#Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $504 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $3.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $8 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.0 billion

#Currency: birr (plural—birr); 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents

#Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1—2.0700 (fixed rate)

#Fiscal year: 8 July-7 July

*Communications #Railroads: 988 km total; 681 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge (nonoperational)

#Highways: 44,300 km total; 3,650 km bituminous, 9,650 km gravel, 3,000 km improved earth, 28,000 km unimproved earth

#Ports: Aseb, Mitsiwa

#Merchant marine: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 69,398 GRT/89,457 DWT; includes 9 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll off cargo, 1 livestock carrier, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker

#Civil air: 21 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 153 total, 111 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 49 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: open-wire and radio relay system adequate for government use; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; stations—4 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 45,000 TV sets; 3,300,000 radios; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

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

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 11,717,614; 6,072,112 fit for military service; 609,346 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $NA, 8.5% of GDP (1988) % @Europa Island (French possession) *Geography Total area: 28 km2; land area: 28 km2

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

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 22.2 km

#Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: claimed by Madagascar

#Climate: tropical

#Terrain: NA

#Natural resources: negligible

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

#Environment: wildlife sanctuary

#Note: located in the Mozambique Channel 340 km west of Madagascar

*People #Population: uninhabited

*Government #Long-form name: none

#Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion

*Economy #Overview: no economic activity

*Communications #Airports: 1 with runway 1,220 to 2,439 m

#Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

#Telecommunications: 1 meteorological station

*Defense Forces #Note: defense is the responsibility of France % @Falkland Islands

(Islas Malvinas) (dependent territory of the UK) *Geography #Total area: 12,170 km2; land area: 12,170 km2; includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 1,288 km

#Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: 100 meter depth;

Exclusive fishing zone: 150 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

#Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate

#Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

#Natural resources: fish and wildlife

#Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 99%; forest and woodland 0%; other 1%

#Environment: poor soil fertility and a short growing season

#Note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors

*People #Population: 1,968 (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—Falkland Islander(s); adjective—Falkland Island

#Ethnic divisions: almost totally British

#Religion: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, and United Free Church; Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

#Language: English

#Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) but compulsory education age 5 to 15 (1988)

#Labor force: 1,100 (est.); agriculture, mostly sheepherding about 95%

#Organized labor: Falkland Islands General Employees Union, 400 members

*Government #Long-form name: Colony of the Falkland Islands

#Type: dependent territory of the UK

#Capital: Stanley

#Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

#Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

#Constitution: 3 October 1985

#Legal system: English common law

#National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

#Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council

#Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);

Head of Government—Governor William Hugh FULLERTON (since NA 1988)

#Political parties: NA

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

Legislative Council—last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(10 total, 8 elected) number of seats by party NA

#Member of: ICFTU

#Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

#Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

*Economy #Overview: The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to meet domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are primarily those for providing winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more than $40 million per year and are a primary source of income for the government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.

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

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1980-87 average)

#Unemployment rate: NA%; labor shortage

#Budget: revenues $62.7 million; expenditures $41.8 million, excluding capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

#Exports: at least $14.7 million;

commodities—wool, hides and skins, and other;

partners—UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)

#Imports: at least $13.9 million;

commodities—food, clothing, fuels, and machinery;

partners—UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)

#External debt: $NA

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%

#Electricity: 9,200 kW capacity; 17 million kWh produced, 8,680 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: wool and fish processing

#Agriculture: predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some fodder and vegetable crops

#Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $109 million

#Currency: Falkland pound (plural—pounds); 1 Falkland pound (5F) = 100 pence

#Exchange rates: Falkland pound (5F) per US$1—0.5171 (January 1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985); note—the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

#Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

*Communications #Highways: 510 km total; 30 km paved, 80 km gravel, and 400 km unimproved earth

#Ports: Port Stanley

#Civil air: no major transport aircraft

#Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220 to 2,439 m

#Telecommunications: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands; 590 telephones; stations—2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station with links through London to other countries

*Defense Forces #Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (including Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines); Police Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK % @Faroe Islands (part of the Danish realm) *Geography Total area: 1,400 km2; land area: 1,400 km2

#Comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of Washington, DC

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 764 km

#Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

#Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

#Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

#Natural resources: fish

#Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 98%

#Environment: precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands; archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets

#Note: strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic about midway between Iceland and Shetland Islands

*People #Population: 48,151 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

#Birth rate: 17 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: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Faroese (sing., pl.); adjective—Faroese

#Ethnic divisions: homogeneous Scandinavian population

#Religion: Evangelical Lutheran

#Language: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

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

#Labor force: 17,585; largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

#Organized labor: NA

*Government #Long-form name: none

#Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark

#Capital: Torshavn

#Administrative divisions: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

#Independence: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark

#Constitution: Danish

#Legal system: Danish

#National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

#Executive branch: Danish monarch, high commissioner, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyri)

#Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Logting)

#Judicial branch: none

#Leaders:

Chief of State—Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Atli P. DAM (since 15 January 1991)

#Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition—Social Democratic Party, Atli P. DAM; People's Party, Jogvan SUNDSTEIN;

opposition—Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli ELLEFSEN; Republican Party, Signer HANSEN; Progressive and Fishing Industry Party-Christian People's Party (PFIP-CPP), leader NA; Progress Party, leader NA; Home Rule Party, Hilmar KASS

#Suffrage: universal at age 20

#Elections:

Faroese Parliament—last held 17 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results—Social Democratic 27.4%, People's Party 21.9%, Cooperation Coalition Party 18.9%, Republican Party 14.7%, Home Rule 8.8%, PFIP-CPP 5.9%, other 2.4%; seats—(32 total) two-party coalition 17 (Social Democratic 10, People's Party 7), Cooperation Coalition Party 6, Republican Party 4, Home Rule 3, PFIP-CPP 2;

Danish Parliament—last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(2 total) Social Democratic 1, People's Party 1; note—the Faroe Islands elects two representatives to the Danish Parliament

#Communists: insignificant number

#Member of:

#Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

#Flag: white with a red cross outlined in blue 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: The Faroese, who have long been enjoying the affluent living standards of the Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the decline of the all-important fishing industry and with an external debt twice the size of annual income. When the nations of the world extended their fishing zones to 200 nautical miles in the early 1970s, the Faroese no longer could continue their traditional long-distance fishing and subsequently depleted their own nearby fishing areas; one estimate foresaw a 25% drop in fish catch in 1990 alone. Half the fishing fleet is for sale, and the 22 fish-processing plants work at only half capacity. The government no longer can maintain its high level of spending on roads and tunnels, hospitals, sports facilities, and other social welfare programs.

#GDP: $662 million, per capita $14,000; real growth rate 3% (1989 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.0% (1988)

#Unemployment rate: NA%, but increasing

#Budget: revenues $442 million; expenditures $442 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

#Exports: $343 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities—fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment;

partners—Denmark 16%, UK 14%, FRG 13.4%, US 10%, France 9%, Japan 5%

#Imports: $344 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities—machinery and transport equipment 30%, manufactures 16%, food and livestock 15%, chemicals 6%, fuels 4%;

partners: Denmark 44%, Norway 16%, FRG 6%, Sweden 6%, US 3%

#External debt: $1.3 billion (1989)

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%

#Electricity: 80,000 kW capacity; 280 million kWh produced, 5,910 kWh per capita (1989)

#Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts

#Agriculture: accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor force; principal crops—potatoes and vegetables; livestock—sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000 metric tons

#Economic aid: none

#Currency: Danish krone (plural—kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 ore

#Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1—5.817 (January 1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986), 10.596 (1985)

#Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

*Communications #Highways: 200 km

#Ports: Torshavn, Tvoroyri

#Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,249 GRT/11,887 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 2 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo; note—a subset of the Danish register

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

#Telecommunications: good international communications; fair domestic facilities; 27,900 telephones; stations—1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29 repeaters) TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables

*Defense Forces #Branches: no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force is maintained

Note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark % @Fiji *Geography Total area: 18,270 km2; land area: 18,270 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 1,129 km

#Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)

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

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

#Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin

#Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper; offshore oil potential

#Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures 3%; forest and woodland 65%; other 19%; includes irrigated NEGL%

#Environment: subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

#Note: located 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean

*People #Population: 744,006 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

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

#Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

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

#Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

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

#Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

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

#Ethnic divisions: Indian 49%, Fijian 46%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%

#Religion: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%; note—Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)

#Language: English (official); Fijian; Hindustani

#Literacy: 86% (male 90%, female 81%) age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.)

#Labor force: 235,000; subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)

#Organized labor: about 45,000 employees belong to some 46 trade unions, which are organized along lines of work and ethnic origin (1983)

*Government #Long-form name: Republic of Fiji

#Type: military coup leader Major General Sitiveni Rabuka formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

#Capital: Suva

#Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

#Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

#Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990

#Legal system: based on British system

#National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

#Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

#Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives, was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the Constitution of 23 September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 5 December 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Josefata KAMIKAMICA (since NA October 1991); note—Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA served as prime minister from 10 October 1970 until the 5-11 April 1987 election; after a second coup led by Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA on 25 September 1987, Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA was reappointed as prime minister

#Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party (primarily Fijian), leader NA; National Federation (primarily Indian), Siddiq KOYA; Western United Front (Fijian), Ratu Osea GAVIDI; Fiji Labor Party, Adi Kuini BAVADRA

#Suffrage: none

#Elections:

House of Representatives—last held 14 May 1987 (next to be held July 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnic Indians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) number of seats by party NA

#Communists: some

#Member of: ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

#Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires Ratu Finau MARA; Chancery at Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 337-8320; there is a Fijian Consulate in New York;

US—Ambassador Evelyn I. H. TEEGEN; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street, Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva); telephone [679] 314-466 or 314-069

#Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

*Economy #Overview: Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports are a major source of foreign exchange and sugar processing accounts for one-third of industrial output. Industry, including sugar milling, contributes 13% to GDP. Fiji traditionally had earned considerable sums of hard currency from the 250,000 tourists who visited each year. In 1987, however, after two military coups, the economy went into decline. GDP dropped by 7.8% in 1987 and by another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainty created a drop in tourism, and the worst drought of the century caused sugar production to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar and tourism turned in strong performances in 1989, and the economy rebounded vigorously. In 1990 the economy received a setback from cyclone Sina which cut sugar output by an estimated 21%.

#GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $1,693; real growth rate 3.5% (1991 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1991 est.)

#Unemployment rate: 5.9 (1991 est.)

#Budget: revenues $314 million; expenditures $355 million, including capital expenditures of $81 million (1990 est.)

#Exports: $646 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.);

commodities—sugar 40%, gold, clothing, copra, processed fish, lumber;

partners—EC 31%, Australia 21%, Japan 8%, US 6%

#Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.);

commodities—machinery and transport 32%, food 15%, petroleum products, consumer goods, chemicals;

partners—Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%

#External debt: $428 million (December 1990 est.)

#Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP

#Electricity: 215,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 430 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, fishing, clothing, lumber, small cottage industries

#Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats

#Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-87), $732 million

#Currency: Fijian dollar (plural—dollars); 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents

#Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1—1.4476 (January 1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988), 1.2439 (1987), 1.1329 (1986), 1.1536 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Railroads: 644 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, belonging to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation

#Highways: 3,300 km total (1984)—390 km paved; 1,200 km bituminous-surface treatment; 1,290 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface; 420 unimproved earth

#Inland waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges

#Ports: Lambasa, Lautoka, Savusavu, Suva

#Merchant marine: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,214 GRT/37,161 DWT; includes 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 container, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker

#Civil air: 1 DC-3 and 1 light aircraft

#Airports: 26 total, 24 usable; 2 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: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio center; important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada and New Zealand-Australia; 53,228 telephones; stations—7 AM, 1 FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Defense Forces #Branches: Fiji Military Force (FMF; Army, Navy, Police)

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 190,120; 104,861 fit for military service; 7,879 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $25.8 million, 2.5% of GDP (1988) % @Finland *Geography Total area: 337,030 km2; land area: 305,470 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

#Land boundaries: 2,628 km total; Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, USSR 1,313 km

#Coastline: 1,126 km excluding islands and coastal indentations

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 6 nm;

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

Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

#Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

#Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

#Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

#Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 76%; other 16%; includes irrigated NEGL%

#Environment: permanently wet ground covers about 30% of land; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

#Note: long boundary with USSR; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent

*People #Population: 4,991,131 (July 1991), growth rate 0.3% (1991)

#Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

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

#Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 80 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Finn(s); adjective—Finnish

#Ethnic divisions: Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar

#Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%

#Language: Finnish 93.5%, Swedish (both official) 6.3%; small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

#Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

#Labor force: 2,470,000; services 38.2%, mining and manufacturing 22.7%, commerce 14.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, construction 8.0%, transportation and communications 7.2% (1989)

#Organized labor: 80% of labor force

*Government #Long-form name: Republic of Finland

#Type: republic

#Capital: Helsinki

#Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit, singular—laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

#Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)

#Constitution: 17 July 1919

#Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

#National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

#Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of State (Valtioneuvosto)

#Legislative branch: unicameral Eduskunta

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President Mauno KOIVISTO (since 27 January 1982);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Ilkka KANERVA (since 26 April 1991)

#Political parties and leaders:

government coalition—Center Party, Esko AHO; National Coalition (Conservative) Party, Ilkka SUOMINEN; and Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole NORRBACK;

other parties—Social Democratic Party, Pertti PAASIO; Leftist Alliance (Communist) consisting of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative, Claes ANDERSSON; Green League, Heidi HAUTALA; Rural Party, Heikki RIIHIJAERVI; Finnish Christian League, Esko ALMGREN; Liberal People's Party, Kyosti LALLUKKA

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

President—last held 31 January-1 February and 15 February 1988 (next to be held January 1994); results—Mauno KOIVISTO 48%, Paavo VAYRYNEN 20%, Harri HOLKERI 18%;

Eduskunta—last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results—Center Party 24.8%, Social Democratic Party 22.1%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 19.3%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.1%, Green League 6.8%, Swedish People's Party 5.5%, Rural 4.8%, Finnish Christian League 3.1%, Liberal People's Party 0.8%; seats—(200 total) Center Party 55, Social Democratic Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 40, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 19, Swedish People's Party 12, Green League 10, Finnish Christian League 8, Rural 7, Liberal People's Party 1

#Communists: 28,000 registered members; an additional 45,000 persons belong to People's Democratic League

#Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Esko-Juhani TENNILA; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI

#Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI; Chancery at 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington DC 20016; telephone (202) 363-2430; there are Finnish Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York, and Consulates in Chicago and Houston;

US—Ambassador John G. WEINMANN; Embassy at Itainen Puistotie 14A, SF-00140, Helsinki (mailing address is APO New York 09664); telephone [358] (0) 171931

#Flag: white with a blue cross 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: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market economy, with per capita output nearly three-fourths the US figure. Its main economic force is the manufacturing sector—principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imported raw materials, energy, and some components of manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic commodities. The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989, leveled off in 1990 and is now in a recession facing negative growth in 1991. The clearing account system between Finland and the Soviet Union in the postwar period—mainly Soviet oil and gas for Finnish manufactured goods—had kept Finland isolated from world recessions; the system, however, was dismantled on 1 January 1991 in favor of hard currency trade. As a result, Finland must increase its competitiveness in certain sectors, for example, textiles, foodstuffs, paper, and metals, and has already begun to shift trade westward. Finland, as a member of EFTA, is negotiating a European Economic Area arrangement with the EC which would allow for free movement of capital, goods, services, and labor within the organization.

#GDP: $77.3 billion, per capita $15,500; real growth rate - 0.1% (1990)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.0% (1991 est.)

#Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1991 est.)

#Budget: revenues $35.1 billion; expenditures $33.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.4 billion (1990)

#Exports: $23.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities—timber, paper and pulp, ships, machinery, clothing and footwear;

partners—EC 44.0% (UK 12.0%, FRG 10.8%), USSR 14.5%, Sweden 14.3%, US 6.4%

#Imports: $24.4 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities—foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains;

partners—EC 44.5% (FRG 17.3%, UK 6.6%), Sweden 13.6%, USSR 11.5%, US 6.3%

#External debt: $5.3 billion (1989)

#Industrial production: growth rate - 3.0% (1991 est.); accounts for 28% of GDP

#Electricity: 13,324,000 kW capacity; 49,330 million kWh produced, 9,940 kWh per capita (1989)

#Industries: metal manufacturing and shipbuilding, forestry and wood processing (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

#Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GNP (including forestry); livestock production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; forestry is an important export earner and a secondary occupation for the rural population; main crops—cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85% self-sufficient, but short of food and fodder grains; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons

#Economic aid: donor—ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7 billion

#Currency: markka (plural—markkaa); 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia

#Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1—3.6421 (January 1991), 3.8235 (1990), 4.2912 (1989), 4.1828 (1988), 4.3956 (1987), 5.0695 (1986), 6.1979 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Railroads: 5,924 km total; Finnish State Railways (VR) operate a total of 5,863 km 1.524-meter gauge, of which 480 km are multiple track and 1,445 km are electrified

#Highways: about 103,000 km total, including 35,000 km paved (bituminous, concrete, bituminous-treated surface) and 38,000 km unpaved (stabilized gravel, gravel, earth); additional 30,000 km of private (state-subsidized) roads

#Inland waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers

#Pipelines: natural gas, 580 km

#Ports: Helsinki, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku; 6 secondary, numerous minor ports

#Merchant marine: 83 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 807,020 GRT/831,774 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 10 short-sea passenger, 16 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 23 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 14 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 8 bulk

#Civil air: 42 major transport

#Airports: 160 total, 157 usable; 57 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 23 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: good service from cable and radio relay network; 3,140,000 telephones; stations—4 AM, 42 (101 relays) FM, 79 (197 relays) TV; 2 submarine cables; satellite service via Swedish earth stations; earth stations—2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

*Defense Forces #Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Sea Guard)

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,313,346; 1,089,217 fit for military service; 32,866 reach military age (17) annually

Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 1.5% of GDP (1989 est.) % @France *Geography Total area: 547,030 km2; land area: 545,630 km2; includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions

#Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Colorado

#Land boundaries: 2,892.4 km total; Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km

#Coastline: 3,427 km (includes Corsica, 644 km)

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 12-24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Canada (Saint Pierre and Miquelon); Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land)

#Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean

#Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east

#Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash

#Land use: arable land 32%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 23%; forest and woodland 27%; other 16%; includes irrigated 2%

#Environment: most of large urban areas and industrial centers in Rhone, Garonne, Seine, or Loire River basins; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral

#Note: largest West European nation

*People #Population: 56,595,587 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)

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

#Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

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

#Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 82 years female (1991)

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

#Nationality: noun—Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women); adjective—French

#Ethnic divisions: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities

#Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%

#Language: French (100% of population); rapidly declining regional dialects (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)

#Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

#Labor force: 24,170,000; services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.3% (1987)

#Organized labor: 20% of labor force (est.)

*Government #Long-form name: French Republic

#Type: republic

#Capital: Paris

#Administrative divisions: metropolitan France—22 regions (regions, singular—region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes;

note—the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

#Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna; note—the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

#Independence: unified by Clovis in 486, First Republic proclaimed in 1792

#Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962

#Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts

#National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

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

#Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

#Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Edith CRESSON (since 15 May 1991)

#Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR, formerly UDR), Jacques CHIRAC; Union for French Democracy (UDF, federation of PR, CDS, and RAD), Valery Giscard d'ESTAING; Republican Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET; Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre MEHAIGNERIE; Radical (RAD), Yves GALLARD; Socialist Party (PS), Pierre MAUROY; Left Radical Movement (MRG), Yves COLLIN; Communist Party (PCF), Georges MARCHAIS; National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

President—last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held May 1995); results—Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%;

Senate—last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(321 total; 296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 93, UDF 143 (PR 53, CDS 65, RAD 25), PS 64, PCF 16, independents 2, unknown 3;

National Assembly—last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results—Second Ballot PS-MRG 48.7%, RPR 23.1%, UDF 21%, PCF 3.4%, other 3.8%; seats—(577 total) PS 275, RPR 132, UDF 90, UDC 40, PCF 25, independents 15

#Communists: 700,000 claimed but probably closer to 150,000; Communist voters, 2.8 million in 1988 election

#Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members est.; independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais—CNPF or Patronat)

#Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, GATT, G-5, G-7, G-10, IABD, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI; Chancery at 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington DC 20007; telephone (202) 944-6000; there are French Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico);

US—Ambassador Walter J. P. CURLEY; Embassy at 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 (mailing address is APO New York 09777); telephone [33] (1) 42-96-12-02 or 42-61-80-75; there are US Consulates General in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg

#Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Ivory Coast, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas

*Economy #Overview: One of the world's most developed economies, France has substantial agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. France is largely self-sufficient in agricultural products and is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. After sluggish growth during the period 1982-87, the economy expanded at a rapid 3.8% pace in 1988-89. The economy slowed down in 1990, with growth of 2.0% expected in 1991. The economy has had difficulty generating enough jobs for new entrants into the labor force, resulting in a high unemployment rate, which probably will rise to around 10% during the slowdown. The steadily advancing economic integration within the European Community is a major force affecting the fortunes of the various economic sectors.

#GDP: $873.5 billion, per capita $15,500; real growth rate 2.8% (1990)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990 est.)

#Unemployment rate: 9% (1990)

#Budget: revenues $207.6 billion; expenditures $224.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $34 billion (1990 est.)

#Exports: $181.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities—machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing;

partners—FRG 16%, Italy 12.1%, UK 9.5%, Spain 9.5%, Netherlands 9.2%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.9%, US 6.6%, Japan 1.9%, USSR 1.0% (1989 est.)

#Imports: $201.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities—crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products;

partners—FRG 19.4%, Italy 11.6%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.2%, Netherlands 8.6%, US 7.6%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7.1%, Japan 4.1%, USSR 1.4% (1989 est.)

#External debt: $59.3 billion (December 1987)

#Industrial production: growth rate 3.7% (1989); accounts for 26% of GDP

#Electricity: 109,972,000 kW capacity; 403,570 million kWh produced, 7,210 kWh per capita (1989)

#Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, and tourism

#Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GNP (including fishing and forestry); one of the world's top five wheat producers; other principal products—beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically

#Economic aid: donor—ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion

#Currency: French franc (plural—francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

#Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.8 (May 1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Railroads: French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,568 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; 11,674 km electrified, 15,132 km double or multiple track; 2,138 km of various gauges (1.000-meter to 1.440-meter), privately owned and operated

#Highways: 1,551,400 km total; 33,400 km national highway; 347,000 km departmental highway; 421,000 km community roads; 750,000 km rural roads; 5,401 km of controlled-access divided autoroutes; about 803,000 km paved

#Inland waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled

#Pipelines: crude oil, 3,059 km; refined products, 4,487 km; natural gas, 24,746 km

#Ports: maritime—Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque, Fos-Sur-Mer, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, Sete, Toulon; inland—42

#Merchant marine: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,141,276 GRT/5,006,695 DWT; includes 8 short-sea passenger, 15 cargo, 18 container, 2 multifunction large-load carrier, 29 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 34 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 8 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 11 bulk; note—France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and French Polynesia

#Civil air: 195 (1989 est.)

#Airports: 470 total, 460 usable; 246 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways over 3,659 m; 34 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 136 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: highly developed system provides satisfactory telephone, telegraph, radio and TV broadcast services; 39,200,000 telephones; stations—40 AM, 138 (777 relays) FM, 216 (8,902 relays) TV; 25 submarine coaxial cables; communication satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT, 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, EUTELSAT, MARISAT, and domestic systems

*Defense Forces #Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National Gendarmerie

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,366,492; 12,077,706 fit for military service; 395,128 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures: $29.7 billion, 3.6% of GDP (1990) % @French Guiana (overseas department of France) *Geography Total area: 91,000 km2; land area: 89,150 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

#Land boundaries: 1,183 km total; Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

#Coastline: 378 km

#Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)

#Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation

#Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains

#Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish

#Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 82%; other 18%

#Environment: mostly an unsettled wilderness

*People #Population: 101,603 (July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

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

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

#Net migration rate: 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

#Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—French Guianese (sing., pl.); adjective—French Guiana

#Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%; Caucasian 12%; East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%; other 10%

#Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic

#Language: French

#Literacy: 82% (male 81%, female 83%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982)

#Labor force: 23,265; services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)

#Organized labor: 7% of labor force

*Government #Long-form name: Department of Guiana

#Type: overseas department of France

#Capital: Cayenne

#Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

#Independence: none (overseas department of France)

#Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

#Legal system: French legal system

#National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

#Executive branch: French president, commissioner of the republic

#Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Council

#Judicial branch: highest local court is the Court of Appeals based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);

Head of Government—Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Francois DI CHIARA (since NA 1990)

#Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Gerard HOLDER; Rally for the Republic (RPR), Paulin BRUNE; Guyanese Democratic Action (ADG), Andre Lecante; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Claude Ho A CHUCK; National Front (FN), Guy MALON; Popular and National Party of Guiana (PNPG), Claude ROBO; National Anti-Colonist Guianese Party (PANGA), Michel KAPEL

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

Regional Council—last held 16 March 1986 (next to be held NA 1991); results—PSG 43%, RPR 27.7%, ADG 12.2%, UDF 8.9%, FN 3.7%, PNPG 1.4%, other 3.1%; seats—(31 total) PSG 15, RPR 9, ADG 4, UDF 3;

French Senate—last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(1 total) PSG 1;

French National Assembly—last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1

#Communists: Communist party membership negligible

#Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU

#Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France the interests of French Guiana are represented in the US by France

#Flag: the flag of France is used

*Economy #Overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1987. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops—rice, cassava, bananas, and sugarcane—are limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.

#GDP: $186 million, per capita $2,240; real growth rate NA% (1985)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1987)

#Unemployment rate: 15% (1987)

#Budget: revenues $735 million; expenditures $735 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1987)

#Exports: $54.0 million (f.o.b., 1987);

commodities—shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence;

partners—France 31%, US 22%, Japan 10% (1987)

#Imports: $394.0 million (c.i.f., 1987);

commodities—food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods, producer goods, petroleum;

partners—France 62%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, US 4%, FRG 3% (1987)

#External debt: $1.2 billion (1988)

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%

#Electricity: 92,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 1,890 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining

#Agriculture: some vegetables for local consumption; rice, corn, manioc, cocoa, bananas, sugar; livestock—cattle, pigs, poultry

#Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.25 billion

#Currency: French franc (plural—francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

#Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.1307 (January 1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Highways: 680 km total; 510 km paved, 170 km improved and unimproved earth

#Inland waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km possibly navigable by native craft

#Ports: Cayenne

#Civil air: no major transport aircraft

#Airports: 10 total, 10 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: fair open wire and radio relay system; 18,100 telephones; stations—5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Defense Forces #Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

#Manpower availability: males 15-49 28,650; 18,903 fit for military service

Note: defense is the responsibility of France % @French Polynesia (overseas territory of France) *Geography Total area: 3,941 km2; land area: 3,660 km2

#Comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 2,525 km

#Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Climate: tropical, but moderate

#Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

#Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt

#Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 19%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 31%; other 44%

#Environment: occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five archipelagoes

#Note: Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean—the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

*People #Population: 195,046 (July 1991), growth rate 2.5% (1991)

#Birth rate: 31 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: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—French Polynesian(s); adjective—French Polynesian

#Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%

#Religion: mainly Christian; Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%

#Language: French (official), Tahitian

#Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 14 and over but definition of literacy not available (1977)

#Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988)

#Organized labor: NA

*Government #Long-form name: Territory of French Polynesia

#Type: overseas territory of France since 1946

#Capital: Papeete

#Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent; note—Clipperton Island is administered from French Polynesia and may have become a dependency of French Polynesia

#Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

#Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

#Legal system: based on French system

#National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

#Executive branch: French president, high commissioner of the republic, president of the Council of Ministers, vice president of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers

#Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly

#Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT (since NA November 1987);

Head of Government—President of the Council of Ministers Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991); Vice President of the Council of Ministers NA

#Political parties and leaders: People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU; other small parties

#Suffrage: universal at age 18

#Elections:

Territorial Assembly—last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian Union Party 14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4;

French Senate—last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(1 total) party NA;

French National Assembly last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(2 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 1, New Fatherland Party 1

#Member of: FZ, SPC, WMO

#Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France, French Polynesian interests are represented in the US by France

#Flag: the flag of France is used

*Economy #Overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.

#GDP: $1.2 billion, per capita $6,300; real growth rate NA% (1990 est.)

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

#Unemployment rate: 8% (1986 est.)

#Budget: revenues $614 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

#Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities—coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat;

partners—France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%

#Imports: $806 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities—fuels, foodstuffs, equipment;

partners—France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%

#External debt: $NA

#Industrial production: growth rate NA%

#Electricity: 72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 1,390 kWh per capita (1990)

#Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

#Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit; poultry, beef, dairy products

#Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $3.95 billion

#Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural—francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

#Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1—93.28 (January 1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note—linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Highways: 600 km (1982)

#Ports: Papeete, Bora-bora

#Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,128 GRT/6,710 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 1 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo; note—a captive subset of the French register

#Civil air: about 6 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 43 total, 41 usable; 23 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: 33,200 telephones; 84,000 radio receivers; 26,400 TV sets; stations—5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Defense Forces #Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,844; NA fit for military service

Note: defense is responsibility of France % @French Southern and Antarctic Lands (overseas territory of France) *Geography Total area: 7,781 km2; land area: 7,781 km2; includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet; excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

#Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware

#Land boundaries: none

#Coastline: 1,232 km

#Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (Iles Kerguelen only);

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US

#Climate: antarctic

#Terrain: volcanic

#Natural resources: fish, crayfish

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

#Environment: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes

#Note: located in the southern Indian Ocean about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia

*People #Population: summer (January 1991)—180, winter (July 1991)—150, growth rate 0.0% (1991); note—mostly researchers

*Government #Long-form name: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

#Type: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since NA May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council

#Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

#Flag: the flag of France is used

*Economy #Overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fishing catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.

#Budget: $33.6 million (1990)

*Communications #Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

#Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,392 GRT/350,131 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 bulk; note—a captive subset of the French register

#Telecommunications: NA

*Defense Forces #Branches: French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force)

Note: defense is the responsibility of France % @Gabon *Geography Total area: 267,670 km2; land area: 257,670 km2

#Comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado

#Land boundaries: 2,551 km total; Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

#Coastline: 885 km

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 24 nm;

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

#Climate: tropical; always hot, humid

#Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

#Natural resources: crude oil, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore

#Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 18%; forest and woodland 78%; other 2%

#Environment: deforestation

*People #Population: 1,079,980 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

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

#Death rate: 14 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

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

#Infant mortality rate: 104 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 56 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: noun—Gabonese (sing., pl.); adjective—Gabonese

#Ethnic divisions: about 40 Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke); about 100,000 expatriate Africans and Europeans, including 27,000 French

#Religion: Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%, remainder animist

#Language: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

#Literacy: 61% (male 74%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

#Labor force: 120,000 salaried; agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government 2.5%; 58% of population of working age (1983)

#Organized labor: there are 38,000 members of the national trade union, the Gabonese Trade Union Confederation (COSYGA)

*Government #Long-form name: Gabonese Republic

#Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

#Capital: Libreville

#Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

#Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)

#Constitution: 21 February 1961, revised 15 April 1975

#Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

#National holiday: Renovation Day (Gabonese Democratic Party established), 12 March (1968)

#Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

#Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

#Leaders:

Chief of State—President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Casimir OYE-MBA (since 3 May 1990)

#Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), El Hadj Omar BONGO, president; National Recovery Movement-Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons); Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP); National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original); Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG); Gabonese Socialist Union (USG); Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP); Union for Democracy and Development (UDD)

#Suffrage: universal at age 21

#Elections:

President—last held on 9 November 1986 (next to be held November 1993); results—President Omar BONGO was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly—last held on 28 October 1990 (next to be held by February 1992); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(120 total, 111 elected) PDG 62, National Recovery Movement-Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons) 19, PGP 18, National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original) 7, ASPG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independent 3

#Communists: no organized party; probably some Communist sympathizers

#Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Alexandre SAMBAT; Chancery at 2034 20th Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 797-1000;

US—Ambassador Keith L. WAUCHOPE; Embassy at Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville (mailing address is B. P. 4000, Libreville); telephone 762003 or 762004, 743492

#Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

*Economy #Overview: The economy, dependent on timber and manganese until the early 1970s, is now dominated by the oil sector. During the period 1981-85 oil accounted for about 46% of GDP, 83% of export earnings, and 65% of government revenues on average. The high oil prices of the early 1980s contributed to a substantial increase in per capita income, stimulated domestic demand, reinforced migration from rural to urban areas, and raised the level of real wages to among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. The three-year slide of Gabon's economy, which began with falling oil prices in 1985, was reversed in 1989 because of a near doubling of oil prices over their 1988 lows. In 1990 the economy continued to grow, but debt servicing problems are hindering economic advancement. The agricultural and industrial sectors are relatively underdeveloped, except for oil.

#GDP: $3.3 billion, per capita $3,090; real growth rate 13% (1990 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1989 est.)

#Unemployment rate: NA%

#Budget: revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $277 million (1990 est.)

#Exports: $1.16 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities—crude oil 70%, manganese 11%, wood 12%, uranium 6%;

partners—France 53%, US 22%, FRG, Japan

#Imports: $0.78 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities—foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction materials, manufactures, machinery;

partners—France 48%, US 2.6%, FRG, Japan, UK

#External debt: $3.4 billion (December 1990 est.)

#Industrial production: growth rate - 10% (1988 est.)

#Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 980 million kWh produced, 920 kWh per capita (1989)

#Industries: petroleum, food and beverages, timber, cement plywood, textiles, mining—manganese, uranium, gold)

#Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); cash crops—cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock not developed; importer of food; small fishing operations provide a catch of about 20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is the most important timber product

#Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $66 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $1.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million

#Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural—francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

#Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—253.32 (December 1990), 171.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

#Fiscal year: calendar year

*Communications #Railroads: 649 km 1.437-meter standard-gauge single track (Transgabonese Railroad)

#Highways: 7,500 km total; 560 km paved, 960 km laterite, 5,980 km earth

#Inland waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable

#Pipelines: crude oil, 270 km; refined products, 14 km

#Ports: Owendo, Port-Gentil, Libreville

#Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,563 GRT/25,330 DWT

#Civil air: 11 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 73 total, 61 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

#Telecommunications: adequate system of open-wire, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations; 13,800 telephones; stations—6 AM, 6 FM, 8 TV; satellite earth stations—2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite

*Defense Forces #Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, paramilitary Gendarmerie, National Police

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 266,472; 133,648 fit for military service; 9,634 reach military age (20) annually

Defense expenditures: $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.) % @The Gambia *Geography Total area: 11,300 km2; land area: 10,000 km2

#Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

#Land boundary: 740 km with Senegal

#Coastline: 80 km

#Maritime claims:

Contiguous zone: 18 nm;

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

#Disputes: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

#Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

#Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

#Natural resources: fish

#Land use: arable land 16%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland 20%; other 55%; includes irrigated 3%

#Environment: deforestation

#Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

*People #Population: 874,553 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

#Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

#Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

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

#Infant mortality rate: 138 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 51 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

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

#Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%); non-Gambian 1%

#Religion: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

#Language: English (official); Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

#Literacy: 27% (male 39%, female 16%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

#Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%; 55% population of working age (1983)

#Organized labor: 25-30% of wage labor force

*Government #Long-form name: Republic of The Gambia

#Type: republic

#Capital: Banjul

#Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western

#Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK); The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982) that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989

#Constitution: 24 April 1970

#Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

#National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

#Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

#Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives

#Judicial branch: Supreme Court

#Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government—President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Bakary Bunja DARBO (since 12 May 1982)

#Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party (GPP), Assan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP); People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS)

#Suffrage: universal at age 21

#Elections:

President—last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results—Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 13.7%;

House of Representatives—last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992); results—PPP 56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%; seats—(43 total, 36 elected) PPP 31, NCP 5

#Communists: no Communist party

#Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

#Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH; Chancery at Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005; telephone (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359;

US—Ambassador Arlene RENDER; Embassy at Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul); telephone Serrekunda [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971

#Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

*Economy #Overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of about $230. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contributes 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity—processing peanuts, fish, and hides—accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).

#GDP: $195 million, per capita $230; real growth rate 6.0% (FY90 est.)

#Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.0% (FY91)

#Unemployment rate: NA%

#Budget: revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90)

#Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities—peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels;

partners—Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1% other 5% (1989)

#Imports: $147 million (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities—foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment;

partners—Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)

#External debt: $336 million (December 1990 est.)

#Industrial production: growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)

#Electricity: 29,000 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1989)

#Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

#Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; the principal crops—millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock—cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited

#Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $492 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $39 million

#Currency: dalasi (plural—dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs

#Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1—7.610 (January 1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987), 6.9380 (1986), 3.8939 (1985)

#Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

*Communications #Highways: 3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km unimproved earth

#Inland waterways: 400 km

#Ports: Banjul

#Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

#Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m

#Telecommunications: adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; stations—3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Defense Forces #Branches: Army, Navy, paramilitary Gendarmerie, National Police

#Manpower availability: males 15-49, 188,393; 95,133 fit for military service

Defense expenditures: $NA, 0.7% of GDP (1988) % @Gaza Strip Note: The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and reaffirmed by President Reagan's 1 September 1982 peace initiative, the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the view of the US, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the Jordan under Jordanian administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With respect to negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, however, it is US policy that a distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because of the city's special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the rest of the West Bank.

*Geography #Total area: 380km2; land area: 380 km2

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

#Land boundaries: 62 km total; Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

#Coastline: 40 km

#Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with status to be determined

#Disputes: Israeli occupied with status to be determined

#Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

#Terrain: flat to rolling, sand and dune covered coastal plain

#Natural resources: negligible

#Land use: arable land 13%, permanent crops 32%, meadows and pastures 0%, forest and woodland 0%, other 55%

#Environment: desertification

#Note: there are 18 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip

*People #Population: 642,253 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991); in addition, there are 2,500 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip (1990 est.)

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

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

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

#Infant mortality rate: 41 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

#Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 67 years female (1991)

#Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1991)

#Nationality: NA

#Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 99.8%, Jewish 0.2%

#Religion: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.3%

#Language: Arabic, Israeli settlers speak Hebrew, English widely understood

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

#Labor force: (excluding Israeli Jewish settlers) small industry, commerce and business 32.0%, construction 24.4%, service and other 25.5%, and agriculture 18.1% (1984)

#Organized labor: NA

*Government #Long-form name: none

#Note: The Gaza Strip is currently governed by Israeli military authorities and Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the final status of the Gaza Strip will be determined by negotiations among the concerned parties. These negotiations will determine how this area is to be governed.