1998), 9.4418
(1997)

Fiscal year:  calendar year

Communications Uruguay

Telephones - main lines in use:  929,141 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  350,000 (2001)

Telephone system:  general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most
modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave
radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)

Radios:  1.97 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:  20 (2001)

Televisions:  782,000 (1997)

Internet country code:  .uy

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  14 (2001)

Internet users:  370,000 (2001)

Transportation Uruguay

Railways:  total: 2,993 km standard gauge: 2,993 km 1.435-m gauge note:
of the total route length, 461 km have been taken out of service and
460 km are in only partial use; moreover, not all lines offer passenger
service (2001)

Highways:  total: 8,764 km paved: 7,800 km unpaved: 964 km (2001)

Waterways:  1,600 km (used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft)

Ports and harbors:  Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma,
Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis

Merchant marine:  total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,752
GRT/5,228 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of convenience: Argentina 4, Greece 1 (2002 est.)  ships by type:
petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

Airports:  64 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:   5 914 to 1,523 m: Airports - with unpaved
runways:  total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m:
31 (2001)

Military Uruguay

Military branches:  Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard,
Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)

Military manpower - availability:  males age 15-49: 824,395 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:  males age 15-49: 666,880
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $250 million (1999)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  1.1% (2000)

Transnational Issues Uruguay

Disputes - international:  uncontested dispute with Brazil over islands
in the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de
la Invernada)

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002