*Jordan, Government

Leaders: Chief of State: King HUSSEIN Ibn Talal Al Hashemi (since 11 August 1952) Head of Government: Prime Minister Zayd bin SHAKIR (since 21 November 1991) Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNRWA, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Fayez A. TARAWNEH chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-2664 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger Gram HARRISON embassy: Jebel Amman, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO AE 09892 telephone: [962] (6) 644-371 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran

*Jordan, Economy

Overview: Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual GNP growth averaged more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports - mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food - have been outstripping exports, with the difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling negotiations and agreed to implement an IMF program designed to gradually reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed structural reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990, however, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states and worker remittances have plunged, and refugees have flooded the country, straining government resources. Economic recovery is unlikely without substantial foreign aid, debt relief, and economic reform. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.6 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 3% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $1,100 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 40% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $1.3 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.) Exports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures partners: India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, UAE, China Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods partners: EC countries, US, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey External debt: $9 billion (December 1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity: 1,030,000 kW capacity; 3,814 million kWh produced, 1,070 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing Agriculture: accounts for about 7% of GDP; principal products are wheat, barley, citrus fruit, tomatoes, melons, olives; livestock - sheep, goats, poultry; large net importer of food

*Jordan, Economy

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $44 million Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.6890 (January 1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Jordan, Communications

Railroads: 789 km 1.050-meter gauge, single track Highways: 7,500 km; 5,500 km asphalt, 2,000 km gravel and crushed stone Pipelines: crude oil 209 km Ports: Al 'Aqabah Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 60,378 GRT/113,557 DWT; includes 1 cargo and 1 oil tanker Airports: total: 19 usable: 15 with permanent-surface runways: 14 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: adequate telephone system of microwave, cable, and radio links; 81,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 8 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 domestic TV receive-only; coaxial cable and microwave to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria; microwave link to Lebanon is inactive; participant in MEDARABTEL, a microwave radio relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco

*Jordan, Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Royal Naval Force, Public Security Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 936,213; fit for military service 664,095; reach military age (18) annually 42,093 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $434.8 million, 7.9% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Juan de Nova Island, Header

Affiliation: (possession of France)

*Juan de Nova Island, Geography

Location: Southern Africa, in the central Mozambique Channel about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique Map references: Africa Area: total area: 4.4 km2 land area: 4.4 km2 comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 24.1 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claimed by Madagascar Climate: tropical Terrain: NA Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 90% other: 10% Irrigated land: 0 km2 Environment: subject to periodic cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

*Juan de Nova Island, People

Population: uninhibited

*Juan de Nova Island, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova Digraph: JU Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion Independence: none (possession of France)

*Juan de Nova Island, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

*Juan de Nova Island, Communications

Railroads: short line going to a jetty Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permament-surface runways: 0 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,439-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

*Juan de Nova Island, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

*Kazakhstan, Geography

Location: South Asia, between Russia and Uzbekistan, bordering on the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea Map references: Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,717,300 km2 land area: 2,669,800 km2 comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Texas Land boundaries: total 12,012 km, China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km Coastline: 0 km note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km) Maritime claims: landlocked, but boundaries with Uzbekistan in the Sea of Azov and with Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea are yet to be determined International disputes: none Climate: continental, arid and semiarid Terrain: extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oasis and desert in Central Asia Natural resources: petroleum, coal, iron, manganese, chrome, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium, iron Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 57% forest and woodland: 4% other: 24% Irrigated land: 23,080 km2 (1990) Environment: drying up of Aral Sea is causing increased concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; industrial pollution Note: landlocked

*Kazakhstan, People

Population: 17,156,370 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.65% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 19.55 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 7.95 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -5.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.83 years male: 63.17 years female: 72.73 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani Ethnic divisions: Kazakh (Qazaq) 41.9%, Russian 37%, Ukrainian 5.2%, German 4.7%, Uzbek 2.1%, Tatar 2%, other 7.1% Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 15%, Protestant 2%, other 36% Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq; official language), Russian (language of interethnic communication) Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 7.563 million by occupation: industry and construction 32%, agriculture and forestry 23%, other 45% (1990)

*Kazakhstan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Kazakhstan Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: KZ Type: republic Capital: Almaty (Alma-Ata) Administrative divisions: 19 oblasts (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 1 city (qalalar, singular - qala)*; Almaty*, Almaty, Aqmola, Aqtobe, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan, Kokshetau,, Mangghystau, Ongtustik Qazaqstan, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Pavlodar, Semey, Shyghys Qazaqstan, Soltustik Qazaqstan, Taldyqorghan, Torghay, Zhambyl, Zhezqazghan, Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Constitution: adopted 18 January 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December Political parties and leaders: Peoples Congress, Olzhas SULEYMENOV and Mukhtar SHAKHANOV, co-chairmen; Kazakh Socialist Party (former Communist Party), Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, chairman; December (Zheltoksan) Movement, Khasan KOZHAKMETOV, chairman; Freedom (AZAT) Party, Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman Other political or pressure groups: Independent Trade Union Center (Birlesu; an association of independent trade union and business associations), Leonid SOLOMIN, president Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); percent of vote by party NA; Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed Supreme Council: last held NA April 1990 (next to be held NA December 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (358 total) Socialist Party 338 Executive branch: president, cabinet of ministers, prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Soviet Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (sinceNA April 1990); Vice President Yerik ASANBAYEV (since 1 December 1991)

*Kazakhstan, Government

Head of Government: Prime Minister Sergey TERESHENKO (since 14 October 1991); First Deputy Prime Minister Davlat SEMBAYEV (since NA November 1990); Supreme Council Chairman Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN (since NA July 1991) Member of: CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, IBRD, IDA, IMF, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alim S. DJAMBOURCHINE chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 333-4504 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY embassy: Furumanova 99/97, Almaty mailing address: US Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-7030 telephone: (3272) 63-24-26 Flag: sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow

*Kazakhstan, Economy

Overview: The second-largest in area of the 15 former Soviet republics, Kazakhstan has vast oil, coal, and agricultural resources. Kazakhstan is highly dependent on trade with Russia, exchanging its natural resources for finished consumer and industrial goods. Kazakhstan now finds itself with serious pollution problems, backward technology, and little experience in foreign markets. The government in 1992 continued to push privatization of the economy and freed many prices. Output in 1992 dropped because of problems common to the ex-Soviet Central Asian republics, especially the cumulative effects of the disruption of old supply channels and the slow process of creating new economic institutions. Kazakhstan lacks the funds, technology, and managerial skills for a quick recovery of output. US firms have been enlisted to increase oil output but face formidable obstacles; for example, oil can now reach Western markets only through pipelines that run across independent former Soviet republics. Finally, the end of monolithic Communist control has brought ethnic grievances into the open. The 6 million Russians in the republic, formerly the favored class, now face the hostility of a society dominated by Muslims. Ethnic rivalry will be just one of the formidable obstacles to the prioritization of national objectives and the creation of a productive, technologically advancing society. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: -15% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28% per month (first quarter 1993) Unemployment rate: 0.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $1.76 billion (1991) Exports: $1.5 billion to outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992) commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain, wool, meat (1991) partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Imports: $500 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992) commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials partners: Russia and other former Soviet republics, China External debt: $2.6 billion (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -15% (1992 est.); accounts for 30% of net material product Electricity: 19,135,000 kW capacity; 81,300 million kWh produced, 4,739 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: extractive industries (oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur), iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials

*Kazakhstan, Economy

Agriculture: accounts for almost 40% of net material product; employs about 25% of the labor force; grain, mostly spring wheat; meat, cotton, wool Illicit drugs: illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: recipient of limited foreign aid (1992) Currency: retaining Russian ruble as currency (May 1993) Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations Fiscal year: calendar year

*Kazakhstan, Communications

Railroads: 14,460 km (all 1.520-meter gauge); does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 189,000 km total; 108,100 km hard surfaced (paved or gravel), 80,900 km earth (1990) Inland waterways: Syr Darya Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km, refined products 1,500 km, natural gas 3,480 km (1992) Ports: inland - Atyrau (Guryev; on Caspian Sea) Airports: total: 365 useable: 152 with permanent-surface runways: 49 with runways over 3,659 m: 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 38 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 71 Telecommunications: telephone service is poor, with only about 6 telephones for each 100 persons; of the approximately 1 million telephones, Almaty (Alma-Ata) has 184,000; international traffic with other former USSR republics and China carried by landline and microwave, and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - INTELSAT and Orbita (TV receive only); new satellite ground station established at Almaty with Turkish financial help (December 1992) with 2500 channel band width

*Kazakhstan, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,349,509; fit for military service 3,499,718; reach military age (18) annually 154,727 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: 69,326 million rubles, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

*Kenya, Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern India Ocean between Tanzania and Somalia Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 582,650 km2 land area: 569,250 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada Land boundaries: total 3,446 km, Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km Coastline: 536 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 4% other: 85% Irrigated land: 520 km2 (1989) Environment: unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; glaciers on Mt. Kenya Note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa

*Kenya, People

Population: 27,372,266 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.18% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 43.18 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 11.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 74.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.07 years male: 52.27 years female: 55.92 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.06 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan Ethnic divisions: Kikuyu 21%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 11%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 28%, Protestant (including Anglican) 26%, indigenous beliefs 18%, Muslim 6% Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 69% male: 80% female: 58% Labor force: 9.2 million (includes unemployed); the total employed is 1,370,000 (14.8% of the labor force) by occupation: services 54.8%, industry 26.2%, agriculture 19.0% (1989)

*Kenya, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya former: British East Africa Digraph: KE Type: republic Capital: Nairobi Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK) Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1992 Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991 National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963) Political parties and leaders: ruling party is Kenya African National Union (KANU), Daniel T. arap MOI, president; opposition parties include Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD-Kenya), Oginga ODINGA; FORD-Asili, Kenneth MATIBA; Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), Mwai KIBAKI; Kenya National Congress (KNC), Titus MBATHI; Kenya Social Congress (KSC), George ANYONA; Kenya National Democratic Alliance (KENYA), Mukara NG'ANG'A; Party for Independent Candidates of Kenya (PKK), Otieno OTOERA Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; exile opposition - Mwakenya and other groups Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held on 29 December 1992; results - President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37% of the vote; Kenneth Matiba (FORD-ASILI) 26%; Mwai Kibaki (SP) 19%, Oginga Odinga (FORD-Kenya) 17% National Assembly: last held on 29 December 1992; results - (188 total) KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge) Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

*Kenya, Government

Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Daniel Teroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989) Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denis Daudi AFANDE chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-6101 consulates general: Los Angeles and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Smith HEMPSTONE, Jr. embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Nairobi or APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (2) 334141 FAX: [254] (2) 340838 consulate: Mombasa Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

*Kenya, Economy

Overview: Kenya's 3.6% annual population growth rate - one of the highest in the world - presents a serious problem for the country's economy. In the meantime, GDP growth in the near term has kept slightly ahead of population - annually averaging 4.9% in the 1986-90 period. Undependable weather conditions and a shortage of arable land hamper long-term growth in agriculture, the leading economic sector. In 1991, deficient rainfall, stagnant export volume, and sagging export prices held economic growth below the all-important population growth figure, and in 1992 output fell. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8.3 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: -1% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $320 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $2.4 billion; expenditures $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.74 billion (FY90) Exports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990) partners: EC 44%, Africa 25%, Asia 5%, US 5%, Middle East 4% (1990) Imports: $2.05 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 29%, petroleum and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989) partners: EC 45%, Asia 11%, Middle East 12%, US 5% (1988) External debt: $7 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1989 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP Electricity: 730,000 kW capacity; 2,540 million kWh produced, 100 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing, oil refining, cement, tourism Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and 65% of exports; cash crops - coffee, tea, sisal, pineapple; food products - corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs; food output not keeping pace with population growth, and crop production has been extended into marginal land Illicit drugs: widespread wild, small-plot cultivation of marijuana and gat; most locally consumed; transit country for Southwest Asian heroin moving to West Africa and onward to Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa

*Kenya, Economy

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $839 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7,490 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $83 million Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 -36.227 (January 1993), 32.217 (1992), 27.508 (1991), 22.915 (1990), 20.572 (1989), 17.747 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Kenya, Communications

Railroads: 2,040 km 1.000-meter gauge Highways: 64,590 km total; 7,000 km paved, 4,150 km gravel, remainder improved earth Inland waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km Ports: coastal - Mombasa, Lamu; inland - Kisumu Merchant marine: 1 oil tanker ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,727 GRT/5,558 DWT Airports: total: 247 usable: 208 with permanent-surface runways: 18 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 43 Telecommunications: in top group of African systems; consists primarily of radio relay links; over 260,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 16 AM; 4 FM, 6 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

*Kenya, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,912,744; fit for military service 3,654,738 (1993 est.); no conscription Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $294 million, 4.9% of GDP (FY88/89 est.)

*Kingman Reef, Header

Affiliation: (territory of the US)

*Kingman Reef, Geography

Location: in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 1 km2 land area: 1 km2 comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 3 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds Terrain: low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about 1 meter Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 km2 Environment: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; wet or awash most of the time Note: maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes this a navigational hazard; closed to the public

*Kingman Reef, People

Population: uninhabited

*Kingman Reef, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef Digraph: KQ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

*Kingman Reef, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

*Kingman Reef, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

*Kingman Reef, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

*Kiribati, Geography

Location: Oceania, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 717 km2 land area: 717 km2 comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,143 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979) Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 51% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 3% other: 46% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited Note: Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia and Nauru

*Kiribati, People

Population: 76,320 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.03% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 32.03 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 12.31 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 98.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.16 years male: 52.56 years female: 55.78 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.82 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati Ethnic divisions: Micronesian Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985) Languages: English (official), Gilbertese Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

*Kiribati, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati former: Gilbert Islands Digraph: KR Type: republic Capital: Tarawa Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands note: a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK) Constitution: 12 July 1979 Legal system: NA National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979) Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaba Party, Roniti TEIWAKI note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28% House of Assembly: last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA Executive branch: president (Beretitenti), vice president (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti), Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu) Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991)

*Kiribati, Government

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant) US diplomatic representation: the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

*Kiribati, Economy

Overview: The country has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1% in both 1989 and 1990. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $36.8 million (1990 est.) National product real growth rate: 1% (1990 est.) National product per capita: $525 (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $29.9 million; expenditures $16.3 million, including capital expenditures of $14.0 million (1990 est.) Exports: $5.8 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: copra 18%, fish 17%, seaweed 13% partners: EC 50%, Fiji 22%, US 18% (1990) Imports: $26.7 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel partners: Australia 33%, Japan 24%, Fiji 19%, NZ 6%, US 6% (1990) External debt: $2 million (December 1989 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1988 est.); accounts for less than 4% of GDP Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 13 million kWh produced, 190 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: fishing, handicrafts Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP (including fishing); copra and fish contribute about 95% to exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops - taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $273 million Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988) Fiscal year: NA

*Kiribati, Communications

Highways: 640 km of motorable roads Inland waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands Ports: Banaba and Betio (Tarawa) Airports: total: 21 useable: 20 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m : 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: 1,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Kiribati, Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands); no military force is maintained Manpower availability: NA Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

*Korea, North, Geography

Location: Northeast Asia, between China and South Korea Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 120,540 km2 land area: 120,410 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi Land boundaries: total 1,673 km, China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km Coastline: 2,495 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned International disputes: short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 74% other: 7% Irrigated land: 14,000 km2 (1989) Environment: mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated; late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia

*Korea, North, People

Population: 22,645,811 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.86% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 24.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.51 years male: 66.42 years female: 72.75 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom Languages: Korean Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% Labor force: 9.615 million by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64% note: shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

*Korea, North, Government

Names: conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: none Abbreviation: DPRK Digraph: KN Type: Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship Capital: P'yongyang Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi,, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si*, (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do, (Yanggang Province) Independence: 9 September 1948 note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948) Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary, and his son, KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Yong-ho, vice-chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, CHONG Sin-hyok, chairman Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA 1994); results - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition Supreme People's Assembly: last held on 7-9 April 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, premier, ten vice premiers, State Administration Council (cabinet)

*Korea, North, Government

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui) Judicial branch: Central Court Leaders: Chief of State: President KIM Il-song (national leader since 1948, president since 28 December 1972); designated successor KIM Chong-il (son of president, born 16 February 1942) Head of Government: Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992) Member of: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: none US diplomatic representation: none Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

*Korea, North, Economy

Overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a Communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song and his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2-3%, but output declined by 3-5% annually during 1989-92 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations with the former USSR and China. In 1992, output dropped sharply, by perhaps 10-15%, as the economy felt the cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support. The leadership insisted in maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since WWII. Output of the extractive industries includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Five consecutive years of poor harvests, coupled with distribution problems, have led to chronic food shortages. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $22 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: -10% to -15% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $1,000 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $18.5 billion; expenditures $18.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments) partners: China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico Imports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods partners: China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore External debt: $8 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -15% (1992 est.) Electricity: 7,300,000 kW capacity; 26,000 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita (1992)

*Korea, North, Economy

Industries: machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GNP and 36% of work force; principal crops - rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock and livestock products - cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient in grain; fish catch estimated at 1.7 million metric tons in 1987 Economic aid: Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989), 2.13 (December 1988), 0.94 (March 1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Korea, North, Communications

Railroads: 4,915 km total; 4,250 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge; 159 km double track; 3,084 km electrified; government owned (1989) Highways: about 30,000 km (1991); 92.5% gravel, crushed stone, or earth surface; 7.5% paved Inland waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only Pipelines: crude oil 37 km Ports: primary - Ch'ongjin, Hungnam (Hamhung), Najin, Namp'o, Wonsan; secondary - Haeju, Kimchaek, Kosong, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang Merchant marine: 80 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 675,666 GRT/1,057,815 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 67 cargo, 2 oil tanker, 5 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 container Airports: total: 55 usable : 55 (est.) with permanent-surface runways: about 30 with runways over 3,659 m: fewer than 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 30 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 300,000 TV sets (1989); 3,500,000 radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Korea, North, Defense Forces

Branches: Korean People's Army (including the Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,567,684; fit for military service 3,996,893; reach military age (18) annually 208,132 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20-25% of GNP (1991 est.); note - the officially announced but suspect figure is $1.9 billion (1991) 8% of GNP (1991 est.)

*Korea, South, Geography

Location: Northeast Asia, between North Korea and Japan Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 98,480 km2 land area: 98,190 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana Land boundaries: total 238 km, North Korea 238 km Coastline: 2,413 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait International disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 67% other: 10% Irrigated land: 13,530 km2 (1989) Environment: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; earthquakes in southwest; air pollution in large cities

*Korea, South, People

Population: 44,613,993 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.05% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 15.72 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.16 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 22.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.29 years male: 67.1 years female: 73.68 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Ethnic divisions: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) Religions: Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (Shamanism), Chondogyo (religion of the heavenly way) 0.2% Languages: Korean, English widely taught in high school Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 96% male: 99% female: 94% Labor force: 19 million by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)

*Korea, South, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: none Abbreviation: ROK Digraph: KS Type: republic Capital: Seoul Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6 special cities* (jikhalsi,, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do,, Kwangju-jikhalsi*,, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi*, Independence: 15 August 1948 Constitution: 25 February 1988 Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1948) Political parties and leaders: majority party: Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), KIM Young Sam, president opposition: Democratic Party (DP), LEE Ki Taek, executive chairman; United People's Party (UPP), CHUNG Ju Yung, chairman; several smaller parties note: the DLP resulted from a merger of the Democratic Justice Party (DJP), Reunification Democratic Party (RDP), and New Democratic Republican Party (NDRP) on 9 February 1990 Other political or pressure groups: Korean National Council of Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean Traders Association Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held on 18 December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - KIM Young Sam (DLP) 41.9%, KIM Dae Jung (DP) 33.8%, CHUNG Ju Yung (UPP) 16.3%, other 8%

*Korea, South, Government

National Assembly: last held on 24 March 1992; results - DLP 38.5%, DP 29.2%, Unification National Party (UNP) 17.3% (name later changed to UPP), other 15%; seats - (299 total) DLP 149, DP 97, UNP 31, other 22; the distribution of seats as of May 1993 was DLP 167, DP 95, UPP 14, other 23 note: the change in the distribution of seats reflects the fluidity of the current situation where party members are constantly switching from one party to another Executive branch: president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, State Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Kuk Hoe) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President KIM Young Sam (since 25 February 1993) Head of Government: Prime Minister HWANG In Sung (since 25 February 1993); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Kyung Shick (since 25 February 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister HAN Wan Sang (since 25 February 1993) Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, COCOM (cooperating country), CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Seung Soo chancery: 2370 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-5600 consulates general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant), Charge d'Affaires Raymond BURGHARDT embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul, AMEMB, Unit 15550 mailing address: APO AP 96205-0001 telephone: [82] (2) 732-2601 through 2618 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845 consulate: Pusan Flag: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

*Korea, South, Economy

Overview: The driving force behind the economy's dynamic growth has been the planned development of an export-oriented economy in a vigorously entrepreneurial society. Real GNP increased more than 10% annually between 1986 and 1991. This growth ultimately led to an overheated situation characterized by a tight labor market, strong inflationary pressures, and a rapidly rising current account deficit. As a result, in 1992, focusing attention on slowing the growth rate of inflation and reducing the deficit is leading to a slow-down in growth. The economy remains the envy of the great majority of the world's peoples. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $287 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $6,500 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $48.4 billion; expenditures $48.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993) Exports: $76.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: textiles, clothing, electronic and electrical equipment, footwear, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships, fish partners: US 24%, Japan 15% (1992) Imports: $81.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains partners: Japan 24%, US 22% (1992) External debt: $42 billion (1992) Industrial production: growth rate 5.0% (1992 est.); accounts for about 45% of GNP Electricity: 24,000,000 kW capacity; 105,000 million kWh produced, 2,380 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing, chemicals, steel, electronics, automobile production, shipbuilding Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GNP and employs 21% of work force (including fishing and forestry); principal crops - rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; livestock and livestock products - cattle, hogs, chickens, milk, eggs; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh-largest in world Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.9 billion; non-US countries (1970-89), $3.0 billion Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chon (theoretical)

*Korea, South, Economy

Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 791.99 (January 1993), 780.65 (1992), 733.35 (1991), 707.76 (1990), 671.46 (1989), 731.47 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Korea, South, Communications

Railroads: 3,091 km total (1991); 3,044 km 1.435 meter standard gauge, 47 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, 847 km double track; 525 km electrified, government owned Highways: 63,201 km total (1991); 1,551 expressways, 12,190 km national highway, 49,460 km provincial and local roads Inland waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km Ports: Pusan, Inchon, Kunsan, Mokpo, Ulsan Merchant marine: 431 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,689,227 GRT/11,016,014 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 138 cargo, 61 container, 11 refrigerated cargo, 9 vehicle carrier, 45 oil tanker, 12 chemical tanker, 13 liquefied gas, 2 combination ore/oil, 135 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 1 multifunction large-load carrier Airports: total: 103 usable: 93 with permanent-surface runways: 59 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 18 Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international services; 13,276,449 telephone subscribers; broadcast stations - 79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or greater); satellite earth stations - 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

*Korea, South, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 13,286,969; fit for military service 8,542,640; reach military age (18) annually 432,434 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12.2 billion, 3.6% of GNP (1993 est.)

*Kuwait, Geography

Location: Middle East, at the head of the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia Map references: Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 17,820 km2 land area: 17,820 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: total 464 km, Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km Coastline: 499 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: in April 1991 Iraq officially accepted UN Security Council Resolution 687, which demands that Iraq accept the inviolability of the boundary set forth in its 1963 agreement with Kuwait, ending earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah Islands, or to all of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final report of the UN Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission was welcomed by the Security Council in Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993, which also reaffirmed that the decisions of the commission on the boundary were final, bringing to a completion the official demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi officials still make public statements claiming Kuwait; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands disputed by Saudi Arabia Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92% Irrigated land: 20 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

*Kuwait, People

Population: 1,698,077 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 8.67% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 30.29 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 2.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 58.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.62 years male: 72.47 years female: 76.87 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.11 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7% Religions: Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15% Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 73% male: 77% female: 67% Labor force: 566,000 (1986) by occupation: services 45.0%, construction 20.0%, trade 12.0%, manufacturing 8.6%, finance and real estate 2.6%, agriculture 1.9%, power and water 1.7%, mining and quarrying 1.4% note: 70% of labor force was non-Kuwaiti (1986)

*Kuwait, Government

Names: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt Digraph: KU Type: nominal constitutional monarchy Capital: Kuwait Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (mu'hafaz'at, singular - muh'afaz'ah); Al Ah'madi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, 'Hawalli; Farwaniyah Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK) Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962) Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 25 February Political parties and leaders: none Other political or pressure groups: 40,000 Palestinian community; small, clandestine leftist and Shi'a fundamentalist groups are active; several groups critical of government policies are active Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21 note: out of all citizens, only 10% are eligible to vote and only 5% actually vote Elections: National Assembly: dissolved 3 July 1986; new elections were held on 5 October 1992 with a second election in the 14th and 16th constituencies scheduled for 15 February 1993 Executive branch: amir, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al 'umma) dissolved 3 July 1986; elections for new Assembly held 5 October 1992 Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State: Amir Shaykh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 31 December 1977) Head of Government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SA'D al-'Abdallah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 8 February 1978); Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 17 October 1992)

*Kuwait, Government

Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad al-Sabah al-Salim al-SABAH chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-0702 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward (Skip) GNEHM, Jr. embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City mailing address: P.O. Box 77 SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; APO AE 09880 telephone: [965] 242-4151 through 4159 FAX: [956] 244-2855 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

*Kuwait, Economy

Overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proven crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Kuwait is rebuilding its war-ravaged petroleum sector and the increase in crude oil production to nearly 2.0 million barrels per day by the end of 1992 led to an enormous increase in GDP for the year. The government ran a cumulative fiscal deficit of approximately $70 billion over its last two fiscal years, reducing its foreign asset position and increasing its public debt to roughly $40 billion. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP and over 90% of export and government revenue. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $15.3 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 80% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $11,100 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88) Exports: $750 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: oil partners: France 16%, Italy 15%, Japan 12%, UK 11% Imports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing partners: US 35%, Japan 12%, UK 9%, Canada 9% External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.) note: external debt has grown substantially in 1991 and 1992 to pay for restoration of war damage Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for NA% of GDP Electricity: 6,873,000 kW available out of 7,398,000 kW capacity due to Persian Gulf war; 12,264 million kWh produced, 8,890 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, building materials, salt, construction Agriculture: practically none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported Economic aid: donor - pledged $18.3 billion in bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89) Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.3044 (January 1993), 0.2934 (1992), 0.2843 (1991), 0.2915 (1990), 0.2937 (1989), 0.2790 (1988)

*Kuwait, Economy

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Kuwait, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: 3,900 km total; 3,000 km bituminous; 900 km earth, sand, light gravel Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km Ports: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' al 'Ahmadi Merchant marine: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,996,052 GRT/3,373,088 DWT; includes 7 cargo, 4 livestock carrier, 24 oil tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 3 container Airports: total: 7 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: civil network suffered extensive damage as a result of Desert Storm and reconstruction is still under way with some restored international and domestic capabilities; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 0 FM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations - destroyed during Persian Gulf War and not rebuilt yet; temporary mobile satellite ground stations provide international telecommunications; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; service to Iraq is nonoperational

*Kuwait, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 498,254; fit for military service 298,865; reach military age (18) annually 14,459 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, 7.3% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Kyrgyzstan, Geography

Location: South Asia, between China and Kazakhstan Map references: Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 198,500 km2 land area: 191,300 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota Land boundaries: total 3,878 km, China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southern boundary in Isfara Valley area Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in south (Fergana Valley) Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation Natural resources: small amounts of coal, natural gas, oil, nepheline, rare earth metals, mercury, bismuth, gold, lead, zinc, hydroelectric power Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: 10,320 km2 (1990) Environment: NA Note: landlocked

*Kyrgyzstan, People

Population: 4,625,954 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.56% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 26.69 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.71 years male: 63.47 years female: 72.15 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.39 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Kirghiz(s) adjective: Kirghiz Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 8.3% Religions: Muslim 70%, Russian Orthodox NA% Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.748 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 33%, industry and construction 28%, other 39% (1990)

*Kyrgyzstan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kyrgyzstan conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyzstan Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: KG Type: republic Capital: Bishkek (Frunze) Administrative divisions: 6 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Chu, Jalal-Abad, Ysyk-Kul', Naryn, Osh, Talas Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: National Day, 2 December Political parties and leaders: Kyrgyz Democratic Movement, Kazat AKMAKOV, chairman; Civic Accord, Coalition representing nonnative minority groups; National Revived Asaba (Banner) Party, Asan ORMUSHEV, chairman; Communist Party was banned but has registered as political party 18 September 1992 Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 12 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Askar AKAYEV won in uncontested election with 95% of vote with 90% of electorate voting; note - president elected by Supreme Soviet 28 October 1990, then by popular vote 12 October 1991 Zhogorku Keneshom: last held 25 February 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held no later than NA November 1994 for the Zhgorku Keneshom); results - Commnunists 90%; seats - (350 total) Communists 310 Executive branch: president, Cabinet of Ministers, prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Zhogorku Keneshom Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990); Vice President Feliks KULOV (since 12 October 1992)

*Kyrgyzstan, Government

Head of Government: Prime Minister Tursenbek CHYNGYSHEV (since 2 March 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Abdygani ERKEBAYEV; Supreme Soviet Chairman Medetkan SHERIMKULOV (since NA) Member of: CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDA, ILO, IMF, NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roza OTUNBAYEVA chancery: 1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC telephone: (202) 347-5029 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward HURWITZ embassy: (temporary) Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek mailing address: APO AE 09721 telephone: 7-3312 22-26-93, 22-35-51, 22-29-20 FAX: 7-3312 22-35-51 Flag: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Krygyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

*Kyrgyzstan, Economy

Overview: Kyrgyzstan's small economy (less than 1% of the total for the former Soviet Union) is oriented toward agriculture, producing mainly livestock such as goats and sheep, as well as cotton, grain, and tobacco. Industry, concentrated around Bishkek, produces small quantities of electric motors, livestock feeding equipment, washing machines, furniture, cement, paper, and bricks. Mineral extraction is small, the most important minerals being coal, rare earth metals and gold. Kyrgyzstan is a net importer of many types of food and fuel but is a net exporter of electricity. In 1992, the Kirghiz leadership made progress on reform, primarily by privatizing business, granting life-long tenure to farmers, and freeing most prices. Nonetheless, in 1992 overall industrial and livestock output declined because of acute fuel shortages and a widespread lack of spare parts. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: -25% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29% per month (first quarter 1993) Unemployment rate: 0.1% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $NA commodities: wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes, machinery, tobacco partners: Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others Imports: $NA commodities: lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: other CIS republics External debt: $650 million (1991) Industrial production: growth rate NA% (1992) Electricity: 4,100,000 kW capacity; 11,800 million kWh produced, 2,551 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, and rare earth metals Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle), vegetables, meat, grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europel Economic aid: $300 million official and commitments by foreign donors (1992)

*Kyrgyzstan, Economy

Currency: introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993) Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations Fiscal year: calendar year

*Kyrgyzstan, Communications

Railroads: 370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 30,300 km total; 22,600 km paved or graveled, 7,700 km earth(1990) Pipelines: natural gas 200 km Ports: none; landlocked Airports: total: 52 useable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 13 Telecommunications: poorly developed; 56 telephones per 1000 persons (December 1990); connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only); new intelsat earth station provide TV receive-only capability for Turkish broadcasts

*Kyrgyzstan, Defense Forces

Branches: National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,093,694; fit for military service 890,961 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

*Laos, Geography

Location: Southeast Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand Map references: Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 236,800 km2 land area: 230,800 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Utah Land boundaries: total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 58% other: 35% Irrigated land: 1,200 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods Note: landlocked

*Laos, People

Population: 4,569,327 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.86% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 43.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 15.22 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 104.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.18 years male: 49.67 years female: 52.77 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian Ethnic divisions: Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other 15% Religions: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15% Languages: Lao (official), French, English Literacy: age 15-45 can read and write (1985) total population: 84% male: 92% female: 76% Labor force: 1-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 85-90% (est.)

*Laos, Government

Names: conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none Digraph: LA Type: Communist state Capital: Vientiane Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng, nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet, Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri,, Xiangkhoang Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France) Constitution: promulgated August 1991 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic) Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; includes Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC); other parties moribund Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders fled the country in 1975 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Third National Assembly: last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) number of seats by party NA Executive branch: president, prime minister and two deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: National Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court Leaders: Chief of State: President NOUHAK Phoumsavan (since 25 November 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 15 August 1991) Member of: ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

*Laos, Government

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM Phommachanh chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6416 or 6417 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles B. SALMON, Jr. embassy: Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane mailing address: B. P. 114, Vientiane, or AMEMB, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: (856) 2220, 2357, 2384 FAX: (856) 4675 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

*Laos, Economy

Overview: One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a Communist centrally planned economy with government ownership and control of productive enterprises of any size. In recent years, however, the government has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure; that is, it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal telecommunications, and electricity available in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $900 million (1991) National product real growth rate: 4% (1991) National product per capita: $200 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1991) Unemployment rate: 21% (1989 est.) Budget: revenues $83 million; expenditures $188.5 million, including capital expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.) Exports: $72 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin partners: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US, China Imports: $238 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures partners: Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam, China External debt: $1.1 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1991 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1991 est.) Electricity: 226,000 kW capacity; 990 million kWh produced, 220 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force; subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient in nondrought years; principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock - buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade, third-largest opium producer

*Laos, Economy

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $605 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989), 385 (1988), 200 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Laos, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous treated; 7,451 km gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km unimproved earth and often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km Ports: none Airports: total: 54 usable: 41 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 15 Telecommunications: service to general public practically non-existant; radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390 telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station

*Laos, Defense Forces

Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department Manpower availability: males age 15-49 980,274; fit for military service 528,450; reach military age (18) annually 43,849 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Latvia, Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 64,100 km2 land area: 64,100 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km Coastline: 531 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944 Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: low plain Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21% Irrigated land: 160 km2 (1990) Environment: heightened levels of air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

*Latvia, People

Population: 2,735,573 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.5% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 13.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 12.73 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 3.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.23 years male: 64.15 years female: 74.55 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Belarusian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2% Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox Languages: Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)

*Latvia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: LG Type: republic Capital: Riga Administrative divisions: none (all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction) Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Constitution: adopted NA May 1922, considering rewriting constitution Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party of Latvia, Juris BOJARS, chairman; Inter-Front of the Working People of Latvia, Igor LOPATIN, chairman (Inter-Front was banned after the coup); Latvian National Movement for Independence, Eduards BERKLAVS, chairman; Latvian Democratic Party, Janis DINEVICS, chairman; Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party, Uldis BERZINS, chairman; Latvian People's Front, Uldis AUGST-KALNS, chairman; Latvian Liberal Party, Georg LANSMANIS, chairman Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held October 1988 (next to be held NA); note - Anatolijs V. GORBUNOVS elected by Supreme Soviet; elected to restyled post of Chairman of the Supreme Council on 3 May 1990; new elections have not been scheduled Supreme Council: last held 18 March 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held 5-6 June 1993 for the Saeima); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (234 total) Latvian Communist Party 59, Latvian Democratic Workers Party 31, Social Democratic Party of Latvia 4, Green Party of Latvia 7, Latvian Farmers Union 7, Latvian Popular Front 126; note - the Supreme Council is an interim 201-seats legislative body; a new parliament or Saiema to be elected in June 1993 Congress of Latvia: last held April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (231 total) number of seats by party NA; note - the Congress of Latvia is a quasi-governmental structure Executive branch: Chairman of Supreme Council (president), prime minister, cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council

*Latvia, Government

Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Chairman Supreme Council Anatolijs V. GORBUNOVS (since NA October 1988) Head of Government: Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since NA May 1990) Member of: CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, ILO, IMF, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 726-8213 and 8214 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ints M, SILINS; embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050 mailing address: APO AE 09862 telephone: 0-11 [358] (49) 311-348 (cellular) FAX: [358] (49) 314-665 (cellular), (7) (01-32) 220-502 note: dialing to the Baltics still requires use of an international operator, unless you use the cellular phone lines Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)

*Latvia, Economy

Overview: Latvia is in the process of reforming the centrally planned economy inherited from the former USSR into a market economy. Prices have been freed, and privatization of shops and farms has begun. Latvia lacks natural resources, aside from its arable land and small forests. Its most valuable economic asset is its work force, which is better educated and disciplined than in most of the former Soviet republics. Industrial production is highly diversified, with products ranging from agricultural machinery to consumer electronics. One conspicuous vulnerability: Latvia produces only 10% of its electric power needs. Latvia in the near term must retain key commercial ties to Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine while moving in the long run toward joint ventures with technological support from, and trade ties to the West. Because of the efficiency of its mostly individual farms, Latvians enjoy a diet that is higher in meat, vegetables, and dairy products and lower in grain and potatoes than diets in the 12 non-Baltic republics of the former USSR. Good relations with Russia are threatened by animosity between ethnic Russians (34% of the population) and native Latvians. The cumulative difficulties in replacing old sources of supply and old markets, together with the phasing out of the Russian ruble as the medium of exchange, help account for the sharp 30% drop in GDP in 1992. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: -30% (1992) National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% per month (first quarter 1993) Unemployment rate: 3.6% (March 1993); but large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $NA commodities: NA partners: NA Imports: $NA commodities: NA partners: NA External debt: $650 million (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -35% (1992 est.) Electricity: 2,140,000 kW capacity; 5,800 million kWh produced, 2,125 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: employs 33% of labor force; highly diversified; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products; produces buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles

*Latvia, Economy

Agriculture: employs 16% of labor force; principally dairy farming and livestock feeding; products - meat, milk, eggs, grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; fishing and fish packing Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export Economic aid: NA Currency: 1 lat = 100 NA; introduced NA March 1993 Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 1.32 (March 1993) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Latvia, Communications

Railroads: 2,400 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 59,500 km total; 33,000 km hard surfaced 26,500 km earth (1990) Inland waterways: 300 km perennially navigable Pipelines: crude oil 750 km, refined products 780 km, natural gas 560 km (1992) Ports: coastal - Riga, Ventspils, Liepaja; inland - Daugavpils Merchant marine: 96 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 905,006 GRT/1,178,844 DWT; includes 14 cargo, 27 refrigerated cargo, 2 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off, 44 oil tanker Airports: total: 50 useable: 15 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 7 Telecommunications: NMT-450 analog cellular network is operational covering Riga, Ventspils, Daugavpils, Rezekne, and Valmiera; broadcast stations - NA; international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and through new independent international automatic telephone exchange in Riga and the Finnish cellular net

*Latvia, Defense Forces

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 648,273; fit for military service 511,297; reach military age (18) annually 18,767 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3-5% of GDP; note - conversion of the military budget into US$ using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

*Lebanon, Header

Note: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war in October 1990. Under the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed three cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Sh'ia party, is the only significant group that retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzine. As of December 1992, Syria maintained about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.