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@Papua New Guinea, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, just north of Australia, between Indonesia and the
Solomon Islands
Map references:
Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
461,690 sq km
land area:
451,710 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total 820 km, Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:
5,152 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon
(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Natural resources:
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
71%
other:
28%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; pollution from mining projects
natural hazards:
some active volcanoes; frequent earthquakes
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber; signed, but
not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest
swamps along southwest coast
@Papua New Guinea, People
Population:
4,196,806 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.31% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
33.5 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
63.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
56.43 years
male:
55.6 years
female:
57.31 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.65 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective:
Papua New Guinean
Ethnic divisions:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London
Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects 10%, indigenous
beliefs 34%
Languages:
English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in
Papua region
note:
715 indigenous languages
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
52%
male:
65%
female:
38%
Labor force:
NA
@Papua New Guinea, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form:
Papua New Guinea
Digraph:
PP
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Moresby
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain,
East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National
Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons, Sandaun, Southern
Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:
16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under Australian
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution:
16 September 1975
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Wiwa KOROWI (since NA November 1991)
head of government:
Prime Minister Paias WINGTI (since 17 July 1992); Deputy Prime
Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since July 1992)
cabinet:
National Executive Council; appointed by the governor on
recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Parliament:
(sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly) elections last held
13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent by party
NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10,
independents 30, others 18 (association with political parties is
fluid)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Jack GENIA; People's
Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP),
Akoka DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United
Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National
Party (NP), Paul PORA; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS
Member of:
ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate Kepas WATANGIA
chancery:
3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 745-3680
FAX:
(202) 745-3679
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard TEARE
embassy:
Armit Street, Port Moresby
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96553
telephone:
[675] 211-455 or 594, 654
FAX:
[675] 213-423
Flag:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is
red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern
Cross constellation centered
@Papua New Guinea, Economy
Overview:
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost
of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence
livelihood for 85% of the population. Mining of numerous deposits,
including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of export earnings.
Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank
auspices have helped sustain the economy. Robust growth in 1991-92 was
led by the mining sector; the opening of a large new gold mine helped
the advance. The economy remained strong in 1993, primarily because of
continued growth in the mining and oil sectors.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.2 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1.2% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (1992-93)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$1.33 billion
expenditures:
$1.49 billion, including capital expenditures of $225 million (1993
est.)
Exports:
$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster
partners:
Australia, Japan, South Korea, UK, US
Imports:
$1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,
chemicals
partners:
Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand, UK
External debt:
$2.2 billion (April 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 21% (1992); accounts for 31% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
400,000 kW
production:
1.6 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
400 kWh (1992)
Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
production, mining of gold, silver, and copper, construction, tourism
Agriculture:
Accounts for 28% of GDP; livelihood for 85% of population; fertile
soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a wide variety of
crops; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels; other
products - tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry,
pork; net importer of food for urban centers
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.5
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million
Currency:
1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates:
kina (K) per US$1 - 1.0281 (January 1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367
(1992), 1.0504 (1991), 1.0467 (1990), 1.1685 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Papua New Guinea, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
19,200 km
paved:
640 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 10,960 km; unimproved earth
7,600 km
Inland waterways:
10,940 km
Ports:
Anewa Bay, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine:
11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,337 GRT/25,669 DWT, bulk 2,
cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1
Airports:
total:
504
usable:
462
with permanent-surface runways:
18
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
39
Telecommunications:
services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide
radiobroadcast, radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,
aeronautical radio, and international radiocommunication services;
submarine cables extend to Australia and Guam; more than 70,000
telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987); 1
Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Papua New Guinea, Defense Forces
Branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,080,316; fit for military service 601,369
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 1.8% of GDP (1993 est.)
@Paracel Islands, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, 400 km east of Vietnam in the South China Sea,
about one-third of the way between Vietnam and the Philippines
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total area:
NA sq km
land area:
NA sq km
comparative area:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
518 km
Maritime claims:
NA
International disputes:
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
NA
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to typhoons
international agreements:
NA
@Paracel Islands, People
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered Chinese
garrisons
@Paracel Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Paracel Islands
Digraph:
PF
@Paracel Islands, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Paracel Islands, Communications
Ports:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
currently under expansion
Airports:
1 on Woody Island
@Paracel Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
occupied by China
@Paraguay, Geography
Location:
Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
406,750 sq km
land area:
397,300 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del
Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined
Climate:
varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west
Terrain:
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region
west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry
forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land:
20%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
39%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
5%
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal
present health hazards for many urban residents
natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained
plains may become boggy (early October to June)
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil
@Paraguay, People
Population:
5,213,772 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.76% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
32.03 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.48 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
25.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.28 years
male:
71.74 years
female:
74.9 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Paraguayan(s)
adjective:
Paraguayan
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations
Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
90%
male:
92%
female:
88%
Labor force:
1.692 million (1993 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)
@Paraguay, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form:
Paraguay
local long form:
Republica del Paraguay
local short form:
Paraguay
Digraph:
PA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Asuncion
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto
Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa,
Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua,
Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San
Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Constitution:
25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was
promulgated on 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review
of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993); Vice President
Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); election last held 9 May
1993 (next to be held May 1998); results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%,
Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; nominated by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Congreso)
Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores):
elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20,
PLRA 17, EN 8
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados):
elections last held on 9 May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Colorado
Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party, Eugenio SANABRIA CANTERO, president; Authentic Radical
Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN),
Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS (the EN party includes the following minor
parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular
Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER)
Other political or pressure groups:
Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Juan Esteban AGUIRRE Martinez
chancery:
2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX:
(202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general:
New Orleans and New York
consulate(s):
Miami
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge D'Affaires Gerald McCOLLOCH
embassy:
1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
mailing address:
C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001
telephone:
[595] (21) 213-715
FAX:
[595] (21) 213-728
Flag:
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an
emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is
different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the
national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green
wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two
circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the
treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y
Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL
PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
@Paraguay, Economy
Overview:
Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP,
employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of
exports, led by soybeans and cotton. Paraguay lacks substantial
mineral or petroleum resources but possesses a large hydropower
potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared with
the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual
rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three
of five years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign
debt rose. Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy
were the completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for
crops, and weak export prices for agricultural commodities. In 1987
the economy experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather
conditions and stronger international prices for key agricultural
exports. The recovery continued through 1990, on the strength of
bumper crops in 1988-89. In a major step to increase its economic
activity in the region, Paraguay in March 1991 joined the Southern
Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Brazil, Argentina, and
Uruguay. In 1992, the government, through an unorthodox approach,
reduced external debt with both commercial and official creditors by
purchasing a sizable amount of the delinquent commercial debt in the
secondary market at a substantial discount. The government had paid
100% of remaining official debt arrears to the US, Germany, France,
and Spain. All commercial debt arrears have been rescheduled. For the
long run, the government must press forward with general,
market-oriented economic reforms. Growth of 3.5% in 1993 was spurred
by higher-than-expected agricultural output and rising international
commodity prices. Inflation picked up steam in fourth quarter 1993
because of rises in public sector salaries and utility rates.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15.2 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20.4% (1993 )
Unemployment rate:
11% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.2 billion
expenditures:
$1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$728 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung
oil
partners:
EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports:
$1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials, fuels
partners:
Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
External debt:
$1.2 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.2% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
5,257,000 kW
production:
16.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
3,280 kWh (1992)
Industries:
meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other
light consumer goods, cement, construction
Agriculture:
accounts for 26% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton,
sugarcane, soybeans; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava,
fruits, vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus
producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US
and Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1
billion
Currency:
1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,861.3 (January 1994), 1,744.3 (1993),
1,500.3 (1992), 447.5 (March 1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990),
1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Paraguay, Communications
Railroads:
970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter
gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
Highways:
total:
28,300 km
paved:
2,600 km
unpaved:
gravel 500 km; earth 25,200 km
Inland waterways:
3,100 km
Ports:
Asuncion, Villeta, Ciudad del Este
Merchant marine:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,513 DWT, cargo 11,
oil tanker 2
note:
1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
Airports:
total:
969
usable:
827
with permanent-surface runways:
7
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
93
Telecommunications:
meager telephone service; principal switching center in Asuncion; fair
intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; telephone density - 16
telephones per 1,000 persons; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV,
7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Paraguay, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,249,470; fit for military service 907,533; reach
military age (17) annually 53,126 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.6% of GDP (1994 est.)
@Peru, Geography
Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Chile
and Ecuador
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,285,220 sq km
land area:
1.28 million sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total 6,940 km, Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute
Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center
(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,
phosphate, potash
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
21%
forest and woodland:
55%
other:
21%
Irrigated land:
12,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; air
pollution in Lima
natural hazards:
subject to earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, mild volcanic activity
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber
Note:
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with
Bolivia
@Peru, People
Population:
23,650,671 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.86% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.55 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
54.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.62 years
male:
63.44 years
female:
67.9 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.11 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Peruvian(s)
adjective:
Peruvian
Ethnic divisions:
Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white
15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
85%
male:
92%
female:
29%
Labor force:
8 million (1992)
by occupation:
government and other services 44%, agriculture 37%, industry 19% (1988
est.)
@Peru, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Peru
conventional short form:
Peru
local long form:
Republica del Peru
local short form:
Peru
Digraph:
PE
Type:
republic
Capital:
Lima
Administrative divisions:
24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash,
Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica,
Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de
Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
note:
the 1979 Constitution and legislation enacted from 1987 to 1990
mandate the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) intended
to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative
entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 existing
departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from
Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from
Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios,
Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari
(from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna,
Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca,
Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali);
formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the
constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of
Lima. Because of inadequate funding from the central government and
organizational and political difficulties, the regions have yet to
assume major responsibilities. The 1993 Constitution maintains the
regionalization process with some modifications that will limit the
powers of the regional governments. The new constitution also
reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments.
Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:
31 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990);
election last held on 10 June 1990 (next to be held NA April 1995);
results - Alberto FUJIMORI 56.53%, Mario VARGAS Llosa 33.92%, other
9.55%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
note:
Prime Minister Efrain GOLDENBERG Schreiber (since February 1994) does
not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Democratic Constituent Congress (CCD):
elections last held 25 November 1992 (next to be held April 1995);
seats - (80 total) New Majority/Change 90 44, Popular Christian Party
8, Independent Moralization Front 7, Renewal 6, Movement of the
Democratic Left 4, Democratic Coordinator 4, others 7; note - several
major parties (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance, Popular
Action) did not participate; with the next election the congress will
be expanded to 100 seats
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leaders:
note:
Peru's political party system has become fragmented in recent years
with independent movements proliferating; key parties are listed
New Majority/Change 90 (Cambio 90), Alberto FUJIMORI; Popular
Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Popular Action Party (AP),
Raul DIEZ CANSECO; American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA),
Armando VILLANUEVA del CAMPO; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM),
Fernando OLIVERA Vega; National Renewal, Rafael REY Rey; Democratic
Coordinator, Jose BARBA Caballero; Democratic Left Movement, Henry
PEASE; Solidarity and Democracy (SODE), Manuel MOREYRA; National Front
of Workers and Peasants (FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES
Other political or pressure groups:
leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso
(imprisoned); Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and
Victor POLAY (imprisoned)
Member of:
AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG (suspended), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ricardo LUNA Mendoza
chancery:
1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX:
(202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey),
and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr.
embassy:
corner of Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Avenida Espana, Lima
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1991, Lima 1, Unit 3822, or APO AA 34031
telephone:
[51] (14) 33-8000
FAX:
[51] (14) 31-6682
Flag:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with
the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
a shield bearing a llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a
yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green
wreath
@Peru, Economy
Overview:
The Peruvian economy is becoming increasingly market oriented, with
major privatizations scheduled for 1994 in the mining and
telecommunications industries. In the 1980s the economy suffered from
hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external
debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the
mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program
implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July
1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic
activity, but the slide halted late that year, and output rose 2.4% in
1991. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated
government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the
single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase
since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from
multilateral lenders in September 1991, although it faced $14 billion
in arrears on its external debt. By working with the IMF and World
Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government
succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by
2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in
a 30% drop in the fish catch. In 1993 the economy rebounded as strong
foreign investment helped push growth to 6%.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $70 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
39% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$2 billion
expenditures:
$1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $300 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined
silver, coffee, cotton
partners:
US 25%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany
Imports:
$4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners:
US 30%, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil
External debt:
$22 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -5% (1992 est.); accounts for 32% of GDP, including
petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
5,042,000 kW
production:
17.434 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
760 kWh (1992)
Industries:
mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food
processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal
fabrication
Agriculture:
accounts for 13% of GDP, about 35% of labor force; commercial crops -
coffee, cotton, sugarcane; other crops - rice, wheat, potatoes,
plantains, coca; animal products - poultry, red meats, dairy, wool;
not self-sufficient in grain or vegetable oil; fish catch of 6.9
million metric tons (1990)
Illicit drugs:
world's largest coca leaf producer with about 108,800 hectares under
cultivation in 1993; source of supply for most of the world's coca
paste and cocaine base; at least 85% of coca cultivation is for
illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug
dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.3
billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $577 million
Currency:
1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.180 (January 1994), 1.988 (1993), 1.245
(1992), 0.772 (1991), 0.187 (1990), 0.0027 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Peru, Communications
Railroads:
1,801 km total; 1,501 km 1.435-meter gauge, 300 km 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
69,942 km
paved:
7,459 km
unpaved:
improved earth 13,538 km; unimproved earth 48,945 km
Inland waterways:
8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km Lago
Titicaca
Pipelines:
crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km
Ports:
Callao, Ilo, Iquitos, Matarani, Talara
Merchant marine:
17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 142,425 GRT/229,746 DWT, bulk 3,
cargo 10, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
note:
in addition, 6 naval tankers and 1 naval cargo are sometimes used
commercially
Airports:
total:
252
usable:
222
with permanent-surface runways:
37
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
24
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
54
Telecommunications:
fairly adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave system;
544,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 273 AM, no FM, 140 TV, 144
shortwave; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 12
domestic
@Peru, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru), Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 6,199,785; fit for military service 4,188,706; reach
military age (20) annually 246,427 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $500 million, about 2% of GDP (1991)
@Philippines, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, between Indonesia and China
Map references:
Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
300,000 sq km
land area:
298,170 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
36,289 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by
1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area
in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
International disputes:
involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state
of Sabah
Climate:
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use:
arable land:
26%
permanent crops:
11%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
40%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; air pollution in Manila
natural hazards:
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six
cyclonic storms per year; subject to landslides, active volcanoes,
destructive earthquakes, tsunamis
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Tropical Timber
@Philippines, People
Population:
69,808,930 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.92% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
27.34 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
50.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.39 years
male:
62.88 years
female:
68.02 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.35 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Filipino(s)
adjective:
Philippine
Ethnic divisions:
Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Languages:
Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog), English (official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
90%
male:
90%
female:
90%
Labor force:
24.12 million
by occupation:
agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services 18.5%, government
10%, other 9.5% (1989)
@Philippines, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form:
Philippines
local long form:
Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form:
Pilipinas
Digraph:
RP
Type:
republic
Capital:
Manila
Administrative divisions:
72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan
del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*,
Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,
Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*,
Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*,
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz,
Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*,
Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao
Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*,
Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo
City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del
Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte,
Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque,
Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental,
Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental,
North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*,
Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga,
Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino,
Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San
Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor,
Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu,
Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,
Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,
Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
Independence:
4 July 1946 (from US)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)
Constitution:
2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992); Vice President
Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); election last held 11
May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998); results - Fidel
Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of votes, a narrow plurality
cabinet:
Executive Secretary; appointed by the president with the consent of
the Commission of Appointments
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Kongreso)
Senate (Senado):
elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May
1995); results - LDP 66%, NPC 20%, Lakas-NUCD 8%, Liberal 6%; seats -
(24 total) LDP 15, NPC 5, Lakas-NUCD 2, Liberal 1, Independent 1
House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan):
elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May
1995); results - LDP 43.5%; Lakas-NUCD 25%, NPC 23.5%, Liberal 5%, KBL
3%; seats - (200 total) LDP 87, NPC 45, Lakas-NUCD 41, Liberal 15, NP
6, KBL 3, Independent 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipinas,
Laban), Edgardo ESPIRITU; People Power-National Union of Christian
Democrats (Lakas ng Edsa, NUCD and Partido Lakas Tao, Lakas/NUCD);
Fidel V. RAMOS, President of the Republic, Raul MANGLAPUS, Jose de
VENECIA, secretary general; Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC),
Eduardo COJUANGCO; Liberal Party, Jovito SALONGA; People's Reform
Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; New Society Movement (Kilusan
Bagong Lipunan; KBL), Imelda MARCOS; Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador
H. LAUREL, president
Member of:
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
chancery:
1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 483-1414
FAX:
(202) 328-7614
consulate(s) general:
Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s):
San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE
embassy:
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address:
APO AP 96440
telephone:
[632] 521-7116
FAX:
[632] 522-4361
consulate(s) general:
Cebu
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white
equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the
triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing
three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small
yellow five-pointed star
@Philippines, Economy
Overview:
Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy failed to grow
in 1992 and rose only slightly in 1993. Drought and power supply
problems hampered production, while inadequate revenues prevented
government pump priming. Worker remittances helped to supplement GDP.
A marked increase in capital goods imports, particularly power
generating equipment, telecommunications equipment, and electronic
data processors, contributed to 20% import growth in both 1992 and
1993.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $171 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1.4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.6% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
9.2% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$11.5 billion
expenditures:
$13 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1994
est.)
Exports:
$11.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
electronics, textiles, coconut products, cooper, fish
partners:
US 39%, Japan 18%, Germany 5%, UK 5%, Hong Kong 5% (1992)
Imports:
$17.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products 10%
partners:
Japan 21%, US 18%, Taiwan 7%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Hong Kong 5%, South
Korea 5% (1992)
External debt:
$34.1 billion (September 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1% (1992 est.); accounts for 34% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
7,850,000 kW
production:
28 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
420 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing,
electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Agriculture:
accounts for about 20% of GDP and about 45% of labor force; major
crops - rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangos;
animal products - pork, eggs, beef; net exporter of farm products;
fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; growers
are producing more and better quality cannabis despite government
eradication efforts; transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound
for the US
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $7.9
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries
(1975-89), $123 million
Currency:
1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 27.725 (January 1994), 22.120 (1993),
25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Philippines, Communications
Railroads:
378 km operable on Luzon, 34% government owned (1982)
Highways:
total:
157,450 km
paved:
22,400 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 85,050 km; unimproved earth
50,000 km (1988)
Inland waterways:
3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
Pipelines:
petroleum products 357 km
Ports:
Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Subic
Bay
Merchant marine:
553 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,451,047 GRT/13,934,255 DWT,
bulk 241, cargo 145, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 10,
combination ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier
9, oil tanker 33, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo
27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier
35
note:
many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the register
for the purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their original
owners who are principally in Japan and Germany
Airports:
total:
270
usable:
238
with permanent-surface runways:
74
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
9
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
57
Telecommunications:
good international radio and submarine cable services; domestic and
interisland service adequate; 872,900 telephones; broadcast stations -
267 AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US); submarine
cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan;
satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT, and 11 domestic
@Philippines, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 17,668,781; fit for military service 12,479,312; reach
military age (20) annually 733,880 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $731 million, 1.4% of GNP (1992)
@Pitcairn Islands
Header
Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
@Pitcairn Islands, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between
Peru and New Zealand
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
47 sq km
land area:
47 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
51 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season
(November to March)
Terrain:
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Natural resources:
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land use:
arable land:
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to typhoons (especially November to March)
international agreements:
NA
@Pitcairn Islands, People
Population:
71 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.93% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
NA
Life expectancy at birth:
NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
Nationality:
noun:
Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective:
Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic divisions:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers
Religions:
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages:
English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
no business community in the usual sense; some public works;
subsistence farming and fishing
@Pitcairn Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form:
Pitcairn Islands
Digraph:
PC
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Adamstown
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
Constitution:
Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system:
local island by-laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High
Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the
Pitcairn Islands David Joseph MOSS (since NA September 1990);
Commissioner (non-resident) G.D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liason
person between the governor and the Island Council)
head of government:
Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since
NA)
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Island Council:
elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
Island Court
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield
featuring a yellow anchor
@Pitcairn Islands, Economy
Overview:
The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile
soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables,
including citrus, sugar cane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans.
Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of
revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of
handicrafts to passing ships.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$430,000
expenditures:
$429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.)
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios
partners:
NA
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other
foodstuffs
partners:
NA
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
110 kW
production:
300,000 kWh
consumption per capita:
5,360 kWh (1990)
Industries:
postage stamp sales, handicrafts
Agriculture:
based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and
vegetables grown; must import grain products
Economic aid:
recipient:
ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
Currency:
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495
(1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Pitcairn Islands, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
6.4 km
unpaved:
earth 6.4 km
Ports:
Bounty Bay
Airports:
none
Telecommunications:
24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; broadcast
stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity
@Pitcairn Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Poland, Geography
Location:
Central Europe, between Germany and Belarus
Map references:
Asia, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of
the World
Area:
total area:
312,680 sq km
land area:
304,510 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km,
Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 444 km,
Ukraine 428 km
Coastline:
491 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent
precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain:
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Natural resources:
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt
Land use:
arable land:
46%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
28%
other:
12%
Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
forest damage due to air pollution; improper means for disposal of
large amounts of hazardous and industrial waste; severe water
pollution from industrial and municipal sources; severe air pollution
results from emissions of sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack
of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland, People
Population:
38,654,561 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.35% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
13.44 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.66 years
male:
68.64 years
female:
76.91 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Pole(s)
adjective:
Polish
Ethnic divisions:
Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990
est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox,
Protestant, and other 5%
Languages:
Polish
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
total population:
98%
male:
99%
female:
98%
Labor force:
17.329 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport,
and communications 14.7%, government and other 24.6% (1992)
@Poland, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Poland
conventional short form:
Poland
local long form:
Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form:
Polska
Digraph:
PL
Type:
democratic state
Capital:
Warsaw
Administrative divisions:
49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska,
Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz, Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa,
Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora, Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin,
Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica, Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy
Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka, Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan,
Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce, Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk,
Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg, Tarnow, Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa,
Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora
Independence:
11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution:
interim "small constitution" came into effect in December 1992
replacing the Communist-imposed Constitution of 22 July 1952; new
democratic Constitution being drafted
Legal system:
mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover Communist
legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader
democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Lech WALESA (since 22 December 1990); election first round
held 25 November 1990, second round held 9 December 1990 (next to be
held NA November 1995); results - second round Lech WALESA 74.7%,
Stanislaw TYMINSKI 25.3%
head of government:
Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 26 October 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; responsible to the president and the Sejm
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe)
Senate (Senat):
elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no later than
NA October 1997); seats - (100 total)
post-Solidarity bloc:
UW 6, NSZZ 12, BBWR 2
non-Communist, non-Solidarity:
independents 7, unaffiliated 1, vacant 1 (to be filled in a 19 June
election)
Communist origin or linked:
PSL 34, SLD 37
Diet (Sejm):
elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no later than
NA October 1997); seats - (460 total)
post-Solidarity bloc:
UW 74, UP 41, BBWR 16
non-Communist, non-Solidarity:
KPN 22
Communist origin or linked:
SLD 171, PSL 132
note:
4 seats were won by ethnic Germans
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
post-Solidarity parties:
Freedom Union (WD; UD and Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form
Freedom Union), Tadeusz MAZOWIECKI; Christian-National Union (ZCHN),
Wieslaw CHRZANOWSKI; Centrum (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Peasant
Alliance (PL), Gabriel JANOWSKI; Solidarity Trade Union (NSZZ), Marian
KRZAKLEWSKI; Union of Labor (UP), Ryszard BUGAJ; Christian-Democratic
Party (PCHD), Pawel LACZKOWSKI; Conservative Party, Alexander HALL;
Nonparty Bloc for the Support of the Reforms (BBWR)
non-Communist, non-Solidarity:
Confederation for an Independent Poland (KPN), Leszek MOCZULSKI;
Polish Economic Program (PPG), Janusz REWINSKI; Christian Democrats
(CHD), Andrzej OWSINSKI; German Minority (MN), Henryk KROL; Union of
Real Politics (UPR), Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE; Democratic Party (SD),
Antoni MACKIEWICZ; Party X, Stanislaw Tyminski
Communist origin or linked:
Social Democracy (SDRP, party of Poland), Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI;
Polish Peasants' Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK; Democratic Left
Alliance, Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI
Other political or pressure groups:
powerful Roman Catholic Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland
Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ), populist program
Member of:
BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM (cooperating),
CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNDOF, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR,
UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI
chancery:
2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 234-3800 through 3802
FAX:
(202) 328-6271
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nicholas A. REY
embassy:
Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw
mailing address:
American Embassy Warsaw, Unit 1340, or APO AE 09213-1340
telephone:
[48] (2) 628-3041
FAX:
[48] (2) 628-8298
consulate(s) general:
Krakow, Poznan
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the
flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
@Poland, Economy
Overview:
Poland is continuing the difficult transition to a market economy that
began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted
"shock therapy" by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and
drastically reducing import barriers. The economy contracted sharply
in 1990 and 1991, but in 1992 real GDP grew 1% despite a severe
drought. Real GDP expanded about 4% in 1993, the highest rate in
Europe except for Albania. About half of GDP now comes from the
private sector even though privatization of the large state-owned
enterprises is proceeding slowly and most industry remains in state
hands. The pattern of industrial production is changing rapidly;
output of textiles and construction materials is well above 1990
levels, while output of basic metals remains depressed. Inflation,
which had exceeded 50% monthly in late 1989, was down to about 37% for
all of 1993, as the government held the budget deficit below 3% of
GDP. Unemployment has risen steadily, however, to about 16%. The trade
deficit is also a problem, in part due to recession in Western Europe,
Poland's main customer. The new government elected in September 1993
is politically to the left of its predecessor but is continuing the
reform process.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $180.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4.1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,680 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
37% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
15.7% (December 1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$24.3 billion
expenditures:
$27.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.5 billion (1993
est.)
Exports:
$13.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery 24%, metals 17%, chemicals 12%, fuels and power 11%, food
10% (1992)
partners:
Germany 31.4%, Netherlands 6.0%, Italy 5.6%, Russia 5.5% (1992)
Imports:
$15.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
fuels and power 17%, machinery 36%, chemicals 17%, food 8% (1992)
partners:
Germany 23.9%, Russia 8.5%, Italy 6.9%, UK 6.7% (1992)
External debt:
$47 billion (1993); note - Poland's Western government creditors
promised in 1991 to forgive 30% of Warsaw's $35 billion official debt
immediately and to forgive another 20% in 1994; foreign banks agreed
in early 1994 to forgive 45% of their $12 billion debt claim
Industrial production:
growth rate 7% (1993)
Electricity:
capacity:
31,530,000 kW
production:
137 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
3,570 kWh (1992)
Industries:
machine building, iron and steel, extractive industries, chemicals,
shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Agriculture:
accounts for 7% of GDP and a much larger share of labor force; 75% of
output from private farms, 25% from state farms; productivity remains
low by European standards; leading European producer of rye, rapeseed,
and potatoes; wide variety of other crops and livestock; major
exporter of pork products; normally self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
illicit producers of opium for domestic consumption and amphetamines
for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin
American illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
donor:
bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89),
$2.2 billion
recipient:
Western governments and institutions have pledged $8 billion in grants
and loans since 1989, but most of the money has not been disbursed
Currency:
1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates:
zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 21,080 (January 1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626
(1992), 10,576 (1991), 9,500 (1990), 1,439.18 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Poland, Communications
Railroads:
26,250 km total; 23,857 km 1.435-meter gauge, 397 km 1.520-meter
gauge, 1,996 km narrow gauge; 8,987 km double track; 11,510 km
electrified; government owned (1991)
Highways:
total:
360,629 km (excluding farm, factory and forest roads)
paved:
220,000 km (220 km of which are limited access expressways)
unpaved:
140,629 km (1988)
Inland waterways:
3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural gas 4,600 km
(1992)
Ports:
Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin, Swinoujscie; principal inland ports are
Gliwice on Kanal Gliwicki, Wrocaw on the Oder, and Warsaw on the
Vistula
Merchant marine:
173 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,327,855 GRT/3,458,445 DWT,
bulk 89, cargo 57, chemical tanker 4, container 8, oil tanker 1,
passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 5
note:
Poland owns 3 ships operating under Liberian registry
Airports:
total:
209
usable:
167
with permanent-surface runways:
70
with runway over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
47
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
78
note:
a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
severely underdeveloped and outmoded system; cable, open wire and
microwave; phone density is 10.5 phones per 100 residents (October
1990); 3.6 million telephone subscribers; exchanges are 86% automatic
(1991); broadcast stations - 27 AM, 27 FM, 40 (5 Soviet repeaters) TV;
9.6 million TVs; 1 satellite earth station using INTELSAT, EUTELSAT,
INMARSAT and Intersputnik
@Poland, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 10,046,993; fit for military service 7,856,680; reach
military age (19) annually 316,339 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
30.8 trillion zlotych, 1.8% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of
defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate
could produce misleading results
@Portugal, Geography
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean west of Spain
Map references:
Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
92,080 sq km
land area:
91,640 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Indiana
note:
includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Land boundaries:
total 1,214 km, Spain 1,214 km
Coastline:
1,793 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with
Indonesia
Climate:
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain:
mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
Natural resources:
fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble
Land use:
arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
6%
forest and woodland:
40%
other:
16%
Irrigated land:
6,340 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle
emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
natural hazards:
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western
sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
@Portugal, People
Population:
10,524,210 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.36% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
11.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
9.7 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
9.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.2 years
male:
71.77 years
female:
78.86 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Portuguese
Ethnic divisions:
homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores, Madeira Islands;
citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during
decolonization number less than 100,000
Religions:
Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%
Languages:
Portuguese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
85%
male:
89%
female:
82%
Labor force:
4,605,700
by occupation:
services 45%, industry 35%, agriculture 20% (1988)
@Portugal, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Portuguese Republic
conventional short form:
Portugal
local long form:
Republica Portuguesa
local short form:
Portugal
Digraph:
PO
Type:
republic
Capital:
Lisbon
Administrative divisions:
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous
regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro,
Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra,
Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto,
Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Dependent areas:
Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on
20 December 1999)
Independence:
1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday:
Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution:
25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June 1989
Legal system:
civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the
constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Dr. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES (since 9 March 1986);
election last held 13 February 1991 (next to be held NA February
1996); results - Dr. Mario Lopes SOARES 70%, Basilio HORTA 14%, Carlos
CARVALHAS 13%, Carlos MARQUES 3%
head of government:
Prime Minister Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 6 November 1985)
Council of State:
acts as a consultative body to the president
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on recommendation of
the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica):
elections last held 6 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995);
results - PSD 50.4%, PS 29.3%, CDU 8.8%, Center Democrats 4.4%,
National Solidarity Party 1.7%, PRD 0.6%, other 4.8%; seats - (230
total) PSD 136, PS 71, CDU 17, Center Democrats 5, National Solidarity
Party 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justica)
Political parties and leaders:
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Anibal CAVACO Silva; Portuguese
Socialist Party (PS), Antonio GUTERRES; Party of Democratic Renewal
(PRD), Pedro CANAVARRO; Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Carlos
CARVALHAS; Social Democratic Center (CDS), Manuel MONTEIRO; National
Solidarity Party (PSN), Manuel SERGIO; Center Democratic Party (CDS);
United Democratic Coalition (CDU; Communists)
Member of:
AfDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC,
ECE, ECLAC, EIB, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ,
UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Francisco Jose Laco Treichler KNOPFLI
chancery:
2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 328-8610
FAX:
(202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general:
Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco
consulate(s):
Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), and Providence (Rhode
Island)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sharon P. WILKINSON
embassy:
Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
mailing address:
PSC 83, Lisbon; APO AE 09726
telephone:
[351] (1) 726-6600 or 6659, 8670, 8880
FAX:
[351] (1) 726-9109
consulate(s):
Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag:
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red
(three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the
dividing line
@Portugal, Economy
Overview:
Portugal's economy registered only 1.1% growth in 1992 and contracted
by 0.4% in 1993, in contrast to the 4.5% average of the fast-paced
1986-90 period. Recession in the European Union, which accounts for
75% of Portugal's international trade, is the key factor in the
downturn. The government's long-run economic goal is the modernization
of Portuguese markets, industry, infrastructure, and workforce in
order to catch up with productivity and income levels of the more
advanced EU countries. Per capita income now equals only 55% of the EU
average. The government's medium-term economic objective is to be in
the first tier of EU countries eligible to join the economic and
monetary union (EMU) as early as 1997. Economic policy in 1993 focused
on reducing inflationary pressures by lowering the fiscal deficit,
maintaining a stable escudo, moderating wage increases, and
encouraging increased competition. Resumption of growth in the short
run depends on the revival of growth in Europe as a whole, not a
likely prospect in the immediate future.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $91.5 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
-0.4% (1993)
National product per capita:
$8,700 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$27.3 billion
expenditures:
$33.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.5 billion (1991
est.)
Exports:
$17.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
cotton textiles, cork and paper products, canned fish, wine, timber
and timber products, resin, machinery, appliances
partners:
EC 75.4%, other developed countries 12.4%, US 3.8% (1992)
Imports:
$28 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, chemicals,
petroleum, textiles
partners:
EC 72%, other developed countries 10.9% less developed countries
12.9%, US 3.4%
External debt:
$20 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 9.1% (1990); accounts for 40% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
6,624,000 kW
production:
26.4 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,520 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil
refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for 6.1% of GDP and 20% of labor force; small, inefficient
farms; imports more than half of food needs; major crops - grain,
potatoes, olives, grapes; livestock sector - sheep, cattle, goats,
poultry, meat, dairy products
Illicit drugs:
increasingly important gateway country for Latin American cocaine
entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from
North Africa to Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.8 billion
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $1.2 billion
Currency:
1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 176.16 (January 1994), 160.80
(1993), 135.00 (1992), 144.48 (1991), 142.55 (1990), 157.46 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Portugal, Communications
Railroads:
3,625 km total; state-owned Portuguese Railroad Co. (CP) operates
2,858 km 1.665-meter gauge (434 km electrified and 426 km double
track), 755 km 1.000-meter gauge; 12 km (1.435-meter gauge)
electrified, double track, privately owned
Highways:
total:
73,661 km
paved and gravel:
61,599 km (including 453 km of expressways)
unpaved:
earth 12,062 km
Inland waterways:
820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by
shallow-draft craft limited to 300-metric-ton cargo capacity
Pipelines:
crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km
Ports:
Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Velas (Azores),
Setubal, Sines
Merchant marine:
61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 962,293 GRT/1,779,855 DWT, bulk
3, cargo 25, chemical tanker 4, container 3, liquified gas 2, oil
tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea
passenger 2
note:
Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira (MAR) for
Portuguese-owned ships that will have the taxation and crewing
benefits of a flag of convenience; although only one ship currently is
known to fly the Portuguese flag on the MAR register, it is likely
that a majority of Portuguese flag ships will transfer to this
subregister in a few years
Airports:
total:
65
usable:
63
with permanent-surface runways:
37
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
10
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
11
Telecommunications:
generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire and
microwave radio relay; 2,690,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 57
AM, 66 (22 repeaters) FM, 66 (23 repeaters) TV; 6 submarine cables; 3
INTELSAT earth stations (2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT,
domestic satellite systems (mainland and Azores); tropospheric link to
Azores
@Portugal, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Republican Guard,
Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,723,987; fit for military service 2,207,637; reach
military age (20) annually 89,380 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 2.9% of GDP (1993)
@Puerto Rico
Header
Affiliation:
(commonwealth associated with the US)
@Puerto Rico, Geography
Location:
Caribbean, in the North Caribbean Sea, between the Dominican Republic
and the Virgin Islands group
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
9,104 sq km
land area:
8,959 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains
precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal
areas
Natural resources:
some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore crude oil
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
9%
meadows and pastures:
41%
forest and woodland:
20%
other:
22%
Irrigated land:
390 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the
Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors
in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure
land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal
plain belt in north
@Puerto Rico, People
Population:
3,801,977 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.13% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
16.5 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.93 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-7.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.95 years
male:
70.42 years
female:
77.65 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.04 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Puerto Rican(s)
adjective:
Puerto Rican
Ethnic divisions:
Hispanic
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English widely understood
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
89%
male:
90%
female:
88%
Labor force:
1.17 million (1992)
by occupation:
government 20%, manufacturing 14%, trade 17%, construction 5%,
communications and transportation 5%, other 39% (1992)
@Puerto Rico, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form:
Puerto Rico
Digraph:
RQ
Type:
commonwealth associated with the US
Capital:
San Juan
Administrative divisions:
none (commonwealth associated with the US), note: there are 78
municipalities
Independence:
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective
25 July 1952
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but
do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice
President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since NA January 1993); election last held 3
November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Pedro
ROSSELLO (PND) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, Fernando MARTIN (PIP) 4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly
Senate:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) seats
by party NA
House of Representatives:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53 total) seats
by party NA
US House of Representatives:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) seats
by party NA; note - Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US
House of Representatives, Carlos Romero BARCELO
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Freddy VALENTIN; Popular
Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon; New Progressive Party
(PNP), Carlos ROMERO Barcelo; Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), Juan
MARI Bras and Carlos GALLISA; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP),
Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s)
unknown
Other political or pressure groups:
all have engaged in terrorist activities - Armed Forces for National
Liberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; Boricua
Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of Popular
Resistance
Member of:
CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU,
INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large
white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag
@Puerto Rico, Economy
Overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean
region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector of
economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty free access to the US
and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico
since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Important industries
include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and
processed foods. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and
other livestock products as the main source of income in the
agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important
source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 3
million tourists in 1989. Unemployment remains a severe problem at
18%.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $26.8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$7,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$5.8 billion
expenditures:
$5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $258 million (1989
est.)
Exports:
$21.8 billion (1992)
commodities:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
concentrates, medical equipment, instruments
partners:
US 88.3% (1990)
Imports:
$14.8 billion (1992)
commodities:
chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
partners:
US 68.8% (1990)
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.2% (FY92)
Electricity:
capacity:
5,040,000 kW
production:
16.1 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
4,260 kWh (1992)
Industries:
manufacturing accounts for 55.5% of GDP: manufacturing of
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments;
tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for only 3% of labor force and less than 2% of GDP: crops -
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock - cattle,
chickens; imports a large share of food needs (1992)
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@Puerto Rico, Communications
Railroads:
96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger
railroads
Highways:
total:
13,762 km
paved:
13,762 km (1982)
Ports:
San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo
Airports:
total:
30
usable:
23
with permanent-surface runways:
19
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
5
Telecommunications:
modern system, integrated with that of the US by high capacity
submarine cable and INTELSAT with high-speed data capability; digital
telephone system with about 1 million lines; cellular telephone
service; broadcast stations - 50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV; cable television
available with US programs (1990)
@Puerto Rico, Defense Forces
Branches:
paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
@Qatar, Geography
Location:
Middle East, peninsula jutting into the central Persian Gulf, between
Iran and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
11,000 sq km
land area:
11,000 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime
boundary with Bahrain
Climate:
desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
5%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
95%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
limited freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale
desalination facilities
natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
international agreements:
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
deposits
@Qatar, People
Population:
512,779 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
18.83 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
3.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
10.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.64 years
male:
70.08 years
female:
75.09 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.74 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Qatari(s)
adjective:
Qatari
Ethnic divisions:
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
Muslim 95%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
total population:
76%
male:
77%
female:
72%
Labor force:
104,000 (85% non-Qatari in private sector) (1983)
@Qatar, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
State of Qatar
conventional short form:
Qatar
local long form:
Dawlat Qatar
local short form:
Qatar
Digraph:
QA
Type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Doha
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al
Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:
provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
Legal system:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil
codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal
matters
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February
1972); Crown Prince HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977;
son of Amir and Minister of Defense)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura):
constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body,
but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Faud Al Thani
chancery:
Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 338-0111
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH
embassy:
149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television
station), Doha
mailing address:
P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone:
(0974) 864701 through 864703
FAX:
(0974) 861669
Flag:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side
@Qatar, Economy
Overview:
Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for roughly 85% of
export earnings and 75% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of
3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels
for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to
the leading industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas
are becoming increasingly important.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-0.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$17,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$2.5 billion
expenditures:
$3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers
partners:
Japan 61%, Brazil 6%, South Korea 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 3% (1991)
Imports:
$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners:
Japan 14%, UK 12%, US 12%, Germany 9%, France 5% (1991)
External debt:
$1.5 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil
Electricity:
capacity:
1,596,000 kW
production:
4.818 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
9,655 kWh (1992)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel
(rolls reinforcing bars for concrete construction), cement
Agriculture:
farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP; agricultural
area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing increasing in
importance; most food imported
Economic aid:
donor:
pledged in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88), $2.7 billion
Currency:
1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates:
Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Qatar, Communications
Highways:
total:
1,500 km
paved:
1,000 km
unpaved:
gravel, natural surface 500 km (est.)
Pipelines:
crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports:
Doha, Umm Sa'id, Halul Island
Merchant marine:
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 373,491 GRT/567,294 DWT,
container 4, cargo 11, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
modern system centered in Doha; 110,000 telephones; tropospheric
scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE;
submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast
stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV
@Qatar, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 217,538; fit for military service 114,468; reach
military age (18) annually 3,737 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA%, of GDP
@Reunion
Header
Affiliation:
(overseas department of France)
@Reunion, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 750 km east of
Madagascar
Map references:
World
Area:
total area:
2,510 sq km
land area:
2,500 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
201 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to
November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Natural resources:
fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
20%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
39%
Irrigated land:
60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
periodic, devastating cyclones
international agreements:
NA
@Reunion, People
Population:
652,857 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.03% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.14 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.07 years
male:
71 years
female:
77.29 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.78 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Reunionese
Ethnic divisions:
French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%
Languages:
French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population:
69%
male:
67%
female:
74%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
note:
63% of population of working age (1983)
@Reunion, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Department of Reunion
conventional short form:
Reunion
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ile de la Reunion
Digraph:
RE
Type:
overseas department of France
Capital:
Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government:
Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since NA)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
General Council:
elections last held 22 March 1991 (next to be held March 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total) seats by
party NA
Regional Council:
elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA March 1998);
results - UPF 25.6%, PCR 17.9%, PS 10.5%, Independent 33.4%, other
12.6%; seats - (45 total) Sudre 17, UPF 14, PCR 9, PS 5
French Senate:
elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total) RPR 1, FRA 1,
independent 1
French National Assembly:
elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1,
UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1; note - 5 members to the French National
Assembly who are voting members
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS; Union for French Democracy
(UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU;;
France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON; Reunion Communist
Party (PCR); Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU; Social
Democrats (CDS); other small parties
Member of:
FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
@Reunion, Economy
Overview:
The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has
been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it
accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the
development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which
recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion
between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for
the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are
substantially better off than other segments of the population, often
approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the
poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African
continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates
the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.5 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$3,900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
35% (February 1991)
Budget:
revenues:
$358 million
expenditures:
$914 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)
Exports:
$166 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%, lobster 3%,
vanilla and tea 1%
partners:
France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
Imports:
$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and
transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
partners:
France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
245,000 kW
production:
750 million kWh
consumption per capita:
1,230 kWh (1991)
Industries:
sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing handicraft items
Agriculture:
accounts for 30% of labor force; dominant sector of economy; cash
crops - sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco; food crops - tropical fruits,
vegetables, corn; imports large share of food needs
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $14.8 billion
Currency:
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993),
5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Reunion, Communications
Highways:
total:
2,800 km
paved:
2,200 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km
Ports:
Pointe des Galets
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
adequate system; modern open-wire and microwave network; principal
center Saint-Denis; radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
new microwave route to Mauritius; 85,900 telephones; broadcast
stations - 3 AM, 13 FM, 1 (18 repeaters) TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
earth station
@Reunion, Defense Forces
Branches:
French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 170,810; fit for military service 88,108; reach
military age (18) annually 5,867 (1994 est.)
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
@Romania, Geography
Location:
Balkan State, Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea between
Bulgaria and Ukraine
Map references:
Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
237,500 sq km
land area:
230,340 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total 2,508 km, Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362
km, Ukraine (south) 169 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
no official territorial claim by either Moldova or Romania, but
nationalists in Romania seek the merger of Moldova with Romania;
potential future dispute by Moldova and Romania against Ukraine over
former southern and northern Bessarabian areas
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny
summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on
the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian
Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Natural resources:
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
salt
Land use:
arable land:
43%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
28%
other:
7%
Irrigated land:
34,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south
from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
natural hazards:
earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and
climate promote landslides
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,
Moldova, and Ukraine
@Romania, People
Population:
23,181,415 (July 1994 est.)
note:
the Romanian census of January 1992 gives the population for that date
as 22.749 million; the government estimates that population declined
in 1993 by 0.3%
Population growth rate:
0.06% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
13.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.02 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.74 years
male:
68.81 years
female:
74.84 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.82 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Romanian(s)
adjective:
Romanian
Ethnic divisions:
Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat,
Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
Religions:
Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate),
Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
Languages:
Romanian, Hungarian, German
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)
total population:
98%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
10,945,700
by occupation:
industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)
@Romania, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Romania
local long form:
none
local short form:
Romania
Digraph:
RO
Type:
republic
Capital:
Bucharest
Administrative divisions:
40 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*
(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin,
Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu,
Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures,
Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman,
Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:
1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
National holiday:
National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)
Constitution:
8 December 1991
Legal system:
former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory is being
revised to conform with European norms
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990, previously President of
Provisional Council of National Unity since 23 December 1989);
election last held 27 September 1992 - with runoff between top two
candidates on 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Ion
ILIESCU 61.4%, Emil CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%
head of government:
Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since November 1992)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
Senate (Senat):
elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - PDSR 27.5%, CDR 22.5%, PP-(FSN) 11%, others 39%; seats -
(143 total) PDSR 49, CDR 34, PP-(FSN) 18, PUNR 14, UDMR 12, PRM 6,
PDAR 5, PSM 5
House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor):
elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - PDSR 27.5%, CDR 22.5%, PP-(FSN) 11%, others 39%; seats -
(341 total) PDSR 117, CDR 82, PP-(FSN) 43, PUNR 30, UDMR 27, PRM 16,
PSM 13, other 13
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party (PD-(FSN)), Petre ROMAN; Party of Social Democracy in
Romania (PDSR), Adrian NASTASE; Democratic Union of Hungarians in
Romania (UDMR), Bela MARKO; National Liberal Party (PNL), Mircea
IONESCU-QUINTUS; National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party
(PNTCD), Corneliu COPOSU; Romanian National Unity Party (PUNR),
Gheorghe FUNAR; Socialist Labor Party (PSM), Ilie VERDET; Agrarian
Democratic Party of Romania (PDAR), Victor SURDU; The Democratic
Convention (CDR), Emil CONSTANTINESCU; Romania Mare Party (PRM),
Corneliu Vadim TUDOR
note:
numerous other samll parties exist but almost all failed to gain
representation in the most recent election
Other political or pressure groups:
various human rights and professional associations
Member of:
ACCT (observer), BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI (participating), CSCE, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, G-9, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
chancery:
1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851
FAX:
(202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador John R. DAVIS, Jr.
embassy:
Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address:
AmEmbassy (Buch), Unit 1315, Bucharest; APO AE 09213-1315
telephone:
[40] (1) 210-4042
FAX:
[40] (1) 210-0395
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the
national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has
been removed; now similar to the flags of Andorra and Chad
@Romania, Economy
Overview:
Despite the continuing difficulties in moving away from the former
command system, the Romanian economy seems to have bottomed out in
1993. Market oriented reforms have been introduced fitfully since the
downfall of CEAUSESCU in December 1989, with the result a growing
private sector, especially in services. The slow pace of structural
reform, however, has exacerbated Romania's high inflation rate and
eroded real wages. Agricultural production rebounded in 1993 from the
previous year's drought-reduced harvest; food supplies are adequate,
but expensive. Bucharest resisted pressure to devalue its currency
despite a $638 million trade deficit in the first half of 1993 and the
emergence of a black market for hard currency. Unable to support the
currency, the national bank, nonetheless, was forced to depreciate the
currency 65% over the course of the year. The return of winter
revealed that much of Romania's infrastructure had deteriorated over
the last four years due to reduced levels of public investment.
Residents of the capital reported frequent disruptions of heating and
water services.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $63.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1% (1993)
National product per capita:
$2,700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% per month (March 1994)
Unemployment rate:
11% (March 1994)
Budget:
revenues:
$19 billion
expenditures:
$20 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1 billion (1991
est.)
Exports:
$4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
metals and metal products 24%, mineral products 14%, textiles 10.7%,
electric machines and equipment 9.3%, transport materials 9.2% (1993)
partners:
EC 36.1%, developing countries 27.4%, East and Central Europe 14.9%,
EFTA 5.1%, Russia 5%, Japan 1.4%, US 1.3% (1993)
Imports:
$5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
minerals 29%, machinery and equipment 17.2%, textiles 10%,
agricultural goods 9% (1993)
partners:
EC 45.8%, East and Central Europe 8.6%, developing countries 22.6%,
Russia 11%, EFTA 6.2%, US 5.0%, Japan 0.8% (1993)
External debt:
$4 billion (1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1% (1993 est.); accounts for 45% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
22,500,000 kW
production:
59 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,540 kWh (1992)
Industries:
mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machine
building, food processing, petroleum production and refining
Agriculture:
accounts for 18% of GDP and 28% of labor force; major wheat and corn
producer; other products - sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes,
milk, eggs, meat, grapes
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for southwest Asian heroin and Latin American
cocaine transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
$NA
Currency:
1 leu (L) = 100 bani
Exchange rates:
lei (L) per US$1 - 1,387.16 (January 1994), 760.05 (1993), 307.95
(1992), 76.39 (1991), 22.432 (1990), 14.922 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Romania, Communications
Railroads:
11,275 km total; 10,860 km 1.435-meter gauge, 370 km narrow gauge, 45
km broad gauge; 3,411 km electrified, 3,060 km double track;
government owned (1987)
Highways:
total:
72,799 km
paved:
35,970 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 27,729 km; unsurfaced earth
9,100 km (1985)
Inland waterways:
1,724 km (1984)
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural gas 6,400 km
(1992)
Ports:
Constanta, Galati, Braila, Mangalia; inland ports are Giurgiu,
Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Orsova
Merchant marine:
241 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,626,421 GRT/4,017,380 DWT,
bulk 49, cargo 167, container 2, oil tanker 14, passenger-cargo 1,
rail-car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
Airports:
total:
234
usable:
74
with permanent-surface runways:
26
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
21
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
24
note:
a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
poor service; about 2.3 million telephone customers; 89% of phone
network is automatic; cable and open wire; trunk network is microwave;
present phone density is 9.85 per 100 residents; roughly 3,300
villages with no service (February 1990); new digital international
direct dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993); broadcast stations - 12
AM, 5 FM, 13 TV (1990); 1 satellite ground station using INTELSAT
@Romania, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Civil
Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 5,888,452; fit for military service 4,972,834; reach
military age (20) annually 193,901 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
137 billion lei, 3% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of defense
expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could
produce misleading results
@Russia, Geography
Location:
Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with
Europe), between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,
Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Standard Time
Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
17,075,200 sq km
land area:
16,995,800 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total 20,139 km, Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast)
3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland 1,313 km,
Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km, Latvia 217 km,
Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 167
km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576 km
Coastline:
37,653 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
inherited disputes from former USSR including: sections of the
boundary with China; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan and
the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, administered
by Russia, claimed by Japan; maritime dispute with Norway over portion
of the Barents Sea; Russia may dispute current de facto maritime
border of midpoint of Caspian Sea from shore; potential dispute with
Ukraine over Crimea; has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but
has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of
any other nation
Climate:
ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of
European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar
north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in
Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic
coast
Terrain:
broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and
tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions
Natural resources:
wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural
gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
note:
formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
exploitation of natural resources
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
note:
agricultural land accounts for 13% of the total land area
Irrigated land:
56,000 sq km (1992)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric
plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial and
agricultural pollution of inland waterways and sea coasts;
deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper
application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes
intense radioactive contamination
natural hazards:
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea
Note:
largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located
in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of
the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too
dry) for agriculture
@Russia, People
Population:
149,608,953 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.2% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
12.67 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
11.34 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
27 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
68.89 years
male:
63.85 years
female:
74.2 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Russian(s)
adjective:
Russian
Ethnic divisions:
Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%,
Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
Religions:
Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other
Languages:
Russian, other
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
75 million (1993 est.)
by occupation:
production and economic services 83.9%, government 16.1%
@Russia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Russian Federation
conventional short form:
Russia
local long form:
Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
local short form:
Rossiya
former:
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Digraph:
RS
Type:
federation
Capital:
Moscow
Administrative divisions:
21 autonomous republics (avtomnykh respublik, singular - avtomnaya
respublika); Adygea (Maykop), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatia
(Ulan-Ude), Chechenia (Groznyy), Chuvashia (Cheboksary), Dagestan
(Makhachkala), Gorno-Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Ingushetia (Nazran'),
Kabardino-Balkaria (Nal'chik), Kalmykia (Elista), Karachay-Cherkessia
(Cherkessk), Karelia (Petrozavodsk), Khakassia (Abakan), Komi
(Syktyvkar), Mari El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordovia (Saransk), North Ossetia
(Vladikavkaz), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tuva (Kyzyl), Udmurtia (Izhevsk),
Yakutia (Yakutsk); 49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Amur
(Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk,
Chelyabinsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka
(Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk,
Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk,
Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orel, Orenburg, Penza,
Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara,
Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula,
Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh,
Yaroslavl'; 6 krays (krayev, singular - kray); Altay (Barnaul),
Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok),
Stavropol'
note:
the autonomous republics of Chechenia and Ingushetia were formerly the
automous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between
Chechenia and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities of
Moscow and St. Petersburg are federal cities; an administrative
division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions
have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, June 12 (1990)
Constitution:
adopted 12 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June 1991) election
last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA%; note - no vice president; if the president dies in
office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is
impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as
acting president until a new presidential election, which must be held
within three months
head of government:
Premier and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Viktor Stepanovich
CHERNOMYRDIN (since 14 December 1992); First Deputy Chairman of the
Council of Ministers Oleg SOSKOVETS (since 30 April 1993)
Security Council:
(originally established as a presidential advisory body in June 1991,
but restructured in March 1992 with responsibility for managing
individual and state security)
Presidential Administration:
(drafts presidential edicts and provides staff and policy support to
the entire executive branch)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Group of Assistants:
(schedules president's appointments, processes presidential edicts and
other official documents, and houses the president's press service and
primary speechwriters)
Council of Heads of Republics:
(includes the leaders of the 21 ethnic-based Republics)
Council of Heads of Administrations:
(includes the leaders of the 68 autonomous territories and regions,
and the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg)
Presidential Council:
(prepares policy papers for the president)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly
Federation Council:
elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); note - two
members elected from each of Russia's 89 territorial units for a total
of 176 deputies; 2 seats unfilled as of 15 May 1994 (Chechenia did not
participate in the election); Speaker Vladimir SHUMEYKO (Russia's
Choice)
State Duma:
elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA December
1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450 total)
Russia's Choice 78, New Regional Policy 66, Liberal Democrats 63,
Agrarian Party 55, Communist Party of the Russian Federation 45, Unity
and Accord 30, Yavlinskiy Bloc 27, Women of Russia 23, Democratic
Party of Russia 15, Russia's Path 12, other parties 23, affiliation
unknown 12, unfilled (as of 13 March 1994; Chechnya did not
participate in the election) 1; Speaker Ivan RYBKIN (Agrarian Party)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (highest court for criminal,
civil, and administrative cases), Superior Court of Arbitration
(highest court that resolves economic disputes)
Political parties and leaders:
pro-market democrats:
Party of Russian Unity and Accord, Sergey SHAKHRAY; Russia's Choice
electoral association, Yegor GAYDAR; Russian Movement for Democratic
Reforms electoral association, Anatoliy SOBCHAK;
Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc electoral association, Grigoriy
YAVLINSKIY
centrists/special interest parties:
Civic Union for Stability, Justice, and Progress, Arkadiy VOL'SKIY;
Constructive-Ecological Movement of Russia, Anatoliy PANFILOV;
Democratic Party of Russia, Nikolay TRAVKIN; Dignity and Charity
Federal Political Movement, Konstantin FROLOV; Russia's Future-New
Names electoral association, Vyacheslav LASHCHEVSKIY; Women of Russia
Party, Alevtina FEDULOVA
anti-market and/or ultranationalist parties:
Agrarian Party, Mikhail LAPSHIN; Communist Party of the Russian
Federation, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia,
Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY
note:
more than 20 political parties and associations tried to gather enough
signatures to run slates of candidates in the 12 December 1993
legislative elections, but only 13 succeeded
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CERN (observer), CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE,
ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NACC, NSG,
OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ,
UNPROFOR, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Vladimir Petrovich LUKIN
chancery:
1125 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 628-7551 and 8548
consulate(s) general:
New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s):
Washington
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING
embassy:
Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow
mailing address:
APO AE 09721
telephone:
[7] (095) 252-2451 through 2459
FAX:
[7] (095)-4261/4270
consulate(s):
St. Petersburg, Vladivostok
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
@Russia, Economy
Overview:
Russia, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources, a
well-educated population, and a diverse industrial base, continues to
experience severe difficulties in moving from its old centrally
planned economy to a modern market economy. President YEL'TSIN's
government has made some progress toward a market economy by freeing
most prices, slashing defense spending, unifying foreign exchange
rates, and launching an ambitious privatization program. Yet much of
the old order persists and YEL'TSIN faces formidable opposition to
further measures such as the reduction of subsidies to old-line
industries. Output continues to fall although the mix is gradually
becoming more responsive to Russia's needs. According to Russian
official data, GDP declined by 12% in 1993 compared with 19% in 1992.
Industrial output in 1993 fell 16% with all major sectors taking a
hit. Agricultural production, meanwhile, was down 6%. The grain
harvest totalled 99 million tons - some 8 million tons less than in
1992. Unemployment climbed in 1993 but remained low by Western
standards. The official number of unemployed rose from 578,000 at the
beginning of 1993 to about 1 million - or roughly 1.4% of the work
force - by yearend. According to the Russian labor minister, the
actual number of unemployed probably was closer to 4 million.
Government fears of large-scale unemployment continued to hamper
industrial restructuring efforts. According to official statistics,
average real wages remained flat. Nonetheless, a substantial portion
of the population, particularly the elderly and people in remote
areas, finds its well-being steadily shrinking. The disparity in
incomes between the rich and poor continued to rise in 1993, primarily
reflecting the high earnings of enterprise managers and persons
employed in the emerging private sector. The government tried to
narrow the income gap by raising the wages of budget-funded workers -
mainly teachers and health care specialists. Official data may
overstate hardships, because many Russians supplement their income by
moonlighting or by bartering goods and services, activities that often
go unreported. Russia made good progress on privatization in 1993
despite active opposition from key cabinet members, hard-line
legislators, and antireform regional leaders. By yearend, for example,
roughly 35% of Russia's medium and large state enterprises had been
auctioned, while the number of private farms in Russia increased by
86,000, reaching a total of 170,000. As a result, about 6% of
agricultural land now has been privatized. Financial stabilization
continued to remain a challenge for the government. Moscow tightened
financial policies in early 1993 - including postponing planned budget
spending - and succeeded in reducing monthly inflation from 27% in
January to 20% in May and June. In the summer, however, the government
relaxed austerity measures in the face of mounting pressure from
industry and agriculture, sparking a new round of inflation; the
monthly inflation rate jumped to 25% in August. In response, Moscow
announced a package of measures designed to curb government spending
and inflation. It included eliminating bread subsidies, delaying
payment obligations, raising interest rates, and phasing out
concessionary Central Bank credits to enterprises and regions. The
measures met with some success; the monthly inflation rate declined to
13% in December. According to official statistics, Russia's 1993 trade
with nations outside the former Soviet Union produced a $16 billion
surplus, up from $6 billion in 1992. Moscow arrested the steep drop in
exports that it had been suffering as a result of ruptured ties with
former trading partners, output declines, and erratic efforts to move
to world prices. Foreign sales - comprised largely of oil, natural
gas, and other raw materials - grew slightly. Imports were down by 15%
or so as a result of new import taxes and Moscow's reluctance to
increase its debt burden by purchasing grain and other goods with
foreign credits. Russian trade with other former Soviet republics
continued to decline and yielded a surplus of some $5 billion. At the
same time, Russia paid only a fraction of the roughly $20 billion in
debt coming due in 1993, and by mid-year, Russia's foreign debt had
amounted to $81.5 billion. While Moscow reached agreement to
restructure debts with Paris Club official creditors in April 1993,
Moscow's refusal to waive its right to sovereign immunity kept Russia
and its bank creditors from agreeing to restructure Moscow's
commercial loans. Capital flight continued to be a serious problem in
1993, with billions of dollars in assets owned by Russians being
parked abroad at yearend. Russia's capital stock continues to
deteriorate because of insufficient maintenance and new construction.
The capital stock on average is twice the age of capital stock in the
West. Many years will pass before Russia can take full advantage of
its natural resources and its human assets.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $775.4 billion (1993 estimate from
the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and
published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as
extrapolated to 1993 using official Russian statistics, which are very
uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)
National product real growth rate:
-12% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,190 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
21% per month (average 1993); 13% per month (December 1993)
Unemployment rate:
1.4% (1 January 1994; official data)
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$43 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood products,
metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military
manufactures
partners:
Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba
Imports:
$27 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, consumer goods, grain, meat,
sugar, semifinished metal products
partners:
Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba
External debt:
$81.5 billion (mid-year 1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -16% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
213,000,000 KW
production:
956 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
6,782 kWh (1 January 1992)
Industries:
complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal,
oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from
rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; ship-
building; road and rail transportation equipment; communications
equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction
equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment;
medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables
Agriculture:
grain, sugar beet, sunflower seeds, meat, milk, vegetables, fruits;
because of its northern location does not grow citrus, cotton, tea,
and other warm climate products
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for domestic
consumption; government has active eradication program; used as
transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to
Western Europe and Latin America
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (1990-93), $13 billion; other
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1988-93), $115 billion
Currency:
1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks
Exchange rates:
rubles per US$1 - 1,247 (27 December 1993), 415 (24 December 1992);
nominal exchange rate still deteriorating but real exchange rate
strengthening
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Russia, Communications
Railroads:
158,100 km all 1.520-meter broad gauge; 86,800 km in common carrier
service, of which 48,900 km are diesel traction and 37,900 km are
electric traction; 71,300 km serves specific industry and is not
available for common carrier use (30 June 1993)
Highways:
total:
893,000 km
paved and gravel:
677,000 km
unpaved:
216,000 km
Inland waterways:
total navigable routes in general use 100,000 km; routes with
navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900 km; of which
routes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made navigable
routes 16,900 km (30 June 1993)
Pipelines:
crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km; natural gas 140,000
km (30 June 1993)
Ports:
coastal - St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Petropavlovsk,
Arkhangel'sk, Novorossiysk, Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Kholmsk, Korsakov,
Magadan, Tiksi, Tuapse, Vanino, Vostochnyy, Vyborg; inland -
Astrakhan', Nizhniy Novgorod, Kazan', Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Samara,
Moscow, Rostov, Volgograd
Merchant marine:
867 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,084,988 GRT/11,124,929 DWT,
barge carrier 2, bulk cargo 26, cargo 454, chemical tanker 9,
combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 16, container 82,
multi-function large load carrier 3, oil tanker 125, passenger 6,
passenger cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 74,
short-sea passenger 18, specialized tanker 2
Airports:
total:
2,550
usable:
964
with permanent-surface runways:
565
with runways over 3,659 m:
19
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
275
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
426
Telecommunications:
Russia is enlisting foreign help, by means of joint ventures, to speed
up the modernization of its telecommunications system; NMT-450 analog
cellular telephone networks are operational and growing in Moscow and
St. Petersburg; expanded access to international E-mail service
available via Sprint network; intercity fiberoptic cable installation
remains limited; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is a
severe handicap to the economy, especially with respect to
international connections; total installed telephones 24,400,000, of
which in urban areas 20,900,000 and in rural areas 3,500,000; of
these, total installed in homes 15,400,000; total pay phones for long
distant calls 34,100; telephone density is about 164 telephones per
1,000 persons (in 1992, only 661,000 new telephones were installed
compared with 855,000 in 1991 and in 1992 the number of unsatisfied
applications for telephones reached 11,000,000); international traffic
is handled by an inadequate system of satellites, land lines,
microwave radio relay and outdated submarine cables; this traffic
passes through the international gateway switch in Moscow which
carries most of the international traffic for the other countries of
the Commonwealth of Independent States; a new Russian Raduga satellite
will link Moscow and St. Petersburg with Rome from whence calls will
be relayed to destinations in Europe and overseas; satellite ground
stations - INTELSAT, Intersputnik, Eutelsat (Moscow), INMARSAT,
Orbita; broadcast stations - 1,050 AM/FM/SW (reach 98.6% of
population), 7,183 TV; receiving sets - 54,200,000 TVs, 48,800,000
radio receivers, 74,300,000 radio receivers with multiple speaker
systems for program diffusion
@Russia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, Strategic Rocket
Forces, Command and General Support, Security Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 37,706,825; fit for military service 29,623,429; reach
military age (18) annually 1,098,307 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP