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*South Africa, Economy
Overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment and lack of job skills. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments in the 1990s will be driven partly by the changing relations among the various ethnic groups. The shrinking economy in recent years has absorbed less than 10% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow between 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $115 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: -2% (1992) National product per capita: $2,800 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.9% (1992) Unemployment rate: 45% (well over 50% in some homeland areas) (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $28 billion; expenditures $36 billion, including capital expenditures of $3 billion (FY93 est.) Exports: $23.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3% partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EC countries, Hong Kong Imports: $18.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles, scientific instruments partners: Germany, Japan, UK, US, Italy External debt: $18 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDP Electricity: 46,000,000 kW capacity; 180,000 million kWh produced, 4,100 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force; diversified agriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products - cattle, poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; self-sufficient in food Economic aid: NA Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
*South Africa, Economy
Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 3.1576 (May 1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
*South Africa, Communications
Railroads: 20,638 km route distance total; 20,324 km of 1.067-meter gauge trackage (counts double and multiple tracking as single track); 314 km of 610 mm gauge; substantial electrification of 1.067 meter gauge Highways: 188,309 km total; 54,013 km paved, 134,296 km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth Pipelines: crude oil 931 km, petroleum products 1,748 km, natural gas 322 km Ports: Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richard's Bay, Saldanha, Mosselbaai, Walvis Bay Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 213,708 GRT/201,043 DWT; includes 4 container, 1 vehicle carrier Airports: total: 899 usable: 713 with permanent-surface runways: 136 with runways over 3,659 m: 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 221 Telecommunications: the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and radiocommunication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria; over 4,500,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM, 67 TV; 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
*South Africa, Defense Forces
Branches: South African Defense Force (SADF; including Army, Navy, Air Force, Medical Services), South African Police (SAP) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,294,211; fit for military service 6,279,190; reach military age (18) annually 425,477 (1993 est.); obligation for service in Citizen Force or Commandos begins at 18; black and white volunteers for service in permanent force must be 17; national service obligation for white conscripts is one year; figures include the so-called homelands not recognized by the US Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, about 2.5% of GDP (FY93 budget)
*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Header
Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Geography
Location: in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the south Argentine coast, southeast of the Falkland Islands Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total area: 4,066 km2 land area: 4,066 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: NA km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) Irrigated land: 0 km2 Environment: reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage
*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, People
Population: no indigenous population; there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Government
Names: conventional long form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none Digraph: SX Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) Constitution: 3 October 1985 Legal system: English common law National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) Executive branch: British monarch, commissioner Legislative branch: none Judicial branch: none Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Commissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Economy
Overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK. Budget: revenues $291,777; expenditures $451,011, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.) Electricity: 900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1992)
*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Communications
Highways: NA Ports: Grytviken on South Georgia Airports: total: 5 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations
*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
*Spain, Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Portugal and France Map references: Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 504,750 km2 land area: 499,400 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera Land boundaries: total 1,903.2 km, Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km Coastline: 4,964 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 21% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7% Irrigated land: 33,600 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: deforestation; air pollution Note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
*Spain, People
Population: 39,207,159 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.24% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 10.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 8.76 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.51 years male: 74.22 years female: 81.04 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1% Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 95% male: 97% female: 93% Labor force: 14.621 million by occupation: services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9% (1988)
*Spain, Government
Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local short form: Espana Digraph: SP Type: parliamentary monarchy Capital: Madrid Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification) Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 12 October Political parties and leaders: principal national parties, from right to left: Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR; Social Democratic Center (CDS), Rafael Calvo ORTEGA; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Socialist Democracy Party (DS), Ricardo Garcia DAMBORENEA; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA; United Left (IU) a coalition of parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other small parties, leader NA chief regional parties: Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley, in Catalonia; Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS; Basque Solidarity (EA), Carlos GARAICOETXEA Urizza; Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon IDIGORAS; Basque Left (EE), Juan Maria BANDRES; Basque Socialist Party (PSE); coalition of the PSE, EE, and PSOE, Jose Maria BANEGAS; Euskal Ezkerra (EUE), Xabier GURRUTXAGA; Andalusian Party (PA), Pedro PACHECO; Independent Canary Group (AIC), leader NA; Aragon Regional Party (PAR), leader NA; Valencian Union (UV), leader NA Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977) include the Communist-dominated Workers Commissions (CCOO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); the Catholic Church; business and landowning interests; Opus Dei; university students Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
*Spain, Government
Elections: Senate: last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (208 total) PSOE 106, PP 79, CiU 10, PNV 4, HB 3, AIC 1, other 5 Congress of Deputies: last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results - PSOE 39.6%, PP 25.8%, CDS 9%, IU 9%, CiU 5%, PNV 1.2%, HB 1%, PA 1%, other 8.4%; seats - (350 total) PSOE 175, PP 106, CiU 18, IU 17, CDS 14, PNV 5, HB 4, other 11 Executive branch: monarch, president of the government (prime minister), deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) Leaders: Chief of State: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975) Head of Government: Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2 December 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Narcis SERRA y Serra (since 13 March 1991) Member of: AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, AfDB, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MTRC, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA y Eiseley chancery: 2700 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 265-0190 or 0191 consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard G. CAPEN, Jr. embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642 telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000 FAX: [34] (1) 577-5735 consulate general: Barcelona consulate: Bilbao
*Spain, Government
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
*Spain, Economy
Overview: Spain has done well since joining the EC in 1986. Foreign and domestic investments have spurred GDP growth at an annual average of more than 4% in 1986-91. As of 1 January 1993, Spain has wholly liberalized its trade and capital markets to EC standards, including integrating agriculture two years ahead of schedule. Beginning in 1989, Madrid implemented a tight monetary policy to fight 7% inflation. As a result of this action and the worldwide decline in economic growth, Spain's growth rate declined to 1% in 1992. Spain faces a likely recession in first half 1993. The government expects a recovery in the second half, but this depends on stepped-up growth in Germany and France. The slowdown in growth - along with displacements caused by structural adjustments in preparation for the EC single market - has pushed an already high unemployment rate up to 19%. However, many people listed as unemployed work in the underground economy. If the government can stick to its tough economic policies and push further structural reforms, the economy will emerge stronger at the end of the 1990s. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $514.9 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: 1% (1992) National product per capita: $13,200 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 19% (yearend 1992) Budget: revenues $122.9 billion; expenditures $140.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $62 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery partners: EC 71.0%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1991) Imports: $100 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals partners: EC 60.0%, US 8.0%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 2.6% (1991) External debt: $67.5 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 0.6% (1992 est.) Electricity: 46,600,000 kW capacity; 157,000 million kWh produced, 4,000 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 14% of labor force; major products - grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, beef, pork, poultry, dairy; largely self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nations
*Spain, Economy
Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $545.0 million; not currently a recipient Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 114.59 (January 1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year
*Spain, Communications
Railroads: 15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km (all 1.668-meter gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track); FEVE (government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 441 km electrified); privately owned railways operate 918 km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 km double track) Highways: 150,839 km total; 82,513 km national (includes 2,433 km limited-access divided highway, 63,042 km bituminous treated, 17,038 km intermediate bituminous, concrete, or stone block) and 68,326 km provincial or local roads (bituminous treated, intermediate bituminous, or stone block) Inland waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance Pipelines: crude oil 265 km, petroleum products 1,794 km, natural gas 1,666 km Ports: Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor ports Merchant marine: 242 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,394,175 GRT/4,262,868 DWT; includes 2 passenger, 8 short-sea passenger, 71 cargo, 12 refrigerated cargo, 12 container, 32 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 41 oil tanker, 14 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 3 specialized tanker, 36 bulk Airports: total: 105 usable: 99 with permanent-surface runways: 60 with runways over 3,659 m: 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 26 Telecommunications: generally adequate, modern facilities; 15,350,464 telephones; broadcast stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV; 22 coaxial submarine cables; 2 communications satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean); MARECS, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems; tropospheric links
*Spain, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,299,960; fit for military service 8,341,046; reach military age (20) annually 338,231 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.6 billion, 1.6% of GDP (1992)
*Spratly Islands, Geography
Location: in the South China Sea, between Vietnam and the Philippines Map references: Asia, Southeast Asia Area: total area: NA km2 but less than 5 km2 land area: less than 5 km2 comparative area: NA note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 926 km Maritime claims: NA International disputes: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island Climate: tropical Terrain: flat Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 km2 Environment: subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs Note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; serious navigational hazard
*Spratly Islands, People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons
*Spratly Islands, Government
Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands Digraph: PG
*Spratly Islands, Economy
Overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing; proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. Industries: none
*Spratly Islands, Communications
Ports: no natural harbors Airports: total: 4 usable: 4 with permanent-surfaced runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0
*Spratly Islands, Defense Forces
Note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
*Sri Lanka, Geography
Location: South Asia, 29 km southeast of India across the Palk Strait in the Indian Ocean Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 65,610 km2 land area: 64,740 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,340 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October) Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay Land use: arable land: 16% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 37% other: 23% Irrigated land: 5,600 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: occasional cyclones, tornados; deforestation; soil erosion Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
*Sri Lanka, People
Population: 17,838,190 (July 1993 est.) note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid 1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1992, nearly 115,000 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West; fewer than 10,000 Tamils have been successfully repatriated to Sri Lanka Population growth rate: 1.11% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 18.71 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 22.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.51 years male: 68.94 years female: 74.21 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1% Religions: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8% Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 88% male: 93% female: 84% Labor force: 6.6 million by occupation: agriculture 45.9%, mining and manufacturing 13.3%, trade and transport 12.4%, services and other 28.4% (1985 est.)
*Sri Lanka, Government
Names: conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka former: Ceylon Digraph: CE Type: republic Capital: Colombo Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK) Constitution: 31 August 1978 Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948) Political parties and leaders: United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Kumar PONNAMBALAM; People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Eelam Democratic Front (EDF), Edward SEBASTIAN PILLAI; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), leader NA; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), Velupillai BALAKUMARAN; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), Lalith ATHULATHMUDALI and Gamini DISSANAYAKE note: the United Socialist Alliance (USA) includes the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP or People's Liberation Front and several other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups); Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1994); results - Ranasinghe PREMADASA (UNP) 50%, Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE (SLFP) 45%, other 5%; note - following the assassination of President PREMADASA on 1 May 1993, Prime Minister WIJETUNGA became acting president; on 7 May 1993, he was confirmed by a vote of Parliament to finish out the term of the assassinated president
*Sri Lanka, Government
Parliament: last held 15 February 1989 (next to be held by NA February 1995); results - UNP 51%, SLFP 32%, SLMC 4%, TULF 3%, USA 3%, EROS 3%, MEP 1%, other 3%; seats - (225 total) UNP 125, SLFP 67, other 33 Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA (since 7 May 1993) Head of Government: Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (since 7 May 1993) Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ananda GURUGE chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4025 through 4028 consulate general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Teresita C. SCHAFFER embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (1) 44-80-07 FAX: [94] (1) 43-73-45 Flag: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
*Sri Lanka, Economy
Overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing dominate the economy, employing half of the labor force and accounting for one quarter of GDP. The plantation crops of tea, rubber, and coconuts provide about one-third of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth, which has been depressed by ethnic unrest, accelerated in 1991-92 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $7.75 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $440 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1992) Unemployment rate: 15% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $2.0 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (1992) Exports: $2.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: textiles and garments, teas, petroleum products, coconuts, rubber, other agricultural products, gems and jewelry, marine products, graphite partners: US 27.4%, Germany, Japan, UK, Belgium, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China Imports: $3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: food and beverages, textiles and textile materials, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment partners: Japan, Iran, US 5.7%, India, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany, UK External debt: $5.7 billion (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity: 1,300,000 kW capacity; 3,600 million kWh produced, 200 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco, clothing Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP and nearly half of labor force; most important staple crop is paddy rice; other field crops - sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseeds, roots, spices; cash crops - tea, rubber, coconuts; animal products - milk, eggs, hides, meat; not self-sufficient in rice production Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $169 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $369 million Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 46.342 (January 1993), 43.687 (1992), 41.372 (1991), 40.063 (1990), 36.047 (1989), 31.807 (1988)
*Sri Lanka, Economy
Fiscal year: calendar year
*Sri Lanka, Communications
Railroads: 1,948 km total (1990); all 1.868-meter broad gauge; 102 km double track; no electrification; government owned Highways: 75,749 km total (1990); 27,637 km paved (mostly bituminous treated), 32,887 km crushed stone or gravel, 14,739 km improved earth or unimproved earth; several thousand km of mostly unmotorable tracks (1988 est.) Inland waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987) Ports: Colombo, Trincomalee Merchant marine: 27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 276,074 GRT/443,266 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo, 3 container, 3 oil tanker, 3 bulk Airports: total: 14 usable: 13 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 8 Telecommunications: very inadequate domestic service, good international service; 114,000 telephones (1982); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 5 FM, 5 TV; submarine cables extend to Indonesia and Djibouti; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*Sri Lanka, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,779,221; fit for military service 3,730,737; reach military age (18) annually 178,032 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $365 million, 4.7% of GDP (1992)
*Sudan, Geography
Location: Northern Africa, along the Red Sea, between Egypt and Ethiopia Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,505,810 km2 land area: 2.376 million km2 comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US Land boundaries: total 7,697 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Ethiopia 2,221 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km Coastline: 853 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 km2, the dispute over this area escalated in 1993 Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October) Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west Natural resources: small reserves of petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 24% forest and woodland: 20% other: 51% Irrigated land: 18,900 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: dominated by the Nile and its tributaries; dust storms; desertification Note: largest country in Africa
*Sudan, People
Population: 28,730,381 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.38% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 42.65 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 12.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 81.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.85 years male: 53 years female: 54.73 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.19 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1% Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum) Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: program of Arabization in process Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 27% male: 43% female: 12% Labor force: 6.5 million by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6% note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.); 52% of population of working age (1985)
*Sudan, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Digraph: SU Type: military civilian government suspended and martial law imposed after 30 June 1989 coup Capital: Khartoum Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Wusta*,, Al Istiwa'iyah*,, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al, Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK) Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989 Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the six northern states of Al Wusta, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah, Ash Sharqiyah, Darfur, and Kurdufan; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic law will apply to all residents of the six northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956) Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup Other political or pressure groups: National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABI Suffrage: none Elections: none Executive branch: executive and legislative authority vested in a 10-member Revolutionary Command Council (RCC); chairman of the RCC acts as prime minister; in July 1989, RCC appointed a predominately civilian 22-member cabinet to function as advisers note: Lt. Gen. BASHIR's military government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI controls Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies
*Sudan, Government
Legislative branch: appointed 300-member Transitional National Assembly; note - as announced 1 January 1992 by RCC Chairman BASHIR, the Assembly assumes all legislative authority for Sudan until the eventual, unspecified resumption of national elections Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary Courts Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: Revolutionary Command Council Chairman and Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 30 June 1989); Deputy Chairman of the Command Council and Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH Ahmed (since 9 July 1989) Member of: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador 'Abdalla Ahmad 'ABDALLA chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 338-8565 through 8570 consulate general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. PETTERSON embassy: Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif, Khartoum mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum, or APO AE 09829 telephone: 74700 or 74611 FAX: Telex 22619 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
*Sudan, Economy
Overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The economy is dominated by governmental entities that account for more than 70% of new investment. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. The economy's base is agriculture, which employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. Despite subsequent government efforts to implement reforms urged by the IMF and the World Bank, the economy remained stagnant in FY91 as entrepreneurs lack the incentive to take economic risks. Growth in 1992 was featured by the recovery of agricultural production in northern Sudan after two years of drought. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.2 billion (FY92 est.) National product real growth rate: 9% (FY92 est.) National product per capita: $184 (FY92 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 150% (FY92 est.) Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92 est.) Budget: revenues $1.3 billion; expenditures $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $505 million (FY91 est.) Exports: $315 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.) commodities: cotton 52%, sesame, gum arabic, peanuts partners: Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%, Japan 9%, US 3% (FY88) Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., FY92 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles partners: Western Europe 32%, Africa and Asia 15%, US 13%, Eastern Europe 3% (FY88) External debt: $15 billion (June 1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 4.8%; accounts for 11% of GDP (FY92) Electricity: 610,000 kW capacity; 905 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining Agriculture: accounts for 35% of GDP and 80% of labor force; water shortages; two-thirds of land area suitable for raising crops and livestock; major products - cotton, oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sheep; marginally self-sufficient in most foods
*Sudan, Economy
Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $588 million Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (Sd) = 100 piasters Exchange rates: official rate - Sudanese pounds (Sd) per US$1 - 124 (January 1993), 90.1 (March 1992), 5.4288 (1991), 4.5004 (fixed rate since 1987), 2.8121 (1987); note - free market rate 155 (January 1993) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
*Sudan, Communications
Railroads: 5,516 km total; 4,800 km 1.067-meter gauge, 716 km 1.6096-meter-gauge plantation line Highways: 20,703 km total; 2,000 km bituminous treated, 4,000 km gravel, 2,304 km improved earth, 12,399 km unimproved earth and track Inland waterways: 5,310 km navigable Pipelines: refined products 815 km Ports: Port Sudan, Sawakin Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,277 GRT/59,588 DWT; includes 3 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off Airports: total: 68 usable: 56 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 30 Telecommunications: large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards; consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radio communications, troposcatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 stations; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations for international traffic - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT
*Sudan, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,488,864; fit for military service 3,986,084; reach military age (18) annually 301,573 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $339 million, 2.2% of GDP (1989 est.)
*Suriname, Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between French Guiana and Guyana Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 163,270 km2 land area: 161,470 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia Land boundaries: total 1,707 km, Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne) Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 97% other: 3% Irrigated land: 590 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: mostly tropical rain forest
*Suriname, People
Population: 416,321 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.54% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 25.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -4.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 32.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.14 years male: 66.65 years female: 71.76 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (East Indian) 37%, Creole (black and mixed) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, Bush black 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1%, other 1.1% Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5% Languages: Dutch (official), English widely spoken, Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others, Hindi Suriname Hindustani (a variant of Bhoqpuri), Javanese Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 95% male: 95% female: 95% Labor force: 104,000 (1984) by occupation: NA
*Suriname, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana Dutch Guiana Digraph: NS Type: republic Capital: Paramaribo Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands) Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987 Legal system: NA National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975) Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), leader NA, a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA); Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA) Fred DARBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of four parties (AF, HPP, Pendawa Lima, BEP) formed in January 1991; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Cipriano ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS, chairman; National Republic Party (PNR), Robin RAVALES Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Saramaccaner Bosneger Angula Movement, Carlos MAASSI; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes) National Assembly: last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, Independent 2
*Suriname, Government
Executive branch: president, vice president and prime minister, Cabinet of Ministers, Council of State; note - Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991) Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-7488 or 7490 through 7492 consulate general: Miami US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John (Jack) P. LEONARD embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, or 476459 FAX: [597] 410025 Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
*Suriname, Economy
Overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for 15% of GDP and about 70% of export earnings. The economy has been in trouble since the Dutch ended development aid in 1982. A drop in world bauxite prices which started in the late 1970s and continued until late 1986 was followed by the outbreak of a guerrilla insurgency in the interior that crippled the important bauxite sector. Although the insurgency has since ebbed and the bauxite sector recovered, a military coup in December 1990 reflected continued political instability and deterred investment and economic reform. High inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market activity, and hard currency shortfalls continue to mark the economy. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.35 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: -2.5% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $3,300 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 26% (1991) Unemployment rate: 16.5% (1990) Budget: revenues $466 million; expenditures $716 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.) Exports: $417 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas partners: Norway 36%, Netherlands 28%, US 11%, Japan 7%, Brazil 5%, UK 5% (1989) Imports: $514 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods partners: US 41%, Netherlands 24%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Brazil 4% (1989) External debt: $138 million (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -5.0% (1991 est.); accounts for 27% of GDP Electricity: 458,000 kW capacity; 2,018 million kWh produced, 4,920 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing Agriculture: accounts for 10.4% of GDP and 25% of export earnings; paddy rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm output; other products - bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing importance; self-sufficient in most foods Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 1.7850 (fixed rate until October 1992), 25.04 (January 1992)
*Suriname, Economy
Fiscal year: calendar year
*Suriname, Communications
Railroads: 166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track Highways: 8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay Inland waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways Ports: Paramaribo, Moengo, Nicuw Nickerie Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,472 GRT/8,914 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container Airports: total: 46 usable: 39 with permanent-surface runways: 6 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: international facilities good; domestic microwave system; 27,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*Suriname, Defense Forces
Branches: National Army (including Navy which is company-size, small Air Force element), Civil Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 111,716; fit for military service 66,429 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Svalbard, Header
Affiliation: (territory of Norway)
*Svalbard, Geography
Location: in the Arctic Ocean where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet, 445 km north of Norway Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 62,049 km2 land area: 62,049 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island) Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 3,587 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia territorial sea: 4 nm International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: great calving glaciers descend to the sea Note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
*Svalbard, People
Population: 3,209 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: -2.84% (1993 est.) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman Ethnic divisions: Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981) Languages: Russian, Norwegian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA
*Svalbard, Government
Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard Digraph: SV Type: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway Capital: Longyearbyen Independence: none (territory of Norway) Legal system: NA National holiday: NA Leaders: Chief of State: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) Head of Government: Governor (vacant) Member of: none Flag: the flag of Norway is used
*Svalbard, Economy
Overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus. Budget: revenues $13.3 million; expenditures $13.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 13,860 kWh per capita (1992) Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.8774 (January 1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988)
*Svalbard, Communications
Ports: limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay Airports: total: 4 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: 5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication with Norwegian mainland
*Svalbard, Defense Forces
Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
*Swaziland, Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 17,360 km2 land area: 17,200 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: total 535 km, Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 67% forest and woodland: 6% other: 19% Irrigated land: 620 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
*Swaziland, People
Population: 906,932 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.18% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 43.22 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: 95.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.94 years male: 51.97 years female: 60.03 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3% Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40% Languages: English (official; government business conducted in English), siSwati (official) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976) total population: 55% male: 57% female: 54% Labor force: 195,000 (over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage earners - many only intermittently) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 36%, community and social service 20%, manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other 21% note: 15,980 employed in South African gold and coal mines (1991)
*Swaziland, Government
Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland Digraph: WZ Type: monarchy independent member of Commonwealth Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative) Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK) Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968) Political parties and leaders: none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978 Suffrage: none Elections: direct legislative elections rescheduled for June 1993 Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) Head of Government: Prime Minister Obed Mfanyana DLAMINI (since 12 July 1989) Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 362-6683 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
*Swaziland, Government
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445 FAX: [268] 45959 Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
*Swaziland, Economy
Overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies most of the labor force and contributes nearly 25% to GDP. Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another quarter of GDP. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted in 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 75% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $700 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $800 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $342 million; expenditures $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130 million (FY94 est.) Exports: $575 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit partners: South Africa 50% (est.), EC countries, Canada Imports: $730 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals partners: South Africa 75% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK External debt: $290 million (1990) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 26% of GDP (1989) Electricity: 60,000 kW capacity; 155 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops - sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus fruit, pineapples; other crops and livestock - corn, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $142 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $518 million Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 -3.1576 (May 1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
*Swaziland, Economy
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
*Swaziland, Communications
Railroads: 297 km (plus 71 km disused), 1.067-meter gauge, single track Highways: 2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil, and 1,113 km improved earth Airports: total: 23 usable: 21 with permanent-surfaced runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity microwave links; 17,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Swaziland, Defense Forces
Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 197,214; fit for military service 114,097 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)
*Sweden, Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Norway and Finland Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 449,964 km2 land area: 410,928 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: total 2,205 km, Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km Coastline: 3,218 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 64% other: 27% Irrigated land: 1,120 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: water pollution; acid rain Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
*Sweden, People
Population: 8,730,286 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.58% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 13.78 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 10.96 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 2.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.08 years male: 75.3 years female: 81.02 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish Ethnic divisions: white, Lapp, foreign born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks) Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987) Languages: Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak native languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 4.552 million by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
*Sweden, Government
Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige Digraph: SW Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Stockholm Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan Independence: 6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy established) Constitution: 1 January 1975 Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June Political parties and leaders: ruling four-party coalition consists of Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's Party, Bengt WESTERBERG; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; and the Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; Social Democratic Party, Ingvar CARLSSON; New Democracy Party, Count Ian WACHTMEISTER; Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Riksdag: last held 15 September 1991 (next to be held NA September 1994); results - Social Democratic Party 37.6%, Moderate Party (conservative) 21.9%, Liberal People's Party 9.1%, Center Party 8.5%, Christian Democrats 7.1%, New Democracy 6.7%, Left Party (Communist) 4.5%, Green Party 3.4%, other 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democratic 138, Moderate Party (conservative) 80, Liberal People's Party 33, Center Party 31, Christian Democrats 26, New Democracy 25, Left Party (Communist) 16; note - the Green Party has no seats in the Riksdag because it received less than the required 4% of the vote Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral parliament (Riksdag) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
*Sweden, Government
Leaders: Chief of State: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977) Head of Government: Prime Minister Carl BILDT (since 3 October 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Bengt WESTERBERG (since NA) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-6, G-8, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTRC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik LILJEGREN chancery: Suite 1200 and 715, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 944-5600 FAX: (202) 342-1319 consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [46] (8) 783-5300 FAX: [46] (8) 661-1964 Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
*Sweden, Economy
Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In the last few years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Although Prime Minister BILDT'S center-right minority coalition had hoped to charge ahead with free-market-oriented reforms, a skyrocketing budget deficit - almost 13% of GDP in FY94 projections - and record unemployment have forestalled many of the plans. Unemployment in 1993 is forecast at around 7% with another 5% in job training. Continued heavy foreign exchange speculation forced the government to cooperate in late 1992 with the opposition Social Democrats on two crisis packages - one a severe austerity pact and the other a program to spur industrial competitiveness - which basically set economic policy through 1997. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has since depreciated around 2.5% against the dollar. The government hopes the boost in export competitiveness from the depreciation will help lift Sweden out of its 3-year recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, BILDT continues to propose cuts in welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden continues to harmonize its economic policies with those of the EC in preparation for concluding its EC membership bid by 1995. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $145.6 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: -1.7% (1992) National product per capita: $16,900 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1992) Unemployment rate: 5.3% (1992) Budget: revenues $70.4 billion; expenditures $82.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92) Exports: $56 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products partners: EC 55.8% (Germany 15%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.2%, France 5.8%), EFTA 17.4% (Norway 8.4%, Finland 5.1%), US 8.2%, Central and Eastern Europe 2.5% (1992) Imports: $51.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France 4.9%), EFTA (Norway 6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern Europe 3% (1992) External debt: $19.5 billion (1992 est.)
*Sweden, Economy
Industrial production: growth rate -3.0% (1992) Electricity: 39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,500 million kWh produced, 16,560 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes; Sweden is about 50% self-sufficient in most products; farming accounted for 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of jobs in 1990 Illicit drugs: increasingly used as transshipment point for Latin American cocaine to Europe and gateway for Asian heroin shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 ore Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.8812 (December 1992), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188 (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
*Sweden, Communications
Railroads: 12,000 km total; Swedish State Railways (SJ) - 10,819 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 6,955 km electrified and 1,152 km double track; 182 km 0.891-meter gauge; 117 km rail ferry service; privately-owned railways - 511 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (332 km electrified) and 371 km 0.891-meter gauge (all electrified) Highways: 97,400 km total; 51,899 km paved, 20,659 km gravel, 24,842 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges Pipelines: natural gas 84 km Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Malmo, Stockholm; numerous secondary and minor ports Merchant marine: 179 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,473,769 GRT/3,227,366 DWT; includes 10 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container, 43 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 13 vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 32 oil tanker, 27 chemical tanker, 4 specialized tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 combination ore/oil, 10 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo Airports: total: 253 usable: 250 with permanent-surface runways: 139 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 94 Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international facilities; 8,200,000 telephones; mainly coaxial and multiconductor cables carry long-distance network; parallel microwave network carries primarily radio, TV and some telephone channels; automatic system; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 360 (mostly repeaters) FM, 880 (mostly repeaters) TV; 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT
*Sweden, Defense Forces
Branches: Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,156,720; fit for military service 1,884,121; reach military age (19) annually 57,383 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.7 billion, 3.8% of GDP (FY92/93)
*Switzerland, Geography
Location: Western Europe, between France and Austria Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 41,290 km2 land area: 39,770 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey Land boundaries: total 1,852 km, Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 26% other: 23% Irrigated land: 250 km2 (1989) Environment: dominated by Alps Note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe
*Switzerland, People
Population: 6,986,621 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.83% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 12.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 9.24 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 5.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.99 years male: 74.6 years female: 81.54 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss Ethnic divisions: total population: German 65% French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6% Swiss nationals: German 74% French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980) Languages: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other 4% note: these are figures for Swiss nationals only - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1% Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 3.31 million (904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian) by occupation: services 50%, industry and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6%, other 1% (1989)
*Switzerland, Government
Names: conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German) Confederation Suisse (French) Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) local short form: Schweiz (German) Suisse (French) Svizzera (Italian) Digraph: SZ Type: federal republic Capital: Bern Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich Independence: 1 August 1291 Constitution: 29 May 1874 Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291) Political parties and leaders: Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president; Social Democratic Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman; Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER, chairman; Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president; Automobile Party (AP), DREYER; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER, president; Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA; Evangelical People's Party (EVP), Max DUNKI, president; Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean SPIELMANN, general secretary; Ticino League, leader NA; Liberal Party (LPS), Gilbert COUTAU, president Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Council of States: last held throughout 1991 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) FDP 18, CVP 16, SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1, Ticino League 1 National Council: last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS 10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2, other 2 Executive branch: president, vice president, Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French - Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale)
*Switzerland, Government
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German - Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or Council of States (German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian - Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale) Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Adolf OGI (1993 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice President Otto STICH (term runs concurrently with that of president) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM (coopeating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTRC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 745-7900 FAX: (202) 387-2564 consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph B. GILDENHORN embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (31) 437-011 FAX: [41] (31) 437-344 branch office: Geneva consulate general: Zurich Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
*Switzerland, Economy
Overview: Switzerland's economy - one of the most prosperous and stable in the world - is nonetheless undergoing a painful adjustment after both the inflationary boom of the late-1980s and the electorate's rejection late last year of membership in the European Economic Area. Stubborn inflation and a soft economy have afflicted Switzerland. Despite slow growth in 1991-92, the Swiss central bank had been unable to ease monetary policy in the past three years because of the threat to the Swiss franc posed by high German interest rates. As a result, unemployment is forecast to rise from 3% in 1992 to more than 4% in 1993, with inflation moving down from 4% to 3%. The voters' rejection in December 1992 of a referendum on membership in the EEA which was supported by most political, business, and financial leaders has raised doubts that the country can maintain its preeminent prosperity and leadership in commercial banking in the 21st century. Despite these problems, Swiss per capita output, general living standards, education and science, health care, and diet remain unsurpassed in Europe. The country has few natural resources except for the scenic natural beauty that has made it a world leader in tourism. Management-labor relations remain generally harmonious. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $152.3 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: -0.6% (1992) National product per capita: $22,300 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 3% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Exports: $62.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing partners: Western Europe 64% (EC countries 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4% Imports: $68.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials partners: Western Europe 78% (EC countries 71%, other 7%), US 6% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate 0.4% (1991 est.) Electricity: 17,710,000 kW capacity; 56,000 million kWh produced, 8,200 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments Agriculture: dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient in food; must import fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat
*Switzerland, Economy
Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4781 (January 1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year
*Switzerland, Communications
Railroads: 4,418 km total; 3,073 km are government owned and 1,345 km are nongovernment owned; the government network consists of 2,999 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 74 km 1.000-meter narrow gauge track; 1,432 km double track, 99% electrified; the nongovernment network consists of 510 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, and 835 km 1.000-meter gauge, 100% electrified Highways: 62,145 km total (all paved); 18,620 km are canton, 1,057 km are national highways (740 km autobahn), 42,468 km are communal roads Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes Pipelines: crude oil 314 km, natural gas 1,506 km Ports: Basel (river port) Merchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 308,725 GRT/548,244 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 8 bulk, 1 oil tanker Airports: total: 66 usable: 65 with permanent-surface runways: 42 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 18 Telecommunications: excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services; 5,890,000 telephones; extensive cable and microwave networks; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 265 FM, 18 (1,322 repeaters) TV; communications satellite earth station operating in the INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) system
*Switzerland, Defense Forces
Branches: Army (Air Force is part of the Army), Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,852,213; fit for military service 1,590,308; reach military age (20) annually 44,124 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 1.7% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Syria, Geography
Location: Middle East, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Turkey and Lebanon Map references: Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 185,180 km2 land area: 184,050 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota note: includes 1,295 km2 of Israeli-occupied territory Land boundaries: total 2,253 km, Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km Coastline: 193 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 41 nm territorial sea: 35 nm International disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; periodic disputes with Iraq over Euphrates water rights; ongoing dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern Lebanon since October 1976 Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum Land use: arable land: 28% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 3% other: 20% Irrigated land: 6,700 km2 (1989) Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Note: there are 38 Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
*Syria, People
Population: 14,338,527 (July 1993 est.) note: in addition, there are at least 14,500 Druze and 14,000 Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.76% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 44.08 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 43.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.12 years male: 65.07 years female: 67.22 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo) Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French widely understood Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 64% male: 78% female: 51% Labor force: 2.951 million (1989) by occupation: miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture 32%, industry and construction 32%; note - shortage of skilled labor (1984)
*Syria, Government
Names: conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic conventional short form: Syria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah local short form: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt) Digraph: SY Type: republic under leftwing military regime since March 1963 Capital: Damascus Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Constitution: 13 March 1973 Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946) Political parties and leaders: ruling party is the Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Ba'th) Party; the Progressive National is dominated by Ba'thists but includes independents and members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP); Arab Socialist Union (ASU); Syrian Communist Party (SCP); Arab Socialist Unionist Movement; and Democratic Socialist Union Party Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held December 1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote People's Council: last held 22-23 May 1990 (next to be held NA May 1994); results - Ba'th 53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%, Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%, independents 33.6%; seats - (250 total) Ba'th 134, ASU 8, SCP 8, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5, Democratic Socialist Union Party 4, independents 84; note - the People's Council was expanded to 250 seats total prior to the May 1990 election Executive branch: president, three vice presidents, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab) |
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