#Industries: tourist, handicrafts

#Agriculture: copra, coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops—taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

#Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $62 million

#Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural—dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

#Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.6798 (January 1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)

#Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

*Communications #Highways: 123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads

#Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

#Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway of 1,650 m

#Telecommunications: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island; 383 telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.); stations—1 AM, 1 FM, no TV

*Defense Forces #Branches: Police Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand % @Norfolk Island (territory of Australia) *Geography Total area: 34.6 km2; land area: 34.6 km2

#Comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 32 km

#Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

#Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

#Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

#Natural resources: fish

#Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 25%; forest and woodland 0%; other 75%

#Environment: subject to typhoons (especially May to July)

#Note: located 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

*People #Population: 2,576 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

#Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Norfolk Islander(s); adjective—Norfolk Islander(s)

#Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutiny; more recently, Australian and New Zealand settlers

#Religion: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)

#Language: English (official) and Norfolk—a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

#Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

#Labor force: NA

#Organized labor: NA

*Government #Long-form name: Territory of Norfolk Island

#Type: territory of Australia

#Capital: Kingston (administrative center), Burnt Pine (commercial center)

#Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

#Independence: none (territory of Australia)

#Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1957

#Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court

#National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

#Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Executive Council (cabinet)

#Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator H. B. MACDONALD (since NA 1989), who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia;

Head of Government—Assembly President and Chief Minister John Terence BROWN (since NA)

#Political parties and leaders: NA

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

Legislative Assembly—last held 1989 (held every three years); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(9 total) percent of seats by party NA

#Member of: none

#Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

#Flag: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

*Economy #Overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

#GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

#Unemployment rate: NA%

#Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (FY89)

#Exports: $1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86);

commodities—postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia Palm, small quantities of avocados;

partners—Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

#Imports: $15.6 million (c.i.f., FY86);

commodities—NA;

partners—Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

#External debt: NA

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%

#Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 3,160 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: tourism

#Agriculture: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit, cattle, poultry

#Economic aid: none

#Currency: Australian dollar (plural—dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

#Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.2834 (January 1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)

#Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

*Communications #Highways: 80 km of roads, including 53 km of sealed roads; remainder are earth formed or coral surfaced

#Ports: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

#Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m (Australian owned)

#Telecommunications: 1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987 telephones (1983); stations—1 AM, no FM, no TV

*Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia % @Northern Mariana Islands (commonwealth associated with the US) *Geography Total area: 477 km2; land area: 477 km2; includes Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

#Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 1,482 km

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

#Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to July, rainy season July to October

#Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Tagpochu on Saipan)

#Natural resources: arable land, fish

#Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures 19%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

#Environment: Mt. Pagan is an active volcano (last erupted in October 1988); subject to typhoons during the rainy season

#Note: strategic location 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines

*People #Population: 23,494 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)

#Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: undetermined

#Ethnic divisions: Chamorro majority; Carolinians and other Micronesians; Spanish, German, Japanese admixtures

#Religion: Christian with a Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found

#Language: English, but Chamorro and Carolinian are also spoken in the home and taught in school

#Literacy: 96% (male 97%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

#Labor force: 12,788 local; 18,799 foreign workers (1990 est.)

#Organized labor: NA

*Government #Long-form name: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

#Type: commonwealth associated with the US and administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

#Capital: Saipan

#Administrative divisions: none

#Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

#Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986

#Legal system: NA

#National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

#Executive branch: governor, lieutenant governor

#Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);

Head of Government—Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since NA 1990); Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since NA 1990)

#Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Alonzo IGISOMAR; Democratic Party, Felicidad OGUMORO

#Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

#Elections:

Governor—last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results—Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor;

Senate—last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held November 1991); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(9 total) number of seats by party NA;

House of Representatives—last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held November 1991); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(15 total) number of seats by party NA;

US House of Representatives—last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(1 total) party of nonvoting delegate NA

#Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC

#Diplomatic representation: none

#Flag: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center

*Economy #Overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitles the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Another major source of income is the tourist industry, which employs about 10% of the work force. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale in nature—mostly handicrafts and fish processing.

#GNP: $165 million, per capita $9,170; real growth rate NA% (1982)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

#Unemployment rate: NA%

#Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $70.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987)

#Exports: $153.9 million (1989);

commodities—manufactured goods, garments;

partners—NA

#Imports: $313.7 million, a 43% increase over previous year (1989);

commodities—NA;

partners—NA

#External debt: none

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%

#Electricity: 25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 1,540 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts

#Agriculture: coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle

#Economic aid: none

#Currency: US currency is used

#Exchange rates: US currency is used

#Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

*Communications #Highways: 300 km total (53 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local)

#Ports: Saipan, Rota, Tinian

#Airports: 6 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: stations—2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the US % @Norway *Geography Total area: 324,220 km2; land area: 307,860 km2

#Comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

#Land boundaries: 2,544 km total; Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, USSR 196 km

#Coastline: 21,925 km (3,419 km mainland; 2,413 km large islands; 16,093 km long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations)

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 10 nm;

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

#Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with USSR; territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims beween Greenland and Jan Mayen

#Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast

#Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

#Natural resources: crude oil, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower

#Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 27%; other 70%; includes irrigated NEGL%

#Environment: air and water pollution; acid rain

#Note: strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with the USSR

*People #Population: 4,273,442 (July 1991), growth rate 0.5% (1991)

#Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Norwegian(s); adjective—Norwegian

#Ethnic divisions: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic) and racial-cultural minority of 20,000 Lapps

#Religion: Evangelical Lutheran (state church) 87.8%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)

#Language: Norwegian (official); small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

#Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)

#Labor force: 2,167,000 (September 1990); services 34.7%, commerce 18%, mining and manufacturing 16.6%, banking and financial services 7.5%, transportation and communications 7.2%, construction 7.2%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6.4% (1989)

#Organized labor: 66% of labor force (1985)

*Government #Long-form name: Kingdom of Norway

#Type: constitutional monarchy

#Capital: Oslo

#Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular—fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

#Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)

#Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884

#Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

#Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

#National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

#Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, State Council (cabinet)

#Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Stortinget) with an Upper Chamber (Lagting) and a Lower Chamber (Odelsting)

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hoiesterett)

#Leaders:

Chief of State—King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990)

#Political parties and leaders: Labor, Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND; Conservative, Kaci Kullmann FIVE; Center Party, Anne Enger LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's, Kjell Magne BONDEVIK; Socialist Left, Eric SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Kare Andre NILSEN; Progress, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Arne FJORTOFT; Finnmark List, leader NA

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

Storting—last held on 11 September 1989 (next to be held 6 September 1993); results—Labor 34.3%, Conservative 22.2%, Progress 13.0%, Socialist Left 10.1%, Christian People's 8.5%, Center Party 6.6%, Finnmark List 0.3%, other 5%; seats—(165 total) Labor 63, Conservative 37, Progress 22, Socialist Left 17, Christian People's 14, Center Party 11, Finnmark List 1

#Communists: 15,500 est.; 5,500 Norwegian Communist Party (NKP); 10,000 Workers Communist Party Marxist-Leninist (AKP-ML, pro-Chinese)

#Member of: AfDB, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE; Chancery at 2720 34th Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 333-6000; there are Norwegian Consulates General in Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco, and Consulates in Miami and New Orleans;

US—Ambassador Loret Miller RUPPE; Embassy at Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo 2 (mailing address is APO New York 09085); telephone [47] (2) 44-85-50

#Flag: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

*Economy #Overview: Norway is a prosperous capitalist nation with the resources to finance extensive welfare measures. Since 1975 exploitation of large crude oil and natural gas reserves has helped maintain high growth; for the past five years growth has averaged 4.1%, the fourth-highest among OECD countries. Growth slackened in 1987-88 partially because of the sharp drop in world oil prices, but picked up again in 1989. The Brundtland government plans to push hard on environmental issues, as well as cutting unemployment, improving child care, upgrading major industries, and negotiating an EC - European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agreement on an Economic European Area.

#GDP: $74.2 billion, per capita $17,400; real growth rate 3.1% (1990)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1990)

#Unemployment rate: 5.2% (1990, excluding people in job-training programs)

#Budget: revenues $47.9 billion; expenditures $48.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

#Exports: $33.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities—petroleum and petroleum products 25%, natural gas 11%, fish 7%, aluminum 6%, ships 3.5%, pulp and paper;

partners—EC 64.9%, Nordic countries 19.5%, developing countries 6.9%, US 6.2%, Japan 1.7% (1990)

#Imports: $26.8 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities—machinery, fuels and lubricants, transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, clothing, ships;

partners—EC 46.3%, Nordic countries 25.7%, developing countries 14.3%, US 8.1%, Japan 4.7% (1990)

#External debt: $15 billion (December 1990)

#Industrial production: growth rate 3.6% (1990)

#Electricity: 26,735,000 kW capacity; 121,685 million kWh produced, 28,950 kWh per capita (1989)

#Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

#Agriculture: accounts for 2.8% of GNP and 6.4% of labor force; among world's top 10 fishing nations; livestock output exceeds value of crops; over half of food needs imported; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989

#Economic aid: donor—ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion

#Currency: Norwegian krone (plural—kroner); 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore

#Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1—5.9060 (January 1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987), 7.3947 (1986), 8.5972 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Railroads: 4,223 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Norwegian State Railways (NSB) operates 4,219 km (2,450 km electrified and 96 km double track); 4 km other

#Highways: 79,540 km total; 18,600 km concrete, bituminous, stone block; 19,980 km bituminous treated; 40,960 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth

#Inland waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; 1.5-2.4 m draft vessels maximum

#Pipelines: refined products, 53 km

#Ports: Oslo, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Trondheim

#Merchant marine: 867 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,270,845 GRT/41,199,182 DWT; includes 11 passenger, 23 short-sea passenger, 121 cargo, 3 passenger-cargo, 24 refrigerated cargo, 14 container, 50 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 18 vehicle carrier, 1 railcar carrier, 186 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 98 chemical tanker, 69 liquefied gas, 1 specialized tanker, 35 combination ore/oil, 204 bulk, 9 combination bulk; note—the government has created a captive register, the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians; the majority of ships (777) under the Norwegian flag are now registered with the NIS

#Civil air: 76 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 104 total, 103 usable; 64 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services; 3,102,000 telephones; stations—8 AM, 46 (1,400 relays) FM, 55 (2,100 relays) TV; 4 coaxial submarine cables; communications satellite earth stations operating in the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and domestic systems

*Defense Forces #Branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,124,201; 942,158 fit for military service; 31,813 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $3.3 billion, 3.3% of GDP (1990) % @Oman *Geography Total area: 212,460 km2; land area: 212,460 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

#Land boundaries: 1,374 km total; Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

#Coastline: 2,092 km

#Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: to be defined;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: Administrative Line with Yemen; no defined boundary with most of UAE, Administrative Line in far north

#Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

#Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

#Natural resources: crude oil, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

#Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 0%; other 95%; includes irrigated NEGL%

#Environment: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; sparse natural freshwater resources

#Note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production transits this point going from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)

*People #Population: 1,534,011 (July 1991), growth rate 3.5% (1991)

#Birth rate: 41 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 68 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Omani(s); adjective—Omani

#Ethnic divisions: mostly Arab, with small Balochi, Zanzibari, and South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) groups

#Religion: Ibadhi Muslim 75%; remainder Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, some Hindu

#Language: Arabic (official); English, Balochi, Urdu, Indian dialects

#Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

#Labor force: 430,000; agriculture (est.) 60%; 58% are non-Omani

#Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

*Government #Long-form name: Sultanate of Oman

#Type: absolute monarchy; independent, with residual UK influence

#Capital: Muscat

#Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 7 planning regions (manatiq takhtitiyah, singular—mintaqah takhtitiyah) that include 1 governorate* (muhafazah) and 50 districts (wilayat, singular—wilayah);

al-Batinah—Awabi, Barka, Khabura, Liwa, Musanaa, Nakhl, Rustaq, Saham, Shinas, Sohar, Suwaiq, Wadi al-Maawil;

al-Dakhiliah—Adam, al-Hamra, Bahla, Bidbid, Haima, Izki, Manah, Nizwa, Sumail;

al-Dhahirah—al-Buraimi, Dhank, Ibri, Mhadha, Yanqul;

al-Janubiah—Dhalqut, Mirbat, Rokhyut, Sadah, Salalah, Shalim, Taqa, Thamrait;

al-Sharqiya—al Kamil and al-Wafi, al-Mudhaiby, al-Qabil, Bidiya, Dimaa and Tayin, Ibra, Jaalan Bani Bu Ali, Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan, Masirah, Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid;

Musandam—Daba al-Biya, Bukha, Khasab, Madha;

Muscat—Muscat*, Quriyat

#Independence: 1650, expulsion of the Portuguese

#Constitution: none

#Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

#Executive branch: sultan, Cabinet

#Legislative branch: State Consultative Assembly (advisory function only)

#Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system

#National holiday: National Day, 18 November

#Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government—Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)

#Political parties: none

#Suffrage: none

#Elections: none

#Other political or pressure groups: outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen

#Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Awadh Bader AL-SHANFARI; Chancery at 2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 387-1980 through 1982;

US—Ambassador Richard W. BOEHM; Embassy at address NA, Muscat (mailing address is P. O. Box 50200 Madinat Qaboos, Muscat); telephone 698-989

#Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band

*Economy #Overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for nearly all export earnings, about 80% of government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Although agriculture employs a majority of the population, urban centers depend on imported food.

#GDP: $9.2 billion, per capita $5,870 (1990); real growth rate - 3.0% (1987 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1989)

#Unemployment rate: NA%

#Budget: revenues $3.5 billion; expenditures $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $675 million (1989 est.)

#Exports: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities—petroleum, reexports, processed copper, dates, nuts, fish;

partners—Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

#Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities—machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants;

partners—UK, UAE, Japan, US

#External debt: $3.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

#Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1989), including petroleum sector

#Electricity: 1,136,000 kW capacity; 3,650 million kWh produced, 2,500 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper

#Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP and 60% of the labor force (including fishing); less than 2% of land cultivated; largely subsistence farming (dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle); not self-sufficient in food; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons

#Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $122 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million

#Currency: Omani rial (plural—rials); 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza

#Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1—0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Highways: 22,800 km total; 3,800 km bituminous surface, 19,000 km motorable track

#Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km

#Ports: Mina Qabus, Mina Raysut

#Merchant marine: 1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT

#Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 122 total, 114 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 64 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: fair system of open-wire, radio relay, and radio communications stations; 50,000 telephones; stations—3 AM, 3 FM, 11 TV; satellite earth stations—2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, and 8 domestic

*Defense Forces #Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 348,849; 197,870 fit for military service; 20,715 reach military age (14) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.0 billion, 12% of GDP (1991) % @Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau) *Geography Total area: 458 km2; land area: 458 km2

#Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 1,519 km

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

#Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid

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

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

#Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%

#Environment: subject to typhoons from June to December; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

#Note: important location 850 km southeast of the Philippines; includes World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands

*People #Population: 14,411 (July 1991), growth rate 0.7% (1991)

#Birth rate: 25 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: - 12 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 74 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Palauan(s); adjective—Palauan

#Ethnic divisions: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races

#Religion: predominantly Christian, mainly Roman Catholic

#Language: Palauan is the official language, though English is commonplace; inhabitants of the isolated southwestern islands speak a dialect of Trukese

#Literacy: 92% (male 93%, female 91%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

#Labor force: NA

#Organized labor: NA

*Government #Long-form name: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (no short-form name); may change to Republic of Palau after independence; note—Belau, the native form of Palau, is sometimes used

#Type: UN trusteeship administered by the US; constitutional government signed a Compact of Free Association with the US on 10 January 1986, after approval in a series of UN-observed plebiscites; until the UN trusteeship is terminated with entry into force of the Compact, Palau remains under US administration as the Palau District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

#Capital: Koror; a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap

#Administrative divisions: none

#Independence: still part of the US-administered UN trusteeship (the last polity remaining under the trusteeship; the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas have left); administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of Interior

#Constitution: 11 January 1981

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

#National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

#Executive branch: US president, US vice president, national president, national vice president

#Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK) consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Delegates

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); represented by the Assistant Secretary for Territorial Affairs, US Department of the Interior, Stella GUERRA (since NA July 1989);

Head of Government—President Ngiratkel ETPISON (since 2 November 1988)

#Political parties: no formal parties

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

President—last held on 2 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); Ngiratkel ETPISON 26.3%, Roman TMETUCHL 25.9%, Thomas REMENGESAU 19.5%, other 28.3%;

Senate—last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(18 total);

House of Delegates—last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(16 total)

#Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer)

#Diplomatic representation: none;

US—US Liaison Officer Lloyd MOSS; US Liaison Office at Top Side, Neeriyas, Koror (mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Koror, Republic of Palau 96940); telephone 160-680-920 or 990

#Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

*Economy #Overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote location of Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered development. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US.

#GDP: $31.6 million, per capita $2,260; real growth rate NA% (1986)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

#Unemployment rate: 20% (1986)

#Budget: revenues $6.0 million; expenditures NA, including capital expenditures of NA (1986)

#Exports: $0.5 million (f.o.b., 1986);

commodities—NA;

partners—US, Japan

#Imports: $27.2 million (c.i.f., 1986);

commodities—NA;

partners—US

#External debt: $NA

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%

#Electricity: 16,000 kW capacity; 22 million kWh produced, 1,540 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and agriculture

#Agriculture: subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes

#Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $2 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $62.6 million

#Currency: US currency is used

#Exchange rates: US currency is used

#Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

*Communications #Highways: 25.7 km paved macadam and concrete roads, otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads (1986)

#Ports: Koror

#Airports: 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: stations—1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the US and that will not change when the UN trusteeship terminates % @Pacific Ocean *Geography Total area: 165,384,000 km2; includes Arafura Sea, Banda Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Makassar Strait, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other tributary water bodies

#Comparative area: slightly less than 18 times the size of the US; the largest ocean (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Arctic Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world

#Coastline: 135,663 km

#Climate: the western Pacific is monsoonal—a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian land mass back to the ocean

#Terrain: surface in the northern Pacific dominated by a clockwise, warm water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool water gyre; sea ice occurs in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk during winter and reaches maximum northern extent from Antarctica in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches; the world's greatest depth is 10,924 meters in the Marianas Trench

#Natural resources: oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish

#Environment: endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs from Antarctica; occasional El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast of Peru when the trade winds slacken and the warm Equatorial Countercurrent moves south, which kills the plankton that is the primary food source for anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move to better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds to starve by the thousands because of their lost food source

#Note: the major choke points are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May and in extreme south from May to October; persistent fog in the northern Pacific from June to December is a hazard to shipping; surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the Pacific Ring of Fire

*Economy #Overview: The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides cheap sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1985 over half (54%) of the world's total fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean, which is the only ocean where the fish catch has increased every year since 1978. Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of Australia, New Zealand, China, US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has slowed but not stopped new drillings.

#Industries: fishing, oil and gas production

*Communications #Ports: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Los Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok (USSR), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

Telecommunications: several submarine cables with network focused on Guam and Hawaii % @Pakistan *Geography Total area: 803,940 km2; land area: 778,720 km2

#Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

#Land boundaries: 6,774 km total; Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

#Coastline: 1,046 km

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: boundary with India; Pashtun question with Afghanistan; Baloch question with Afghanistan and Iran; water sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Indus

#Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

#Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

#Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited crude oil, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

#Land use: arable land 26%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 6%; forest and woodland 4%; other 64%; includes irrigated 19%

#Environment: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August); deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water logging

#Note: controls Khyber Pass and Malakand Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

*People #Population: 117,490,278 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

#Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 109 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 56 years male, 57 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Pakistani(s); adjective—Pakistani

#Ethnic divisions: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendents)

#Religion: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shia 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

#Language: Urdu and English (both official); total spoken languages—Punjabi 64%, Sindhi 12%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu 7%, Balochi and other 9%; English is lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries, but official policies are promoting its gradual replacement by Urdu

#Literacy: 35% (male 47%, female 21%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

#Labor force: 28,900,000; agriculture 54%, mining and manufacturing 13%, services 33%; extensive export of labor (1987 est.)

#Organized labor: about 10% of industrial work force

*Government #Long-form name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

#Type: parliamentary with strong executive, federal republic

#Capital: Islamabad

#Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab, Sindh; note—the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

#Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK; formerly West Pakistan)

#Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments, 30 December 1985

#Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's stature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

#National holiday: Pakistan Day (proclamation of the republic), 23 March (1956)

#Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

#Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Mijlis-e-Shoora) consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or National Assembly

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Islamic (Shariat) Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President GHULAM ISHAQ Khan (since 13 December 1988);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Mian Nawaz SHARIF (since 6 November 1990);

#Political parties and leaders: Islamic Democratic Alliance (Islami Jamuri Ittehad or IJI)—the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) led by Mohammed Khan JUNEJO is the main party in the IJI; Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; note—in September 1990 the PPP announced the formation of the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), an electoral alliance including the following four parties—PPP, Solidarity Movement (Tehrik Istiqlal), Movement for the Implementation of Shia Jurisprudence (Tehrik-i-Nifaz Fiqh Jafariya or TNFJ), and the PML (Malik faction); Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf HUSSAIN; Awami National Party (ANP), Khan Abdul Wali KHAN; Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI), Fazlur RAHMAN; Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Mohammad Akbar Khan BUGTI; Pakistan National Party (PNP), Mir Ghaus Bakhsh BIZENJO; Pakistan Khawa Milli Party (PKMP), leader NA; Assembly of Pakistani Clergy (Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Pakistan or JUP), Maulana Shah Ahmed NOORANI; Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain AHMED

#Suffrage: universal at age 21

#Elections:

President—last held on 12 December 1988 (next to be held December 1993); results—Ghulam Ishaq KHAN was elected by Parliament and the four provincial assemblies;

Senate—last held March 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results—elected by provincial assemblies; seats—(87 total) IJI 57, Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8, PPP 5, ANP 5, JWP 4, MQM 3, PNP 2, PKMP 1, JUI 1, independent 1;

National Assembly—last held on 24 October 1990 (next to be held by October 1995); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(217 total) IJI 107, PDA 45, MQM 15, ANP 6, JUI 6, JWP 2, PNP 2, PKMP 1, independent 14, religious minorities 10, Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8, vacant 1

#Communists: the Communist party is officially banned but is allowed to operate openly

#Other political or pressure groups: military remains dominant political force; ulema (clergy), industrialists, and small merchants also influential

#Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Najmuddin SHAIKH; Chancery at 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-6200; there is a Pakistani Consulate General in New York;

US—Ambassador Robert B. OAKLEY; Embassy at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad (mailing address is P. O. Box 1048, Islamabad or APO New York 09614); telephone [92] (51) 826161 through 79; there are US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, and a Consulate in Peshawar

#Flag: green with a vertical white band on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

*Economy #Overview: Pakistan is a poor Third World country faced with the usual problems of rapidly increasing population, sizable government deficits, and heavy dependence on foreign aid. In addition, the economy must support a large military establishment and provide for the needs of 4 million Afghan refugees. A real economic growth rate averaging 5-6% in recent years has enabled the country to cope with these problems. Almost all agriculture and small-scale industry is in private hands, and the government seeks to privatize a portion of the large-scale industrial enterprises now publicly owned. In December 1988, Pakistan signed a three-year economic reform agreement with the IMF, which provides for a reduction in the government deficit and a liberalization of trade in return for further IMF financial support. Late in 1990, the IMF suspended assistance to Pakistan because the government failed to follow through on deficit reforms. Pakistan almost certainly will make little headway on raising living standards for its rapidly expanding population; at the current rate of growth, population would double in 29 years.

#GNP: $43.3 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 5.0% (FY90 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.7% (FY90)

#Unemployment rate: 10% (FY91 est.)

#Budget: revenues $5.6 billion; expenditures $10.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (FY91 est.)

#Exports: $4.8 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities—rice, cotton, textiles, clothing;

partners—EC 31%, Japan 11.6%, US 11.5% (FY89)

#Imports: $6.5 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities—petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals;

partners—EC 26%, US 16%, Japan 14% (FY89)

#External debt: $20.1 billion (1990 est.)

#Industrial production: growth rate 7.5% (FY91 est.); accounts for almost 20% of GNP

#Electricity: 7,575,000 kW capacity; 29,300 million kWh produced, 270 kWh per capita (1989)

#Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, petroleum products, construction materials, clothing, paper products, international finance, shrimp

#Agriculture: 25% of GDP, over 50% of labor force; world's largest contiguous irrigation system; major crops—cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables; livestock products—milk, beef, mutton, eggs; self-sufficient in food grain

#Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; government eradication efforts on poppy cultivation of limited success

#Economic aid: (including Bangladesh before 1972) US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.5 billion authorized (excluding what is now Bangladesh); Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-88), $8.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.2 billion

#Currency: Pakistani rupee (plural—rupees); 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa

#Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1—22.072 (January 1991), 21.707 (1990), 20.541 (1989), 18.003 (1988), 17.399 (1987), 16.648 (1986), 15.928 (1985)

#Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

*Communications #Railroads: 8,773 km total; 7,718 km broad gauge, 445 km meter gauge, and 610 km narrow gauge; 1,037 km broad-gauge double track; 286 km electrified; all government owned (1985)

#Highways: 101,315 km total (1987); 40,155 km paved, 23,000 km gravel, 29,000 km improved earth, and 9,160 km unimproved earth or sand tracks (1985)

#Pipelines: 250 km crude oil; 4,044 km natural gas; 885 km refined products (1987)

#Ports: Gwadar, Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

#Merchant marine: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 339,855 GRT/500,627 DWT; includes 4 passenger-cargo, 24 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker

#Civil air: 30 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 115 total, 105 usable; 75 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 31 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: good international radiocommunication service over microwave and INTELSAT satellite; domestic radio communications poor; broadcast service good; 813,000 telephones (1990); stations—19 AM, 8 FM, 29 TV; earth stations—1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

*Defense Forces #Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 26,840,840; 16,466,334 fit for military service; 1,322,883 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $2.9 billion, 6% of GNP (FY91) % @Palmyra Atoll (territory of the US) *Geography Total area: 11.9 km2; land area: 11.9 km2

#Comparative area: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 14.5 km

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy

#Terrain: low, with maximum elevations of about 2 meters

#Natural resources: none

#Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 100%; other 0%

#Environment: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

#Note: located 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, almost halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa

*People #Population: uninhabited

*Government #Long-form name: none

#Type: unincorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

*Economy #Overview: no economic activity

*Communications #Ports: none; offshore anchorage in West Lagoon

#Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

*Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the US % @Panama *Geography Total area: 78,200 km2; land area: 75,990 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

#Land boundaries: 555 km total; Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

#Coastline: 2,490 km

#Maritime claims:

Territorial sea: 200 nm

#Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

#Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

#Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

#Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and woodland 54%; other 23%; includes irrigated NEGL%

#Environment: dense tropical forest in east and northwest

#Note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

*People #Population: 2,476,281 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)

#Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Panamanian(s); adjective—Panamanian

#Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%

#Religion: Roman Catholic over 93%, Protestant 6%

#Language: Spanish (official); English as native tongue 14%; many Panamanians bilingual

#Literacy: 88% (male 88%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

#Labor force: 770,472 (1987); government and community services 27.9%; agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.2%; commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16%; manufacturing and mining 10.5%; construction 5.3%; transportation and communications 5.3%; finance, insurance, and real estate 4.2%; Canal Zone 2.4%; shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

#Organized labor: 17% of labor force (1986)

*Government #Long-form name: Republic of Panama

#Type: centralized republic

#Capital: Panama

#Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas

#Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

#Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

#Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

#National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

#Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, Cabinet

#Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) currently being reorganized

#Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government—President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989); First Vice President Ricardo ARIAS Calderon (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989); Second Vice President Guillermo FORD (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989)

#Political parties and leaders:

government alliance—Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA); Arnulfista Party (PA), Francisco ARTOLA;

opposition parties—Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ricardo ARIAS Calderon; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD, ex-official government party), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Agrarian Labor Party (PALA), Carlos ELETA Almaran; Liberal Party (PL); People's Party (PdP, Soviet-oriented Communist party), Ruben DARIO Sousa Batista; Democratic Workers Party (PDT, leftist), Eduardo RIOS; National Action Party (PAN, rightist); Popular Action Party (PAPO), Carlos Ivan ZUNIGA; Socialist Workers Party (PST, leftist), Jose CAMBRA; Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT, leftist), Graciela DIXON

#Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

#Elections:

President—last held on 7 May 1989, annulled but later upheld (next to be held May 1994); results—anti-NORIEGA coalition believed to have won about 75% of the total votes cast;

Legislative Assembly—last held on 27 January 1991 (next to be held May 1994); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(67 total) progovernment parties—PDC 28, MOLIRENA 16, PA 6, PLA 5;

opposition parties—PRD 10, PALA 1, PL 1; note—the PDC went into opposition after President Guillermo ENDARA ousted the PDC from the coalition government in April 1991

#Communists: People's Party (PdP), pro-Soviet mainline Communist party, did not obtain the necessary 3% of the total vote in the 1984 election to retain its legal status; about 3,000 members

#Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP); Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National Civic Crusade; National Committee for the Right to Life

#Member of: AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jaime FORD; Chancery at 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-1407; the status of the Consulates General and Consulates has not yet been determined;

US—Ambassador Deane R. HINTON; Embassy at Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 (mailing address is Box E, APO Miami 34002); telephone [507] 27-1777

#Flag: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white with a blue five-pointed star in the center (hoist side) and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center

*Economy #Overview: GDP expanded by an estimated 5% in 1990, after contracting 1% in 1988 and 14% in 1989. Political stability prompted greater business confidence and consumer demand, leading to increased production by the agricultural, commercial, manufacturing, construction, and utilities sectors. The transportation sector and government services declined slightly due to slack early-1990 transits through the Panama Canal, lower oil pipeline flowthrough, and Panama City's budget cuts. Imports and exports posted gains during the year, and government revenues were up sharply over 1989's levels.

#GDP: $4.8 billion, per capita $1,980; real growth rate 5% (1990 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1990 est.)

#Unemployment rate: 20% (1990)

#Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1990 est.)

#Exports: $355 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities—bananas 27%, shrimp 21%, clothing 6%, coffee 4%, sugar 4%;

partners—US 90%, Central America and Caribbean, EC (1989 est.)

#Imports: $1,250 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities—foodstuffs 13%, capital goods 12%, crude oil 12%, consumer goods, chemicals;

partners—US 35%, Central America and Caribbean, EC, Mexico, Venezuela (1989 est.)

#External debt: $5 billion (December 1990 est.)

#Industrial production: growth rate 4.8% (1990 est.)

#Electricity: 1,113,000 kW capacity; 3,264 million kWh produced, 1,350 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: manufacturing and construction activities, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction material, sugar mills, paper products

#Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP (1990 est.), 25% of labor force (1989); crops—bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane; livestock; fishing; importer of food grain, vegetables, milk products

#Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $575 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million

#Currency: balboa (plural—balboas); 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

#Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1—1.000 (fixed rate)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Railroads: 238 km total; 78 km 1.524-meter gauge, 160 km 0.914-meter gauge

#Highways: 8,530 km total; 2,745 km paved, 3,270 km gravel or crushed stone, 2,515 km improved and unimproved earth

#Inland waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal

#Pipelines: crude oil, 130 km

#Ports: Cristobal, Balboa, Puerto de La Bahia de Las Minas

#Merchant marine: 2,932 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,314,623 GRT/66,226,104 DWT; includes 22 passenger, 22 short-sea passenger, 5 passenger-cargo, 1,060 cargo, 188 refrigerated cargo, 165 container, 62 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 105 vehicle carrier, 8 livestock carrier, 5 multifunction large-load carrier, 301 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 175 chemical tanker, 27 combination ore/oil, 91 liquefied gas, 8 specialized tanker, 651 bulk, 37 combination bulk; note—all but 5 are foreign owned and operated; the top 4 foreign owners are Japan 36%, Greece 9%, Hong Kong 9%, and the US 8%; (China owns at least 127 ships, Vietnam 10, Yugoslavia 10, Cuba 5, Cyprus 3, and USSR 2)

#Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 113 total, 101 usable; 41 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: domestic and international facilities well developed; connection into Central American Microwave System; 2 Atlantic Ocean satellite antennas; 220,000 telephones; stations—91 AM, no FM, 23 TV; 1 coaxial submarine cable

*Defense Forces #Branches: note—the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989; President Endara is attempting to restructure the forces into a civilian police service under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF); a Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco Solis in the office of the president coordinates the activities of the security forces; the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos Bares is attached to the presidency

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 644,895; 444,522 fit for military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $75.5 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990) % @Papua New Guinea *Geography Total area: 461,690 km2; land area: 451,710 km2

#Comparative area: slightly larger than California

#Land boundary: 820 km with Indonesia

#Coastline: 5,152 km

#Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#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 NEGL%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 71%; other 28%

#Environment: one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast; some active volcanos; frequent earthquakes

#Note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia

*People #Population: 3,913,186 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)

#Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 56 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Papua New Guinean(s); adjective—Papua New Guinean

#Ethnic divisions: predominantly Melanesian and Papuan; some Negrito, Micronesian, and Polynesian

#Religion: 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%

#Language: 715 indigenous languages; English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region

#Literacy: 52% (male 65%, female 38%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

#Labor force: 1,660,000; 732,806 in salaried employment; agriculture 54%, government 25%, industry and commerce 9%, services 8% (1980)

#Organized labor: more than 50 trade unions, some with fewer than 20 members

*Government #Long-form name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea

#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)

#Constitution: 16 September 1975

#Legal system: based on English common law

#National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

#Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, National Executive Council (cabinet)

#Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly)

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State—Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Vincent ERI (since 18 January 1990);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Rabbie NAMALIU (since 4 July 1988); Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO (since 29 April 1990); note—Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO has the title only since he has been suspended pending trial for alleged corruption charges

#Political parties: Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Rabbie NAMALIU; 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

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

National Parliament—last held 13 June-4 July 1987 (next to be held 4 July 1992); results—PP 14.7%, PDM 10.8%, PPP 6.1%, MA 5.6%, NP 5.1%, PAP 3.2%, independents 42.9%, other 11.6%; seats—(109 total) PP 26, PDM 17, NP 12, MA 7, PAP 6, PPP 5, independents 22, other 14

#Communists: no significant strength

#Member of: ACP, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret TAYLOR; Chancery at Suite 350, 1330 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 659-0856;

US—Ambassador Robert W. FERRAND; Embassy at Armit Street, Port Moresby (mailing address is P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby); telephone [675] 211-455 or 594, 654

#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

*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 help sustain the economy.

#GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $725; real growth rate - 3.0% (1989 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1989)

#Unemployment rate: 5% (1988)

#Budget: revenues $867 million; expenditures $873 million, including capital expenditures of $119 million (1990 est.)

#Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities—gold, copper ore, coffee, cocoa, copra, palm oil, timber, lobster;

partners—FRG, Japan, Australia, UK, Spain, US

#Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities—machinery and transport equipment, fuels, food, chemicals, consumer goods;

partners—Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand, UK

#External debt: $2.76 billion (December 1990)

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 25% of GDP

#Electricity: 397,000 kW capacity; 1,510 million kWh produced, 400 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: copra crushing, oil palm processing, plywood processing, wood chip production, gold, silver, copper, construction, tourism

#Agriculture: one-third 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: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $6.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million

#Currency: kina (plural—kina); 1 kina (K) = 100 toea

#Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1—1.0549 (January 1991), 1.0467 (1990), 1.1685 (1989), 1.1538 (1988), 1.1012 (1987), 1.0296 (1986), 1.0000 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Highways: 19,200 km total; 640 km paved, 10,960 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized-soil surface, 7,600 km unimproved earth

#Inland waterways: 10,940 km

#Ports: Anewa Bay, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

#Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,711 GRT/34,682 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 combination ore/oil, 2 bulk

#Civil air: about 15 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 567 total, 479 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 40 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#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; 51,700 telephones (1985); stations—31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987); 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Defense Forces #Branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force)

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 983,175; 546,824 fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $42 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.) % @Paracel Islands *Geography Total area: undetermined

#Comparative area: undetermined

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 518 km

#Maritime claims: undetermined

#Disputes: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

#Climate: tropical

#Terrain: undetermined

#Natural resources: none

#Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

#Environment: subject to typhoons

#Note: located 400 km east of Vietnam in the South China Sea about one-third of the way between Vietnam and the Philippines

*People #Population: no permanent inhabitants

*Government #Long-form name: none

*Economy #Overview: no economic activity

*Communications #Ports: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island currently under expansion

#Airports: 1 on Woody Island

*Defense Forces Note: occupied by China % @Paraguay *Geography Total area: 406,750 km2; land area: 397,300 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than California

#Land boundaries: 3,920 km total; Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

#Coastline: none—landlocked

#Maritime claims: none—landlocked

#Disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of 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: iron ore, manganese, limestone, hydropower, timber

#Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 39%; forest and woodland 35%; other 5%; includes irrigated NEGL%

#Environment: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

#Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

*People #Population: 4,798,739 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)

#Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Paraguayan(s); adjective—Paraguayan

#Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%

#Religion: Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite and other Protestant denominations

#Language: Spanish (official) and Guarani

#Literacy: 90% (male 92%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

#Labor force: 1,300,000; agriculture 44%, industry and commerce 34%, services 18%, government 4% (1986)

#Organized labor: about 2% of labor force

*Government #Long-form name: Republic of Paraguay

#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)

#Constitution 25 August 1967

#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

#National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

#Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State

#Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)

#Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government—President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)

#Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, acting president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Juan Manuel BENITEZ Florentin; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge Dario CRISTALDO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER

#Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60

#Elections:

President—last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held February 1993); results—Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%;

Chamber of Senators—last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by May 1993); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1;

Chamber of Deputies—last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by May 1994); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, PL 1, PLR 1

#Communists: Oscar Creydt faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction (both illegal); 3,000 to 4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in Paraguay, very few are hard core; party beginning to return from exile is small and deeply divided

#Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church

#Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Marcos MARTINEZ MENDIETA; Chancery at 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-6960 through 6962; there are Paraguayan Consulates General in New Orleans and New York, and a Consulate in Houston;

US—Ambassador Jon GLASSMAN; Embassy at 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion (mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO Miami 34036-0001); telephone [595] (21) 213-715

#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)

*Economy #Overview: The economy is predominantly agricultural. Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GNP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay has no known significant mineral or petroleum resources but does have 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 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 international commodity prices for agricultural exports. 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. The government, however, must follow through on promises of reforms needed to deal with escalating inflation, large fiscal deficits, growing debt arrearages, and falling reserves.

#GDP: $4.6 billion, per capita $1,000; real growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 44% (1990 est.)

#Unemployment rate: 12% (1989 est.)

#Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991)

#Exports: $980 million (registered f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities—cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products;

partners—EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%

#Imports: $1.4 billion (registered c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities—capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10%;

partners—Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%

#External debt: $1.7 billion (1989 est.)

#Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 16% of GDP

#Electricity: 5,169,000 kW capacity; 15,144 million kWh produced, 3,250 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

#Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops—cotton, sugarcane; other crops—corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits, and 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: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $1.05 billion

#Currency: guarani (plural—guaranies); 1 guarani (0) = 100 centimos

#Exchange rates: guaranies (0) per US$1—1,204.5 (October 1989), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989), 339.17 (1986), 306.67 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*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: 21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth

#Inland waterways: 3,100 km

#Ports: Asuncion

#Merchant marine: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,743 GRT/22,954 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker; note—1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially

#Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 851 total, 738 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 60 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; stations—40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Defense Forces #Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,130,690; 823,136 fit for military service; 51,415 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.) % @Peru *Geography Total area: 1,285,220 km2; land area: 1,280,000 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska

#Land boundaries: 6,940 km total; 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

#Disputes: two 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 NEGL%; meadows and pastures 21%; forest and woodland 55%; other 21%; includes irrigated 1%

#Environment: subject to earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, mild volcanic activity; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima

#Note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia

*People #Population: 22,361,785 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

#Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

#Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1991)

#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%

#Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic

#Language: Spanish and Quechua (both official), Aymara

#Literacy: 85% (male 92%, female 29%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

#Labor force: 6,800,000 (1986); government and other services 44%, agriculture 37%, industry 19% (1988 est.)

#Organized labor: about 40% of salaried workers (1983 est.)

*Government #Long-form name: Republic of Peru

#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, the regions have yet to assume their reponsibilities and at the moment co-exist with the departmental structure