Flag: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red, centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

@Mongolia:Economy

Overview: Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land have constrained economic development. Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock. In past years extensive mineral resources had been developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its height amounted to 30% of GDP. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Timber and fishing are also important sectors. The Mongolian leadership has been gradually making the transition from Soviet-style central planning to a market economy through privatization and price reform, and is soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors. The economy, however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid, and the country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships, with one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $1,800 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.) note: deficit of $67 million

Exports: $360 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals partners: former CMEA countries 62%, China 17%, EC 8% (1992)

Imports: $361 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea partners: USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5% (1991)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate -15% (1992 est.); accounts for about 42% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 900,000 kW production: 3.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,267 kWh (1993)

Industries: copper, processing of animal products, building materials, food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)

Agriculture: accounts for about 35% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (primarily sheep and goats, but also cattle, camels, and horses); crops - wheat, barley, potatoes, forage

Economic aid: NA

Currency: 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 415.34 (January 1995), 412.72 (1994), 42.56 (1992), 9.52 (1991), 5.63 (1990) note: the exchange rate 40 tughriks = 1US$ was introduced June 1991 and was in force to the end of 1992; beginning 27 May 1993 the exchange rate is the midpoint of the average buying and selling rates that are freely determined on the basis of market transactions between commercial banks and the nonbank public

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Mongolia:Transportation

Railroads: total: 1,750 km broad gauge: 1,750 km 1.524-m gauge (1988)

Highways: total: 46,700 km paved: 1,000 km unpaved: 45,700 km (1988)

Inland waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1988)

Ports: none

Airports: total: 34 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 3 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5

@Mongolia:Communications

Telephone system: 63,000 telephones (1989) local: NA intercity: NA international: at least 1 satellite earth station

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: 220,000

Television: broadcast stations: 1 (provincial repeaters - 18) televisions: 120,000

@Mongolia:Defense Forces

Branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 605,633; males fit for military service 394,433; males reach military age (18) annually 25,862 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million, 1% of GDP (1992)



MONTSERRAT

(dependent territory of the UK)

@Montserrat:Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total area: 100 sq km land area: 100 sq km comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 40% other: 30%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (there are seven active volcanoes on the island) international agreements: NA

@Montserrat:People

Population: 12,738 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 15.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 9.81 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 11.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.69 years male: 73.93 years female: 77.49 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic divisions: black, Europeans

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Languages: English

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97%

Labor force: 5,100 by occupation: community, social, and personal services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.)

@Montserrat:Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

Digraph: MH

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Plymouth

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)

Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Legal system: English common law and statute law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Frank SAVAGE (since NA February 1993) head of government: Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since NA October 1991) cabinet: Executive Council; consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministries, the attorney-general, and the finance secretary

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held 8 October 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) NPP 4, NDP 1, PLM 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party (NPP) Reuben T. MEADE; People's Liberation Movement (PLM), Noel TUITT; National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand OSBORNE

Member of: CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)

US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

@Montserrat:Economy

Overview: The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture accounts for about 4% of GDP and industry 10%. The economy is heavily dependent on imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Exports consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $55.6 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 1% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: $4,380 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1992)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget: revenues: $12.1 million expenditures: $14.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1988 est.)

Exports: $2.8 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle partners: NA

Imports: $80.6 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials partners: NA

External debt: $2.05 million (1987)

Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 5,271 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,106 kWh (1993)

Industries: tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops - tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products

Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $90 million

Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Montserrat:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways: total: 280 km paved: 200 km unpaved: gravel, earth 80 km

Ports: Plymouth

Merchant marine: none

Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

@Montserrat:Communications

Telephone system: 3,000 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

@Montserrat:Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK



MOROCCO

@Morocco:Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Map references: Africa

Area: total area: 446,550 sq km land area: 446,300 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries: total 2,002 km, Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km

Coastline: 1,835 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved; the UN is attempting to hold a referendum; the UN-administered cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991; 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: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 28% forest and woodland: 12% other: 41%

Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

Note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

@Morocco:People

Population: 29,168,848 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (female 5,486,176; male 5,659,410) 15-64 years: 58% (female 8,456,525; male 8,327,560) 65 years and over: 4% (female 641,236; male 597,941) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.09% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 27.93 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.97 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.98 years male: 67.03 years female: 71.02 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan

Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 50% male: 61% female: 38%

Labor force: 7.4 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)

@Morocco:Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib

Digraph: MO

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Rabat

Administrative divisions: 36 provinces and 5 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Assa-Zag, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Es Smara, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech*, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit

Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King Hassan II's accession to the throne)

Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961) head of government: Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the King

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab): two-thirds elected by direct, universal suffrage and one-third by an electoral college of government, professional, and labor representatives; direct, popular elections last held 15 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (333 total, 222 directly elected) USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS 6, PDI 3, SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2; indirect, special interest elections last held 17 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (333 total, 111 indirectly elected) UC 27, MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura and Istiqlal 6, USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: opposition: Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Mohammad al-YAZGHI; Istiqlal Party (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action (OADP), leader NA pro-government: Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID; Popular Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI; National Popular Movement (MNP), Mahjoubi AHARDANE independents: National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN; Democracy and Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA), Abdullah SENHAJI; Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections) only): Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of Workers (UTM), leader NA; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, leader NA

Member of: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (7) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (7) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam

@Morocco:Economy

Overview: Morocco faces the typical problems of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The economy has substantial assets to draw on: the world's largest phosphate reserves, diverse agricultural and fishing resources, a sizable tourist industry, a growing manufacturing sector, and remittances from Moroccans working abroad. A severe drought in 1992-93 depressed economic activity and held down exports. Real GDP contracted by 4.4% in 1992 and 1.1% in 1993. Despite these setbacks, initiatives to relax capital controls, strengthen the banking sector, and privatize state enterprises went forward in 1993-94. Favorable rainfall in 1994 boosted agricultural production by 40%. Servicing the large debt, high unemployment, and vulnerability to external economic forces remain long-term problems for Morocco.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $87.5 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 8% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $3,060 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1994)

Unemployment rate: 16% (1994 est.)

Budget: revenues: $8.1 billion expenditures: $8.9 billion (1994 est.)

Exports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% partners: EU 70%, Japan 5%, US 4%, Libya 3%, India 2% (1993)

Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9% partners: EC 59%, US 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 3%, Russia 2% (1993)

External debt: $20.5 billion (1994 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% accounts for 28% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 2,620,000 kW production: 9.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 361 kWh (1993)

Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP, 50% of employment, and 30% of export value; not self-sufficient in food; cereal farming and livestock raising predominate; barley, wheat, citrus fruit, wine, vegetables, olives

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.3 billion; US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $123.6 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4.8 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.5 billion note: $2.8 billion debt canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991); IMF standby agreement worth $13 million; World Bank, $450 million (1991)

Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 2.892 (January 1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Morocco:Transportation

Railroads: total: 1,893 km standard gauge: 1,893 km 1.435-m gauge (974 km electrified; 246 km double track)

Highways: total: 59,474 km paved: 29,440 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth, unimproved earth 30,034 km

Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products (abandoned) 491 km; natural gas 241 km

Ports: Agadir, Al Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla

Merchant marine: total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,951 GRT/273,057 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 2, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1

Airports: total: 74 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 11 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 13 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 24

@Morocco:Communications

Telephone system: 280,000 telephones; 10.5 telephones/1,000 persons local: NA intercity: good system composed of wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan international: 5 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; microwave radio relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 26 (repeaters 26) televisions: NA

@Morocco:Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 7,307,076; males fit for military service 4,637,453; males reach military age (18) annually 323,921 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1994)



MOZAMBIQUE

@Mozambique:Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Map references: Africa

Area: total area: 801,590 sq km land area: 784,090 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: total 4,571 km, Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Coastline: 2,470 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical to subtropical

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Natural resources: coal, titanium

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 56% forest and woodland: 20% other: 20%

Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: civil strife and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

@Mozambique:People

Population: 18,115,250 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (female 4,069,117; male 4,078,429) 15-64 years: 53% (female 4,882,292; male 4,630,193) 65 years and over: 2% (female 260,057; male 195,162) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.87% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 44.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 15.94 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: by the end of 1994, an estimated 1.6 million Mozambican refugees, who fled to Malawi, Zimbabwa, and South Africa in earlier years from the civil war, had returned; an estimated 100,000 refugees remain to be repatriated from those countries

Infant mortality rate: 126 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.95 years male: 47.04 years female: 50.92 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.19 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic divisions: indigenous tribal groups, Europeans about 10,000, Euro-Africans 35,000, Indians 15,000

Religions: indigenous beliefs 60%, Christian 30%, Muslim 10%

Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 33% male: 45% female: 21%

Labor force: NA by occupation: 90% engaged in agriculture

@Mozambique:Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica Popular de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique

Digraph: MZ

Type: republic

Capital: Maputo

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution: 30 November 1990

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica): draft electoral law provides for periodic, direct presidential and Assembly elections note: as called for in the 1992 peace accords, presidential and legislative elections took place during 27-29 October 1994; fourteen parties, including the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) participated; Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO was elected president and his FRELIMO party gathered a slim majority in the 250 seat legislature

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman; the ruling party since independence, FRELIMO was the only legal party before 30 November 1990 when the new Constitution went into effect establishing a multiparty system

Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hipolito Pereira Zozimo PATRICIO chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis Coleman JETT embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda, 193 Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: [258] (1) 492797 FAX: [258] (1) 490114

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

@Mozambique:Economy

Overview: One of Africa's poorest countries, Mozambique has failed to exploit the economic potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and transportation resources. Indeed, national output, consumption, and investment declined throughout the first half of the 1980s because of internal disorders, lack of government administrative control, and a growing foreign debt. A sharp increase in foreign aid, attracted by an economic reform policy, resulted in successive years of economic growth in the late 1980s, but aid has declined steadily since 1989. Agricultural output is at only 75% of its 1981 level, and grain has to be imported. Industry operates at only 20%-40% of capacity. The economy depends heavily on foreign assistance to keep afloat. Peace accords signed in October 1992 improved chances of foreign investment, aided IMF-supported economic reforms, and supported continued economic recovery. Elections held in 1994 diverted government attention from the economy, resulting in slippage and delays in the economic reform program. Nonetheless, growth in 1994 was solid and can continue into the late 1990s given continued foreign help in meeting debt obligations.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 5.8% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $610 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 50% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues: $252 million expenditures: $607 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Exports: $150 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus partners: Spain, South Africa, US, Portugal, Japan

Imports: $1.14 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum partners: South Africa, UK, France, Japan, Portugal

External debt: $5 billion (1992 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1989 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 2,360,000 kW production: 1.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 58 kWh (1993)

Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, nonmetallic mineral products (cement, glass, asbestos), tobacco

Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP and about 90% of exports; cash crops - cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, shrimp; other crops - cassava, corn, rice, tropical fruits; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $350 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $37 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $890 million

Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 5,220.63 (1st quarter 1994), 3,874.24 (1993), 2,550.40 (1992), 1,763.99 (1991), 1,053.09 (1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Mozambique:Transportation

Railroads: total: 3,288 km narrow gauge: 3,140 km 1.067-m gauge; 148 km 0.762-m gauge

Highways: total: 26,498 km paved: 4,593 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 829 km; unimproved earth 21,076 km

Inland waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes

Pipelines: crude oil (not operating) 306 km; petroleum products 289 km

Ports: Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba

Merchant marine: total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,533 GRT/8,024 DWT

Airports: total: 192 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 112 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 15 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 44

Note: note: highway traffic impeded by land mines not removed at end of civil war

@Mozambique:Communications

Telephone system: NA telephone density; fair system of troposcatter, open-wire lines, and radio relay local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international: 5 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean) earth stations

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

@Mozambique:Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia; note - by late 1994, the army and former RENAMO rebels had demobilized; under UN supervision and training, recruits from both the army and rebel forces joined an integrated force that is still forming

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,061,109; males fit for military service 2,331,793 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 7.3% of GDP (1993)



NAMIBIA

@Namibia:Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Map references: Africa

Area: total area: 825,418 sq km land area: 825,418 sq km comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries: total 3,824 km, Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km

Coastline: 1,572 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili ( Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in mid-February 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice;

Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 64% forest and woodland: 22% other: 13%

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

@Namibia:People

Population: 1,651,545 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (female 384,885; male 394,216) 15-64 years: 50% (female 414,283; male 405,938) 65 years and over: 3% (female 26,783; male 25,440) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.44% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 43.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 8.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 59.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.1 years male: 59.37 years female: 64.9 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Ethnic divisions: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4% note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include (with approximate share of total population): Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religions: 80%-90% Christian (50% Lutheran; at least 30% other Christian denominations)

Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1960) total population: 38% male: 45% female: 31%

Labor force: 500,000 by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)

@Namibia:Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia

Digraph: WA

Type: republic

Capital: Windhoek

Administrative divisions: 13 districts; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - Sam NUJOMA elected president by popular vote cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature National Council: elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1 National Assembly: elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Kephics CONRUDIE; Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS; Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP); Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII; Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses KATJIUONGA

Other political or pressure groups: NA

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marshall F. McCALLIE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792

Flag: a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section, and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

@Namibia:Economy

Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 5.8% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $3,600 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (1994)

Unemployment rate: 35% in urban areas (1993 est.)

Budget: revenues: $941 million expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157 million (FY93/94)

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan

Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland

External debt: about $385 million (1994 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate -14% (1993); accounts for 30% of GDP, including mining

Electricity: capacity: 406,000 kW production: 1.29 billion kWh consumption per capita: 658 kWh (1991)

Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; livestock raising major source of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million

Currency: 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.539 (January 1995), 3.5489 (1994), 3.2678 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863 (1990)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Namibia:Transportation

Railroads: total: 2,341 km (single track) narrow gauge: 2,341 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways: total: 54,500 km paved: 4,080 km unpaved: gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks)

Ports: Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine: none

Airports: total: 135 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 20 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 23 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 70

@Namibia:Communications

Telephone system: 62,800 telephones; telephone density - 38/1,000 persons local: good urban services intercity: fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire international: NA

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 3 televisions: NA

@Namibia:Defense Forces

Branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 348,380; males fit for military service 206,684 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $54 million, 2% of GDP (FY93/94)



NAURU

@Nauru:Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

Map references: Oceania

Area: total area: 21 sq km land area: 21 sq km comparative area: about one-tenth the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 30 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)

Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Natural resources: phosphates

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

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater; phosphate mining threatens limited remaining land resources natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Note: Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator

@Nauru:People

Population: 10,149 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 1.33% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 18.03 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.68 years male: 64.3 years female: 69.18 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic divisions: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%

Religions: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)

Languages: Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes

Literacy: NA%

Labor force: by occupation: NA

@Nauru:Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island

Digraph: NR

Type: republic

Capital: no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia, New Zealand, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution: 29 January 1968

Legal system: own Acts of Parliament and British common law

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 12 December 1989); election last held 19 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - Bernard DOWIYOGO elected by Parliament cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held on 14 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total) independents 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

Member of: AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UPU

Diplomatic representation in US: consulate(s): Agana (Guam)

US diplomatic representation: the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

@Nauru:Economy

Overview: Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World. Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $100 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: NA%

National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget: revenues: $69.7 million expenditures: $51.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)

Exports: $93 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: phosphates partners: Australia, NZ

Imports: $73 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan

External debt: $33.3 million

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: capacity: 14,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,036 kWh (1993)

Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products

Agriculture: coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for food and water

Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $2 million

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2834 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Nauru:Transportation

Railroads: total: 3.9 km; note - used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

Highways: total: 27 km paved: 21 km unpaved: improved earth 6 km

Ports: Nauru

Merchant marine: none

Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

@Nauru:Communications

Telephone system: 1,600 telephones; adequate local and international radio communications provided via Australian facilities local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: 4,000

Television: broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA

@Nauru:Defense Forces

Branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru Police Force

Defense expenditures: $NA; note - no formal defense structure



NAVASSA ISLAND

(territory of the US)

@Navassa Island:Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total area: 5.2 sq km land area: 5.2 sq km comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 8 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claimed by Haiti

Climate: marine, tropical

Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)

Natural resources: guano

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 0% other: 90%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

@Navassa Island:People

Population: uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

@Navassa Island:Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island

Digraph: BQ

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

@Navassa Island:Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Navassa Island:Transportation

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

@Navassa Island:Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US



NEPAL

@Nepal:Geography

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references: Asia

Area: total area: 140,800 sq km land area: 136,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries: total 2,926 km, China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

International disputes: none

Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 33% other: 37%

Irrigated land: 9,430 sq km (1989)

Environment: current issues: the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health risks) natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

@Nepal:People

Population: 21,560,869 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (female 4,479,950; male 4,692,575) 15-64 years: 55% (female 5,778,107; male 5,994,147) 65 years and over: 2% (female 305,502; male 310,588) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.44% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 37.31 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 12.9 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 81.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.09 years male: 52.86 years female: 53.34 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) adjective: Nepalese

Ethnic divisions: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas

Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981) note: only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups

Languages: Nepali (official), 20 languages divided into numerous dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 26% male: 38% female: 13%

Labor force: 8.5 million (1991 est.) by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2% note: severe lack of skilled labor

@Nepal:Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal

Digraph: NP

Type: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991

Capital: Kathmandu

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)

Constitution: 9 November 1990

Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: head of government: Prime Minister Man Mohan ADHIKARI (since 30 November 1994) chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King 24 February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the king on recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament National Council: consists of a 60-member body, 50 appointed by House of Representatives and 10 by the King House of Representatives: elections last held on 15 November 1994 (next to be held NA); results - NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats - (205 total) CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3, independents 7; note - the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gave Nepal a multiparty democracy system for the first time in 32 years

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Prime Minister Man Mohan ADHIKARI, Deputy Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL; Nepali Congress Party (NCP), president Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI, former Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Leader of the Opposition Sher Bahadur DEUBA; National Democratic Party (NDP), Surya Bahadur THAPA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH; United People's Front (UPF), Niranjan Govinda BAIDYA; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE; Communist Party of Nepal (Democratic-Manandhar), B. B. MANANDHAR

Other political or pressure groups: numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups

Member of: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Pradeep KHATIWADA chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Sandra L. VOGELGESANG embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 411179 FAX: [977] (1) 419963

Flag: red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

@Nepal:Economy

Overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 90% of the population and accounting for half of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in FY93/94. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with annual population growth of 2.6%. More than 40% of the population is undernourished. Since May 1991, the government has been encouraging trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify domestic and foreign investment. The government also has been cutting public expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. Prospects for foreign trade and investment in the 1990s remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, and susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community provides funding for 70% of Nepal's developmental budget and for 30% of total budgetary expenditures. The government, realizing that attempts to reverse three years of liberalization would jeopardize this vital support, almost certainly will move ahead with its reform program in 1995-96.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $22.4 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $1,060 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (June 1994)

Unemployment rate: NA%; note - there is substantial underemployment (1994)

Budget: revenues: $455 million expenditures: $854 million, including capital expenditures of $427 million (FY93/94 est.)

Exports: $593 million (f.o.b., 1993) but does not include unrecorded border trade with India commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain partners: India, US, Germany, UK

Imports: $899 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10% partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany

External debt: $2 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial production: NA

Electricity: capacity: 280,000 kW production: 920 million kWh consumption per capita: 41 kWh (1993)

Industries: small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette, textile, carpet, cement, and brick production; tourism

Agriculture: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat; not self-sufficient in food, particularly in drought years

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for heroin from Southeast Asia to the West

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $304 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $2.23 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $286 million

Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 49.884 (January 1995), 49.398 (1994), 48.607 (1993), 42.742 (1992), 37.255 (1991), 29.370 (1990)

Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July

@Nepal:Transportation

Railroads: total: 101 km; note - all in Terai close to Indian border narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

Highways: total: 7,400 km paved: 3,000 km unpaved: 4,400 km

Ports: none

Airports: total: 44 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 28 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10

@Nepal:Communications

Telephone system: 50,000 telephones (1990); poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radio communication service local: NA intercity: NA international: international radio communication service is fair; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 88, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

@Nepal:Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,163,703; males fit for military service 2,682,284; males reach military age (17) annually 247,978 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 1.2% of GDP (FY92/93)



NETHERLANDS

@Netherlands:Geography

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Map references: Europe

Area: total area: 37,330 sq km land area: 33,920 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries: total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline: 451 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil

Land use: arable land: 26% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 32% forest and woodland: 9% other: 32%

Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

@Netherlands:People

Population: 15,452,903 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (female 1,382,057; male 1,445,451) 15-64 years: 68% (female 5,184,224; male 5,369,018) 65 years and over: 14% (female 1,238,336; male 833,817) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.52% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 12.42 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 8.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.95 years male: 74.9 years female: 81.17 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch

Ethnic divisions: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Languages: Dutch

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.) total population: 99%

Labor force: 6.4 million (1993) by occupation: services 71.4%, manufacturing and construction 24.6%, agriculture 4.0% (1992)

@Netherlands:Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden local short form: Nederland

Digraph: NL

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 17 February 1983

Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen Beatrix (born 27 April 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August 1994); Vice Prime Minister Hans DIJKSTAL and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) First Chamber (Eerste Kamer): members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms; elections last held 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (75 total) number of seats by party NA Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer): members directly elected for four-year terms; elections last held on 3 May 1994 (next to be held in May 1999); results - PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other 16.5%; seats - (150 total) PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad)

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Hans HELGERS; Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK; Liberal (VVD - People's Party for Freedom and Democracy), Frits BOLKESTEIN; Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans van MIERLO; a host of minor parties

Other political or pressure groups: large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council (IKV)

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Adriaan JACOBOVITS DE SZEGED chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, the Hague; APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209 FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

@Netherlands:Economy

Overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Indeed the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. High unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $275.8 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $17,940 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (December 1994)

Unemployment rate: 8.8% (December 1994)

Budget: revenues: $109.9 billion expenditures: $122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Exports: $153 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: metal products, chemicals, processed food and tobacco, agricultural products partners: EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%), Central and Eastern Europe 10%, US 4% (1991)

Imports: $137 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products partners: EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8% (1991)

External debt: $0

Industrial production: growth rate -1.5% (1993 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 17,520,000 kW production: 72.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,100 kWh (1993)

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics

Agriculture: accounts for 4.6% of GDP; animal production predominates; crops - grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; shortages of grain, fats, and oils

Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs

Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion

Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.7178 (January 1995), 1.8200 (1994), 1.8573 (1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Netherlands:Transportation

Railroads: total: 2,757 km standard gauge: 2,757 km km 1.435-m gauge (1,991 km electrified; 1,800 km double track) (1994)

Highways: total: 104,831 km paved: 92,251 km (2,118 km of expressway) unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 12,580 km (1992)

Inland waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km

Ports: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht

Merchant marine: total: 343 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,629,578 GRT/3,337,307 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 195, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 3, container 33, liquefied gas tanker 12, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 37, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2 note: many Dutch-owned ships are also registered on the Netherlands Antilles register

Airports: total: 29 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 8 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3

@Netherlands:Communications

Telephone system: 9,418,000 telephones; highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay links local: nationwide mobile phone system intercity: microwave radio relay international: 5 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT earth station

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 3 (relays 3), FM 12 (repeaters 39), shortwave 0

radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 8 (repeaters 7) televisions: NA

@Netherlands:Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,177,555; males fit for military service 3,656,529; males reach military age (20) annually 94,771 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.1 billion, 2.2% of GDP (1994)



NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

(part of the Dutch realm)

@Netherlands Antilles:Geography

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is east of the Virgin Islands

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total area: 960 sq km land area: 960 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 364 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October international agreements: party to - Whaling (extended from Netherlands)

@Netherlands Antilles:People

Population: 203,505 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (female 25,349; male 26,577) 15-64 years: 67% (female 69,273; male 67,485) 65 years and over: 7% (female 8,599; male 6,222) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.06% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 16.23 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.26 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.94 years male: 74.67 years female: 79.33 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Netherlands Antillean(s) adjective: Netherlands Antillean

Ethnic divisions: mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European, Latin, Oriental

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99%

Labor force: 89,000 by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

@Netherlands Antilles:Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Digraph: NT

Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954

Capital: Willemstad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Dutch realm)

Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended

Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of the unicameral legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral Staten: elections last held on 25 February 1994 (next to be held March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total) PAR 8, PNP 3, SPA 2, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, DP 1, WIPM 1, DP-St.E 1, DP-St.M 1, Nos Patria 1 note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to each island Bonaire: Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic Party of Bonaire (PDB), Franklin CRESTIAN Curacao: Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER; National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA Saba: Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Will JOHNSON; Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Vernon HASSELL; Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), K. Van PUTTEN; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ralph BERKEL Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Claude WATHEY; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance JAMES

Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WTO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Consul General Bernard J. WOERZ consulate(s) general: Saint Anna Boulevard 19, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 61-3066 FAX: [599] (9) 61-6489

Flag: white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

@Netherlands Antilles:Economy

Overview: Tourism and offshore finance are the mainstays of the economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela and the US being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.85 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 1.8% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 13.4% (1993 est.)

Budget: revenues: $209 million expenditures: $232 million, including capital expenditures of $8 million (1992 est.)

Exports: $240 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: petroleum products 98% partners: US 39%, Brazil 9%, Colombia 6%

Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures partners: Venezuela 26%, US 18%, Colombia 6%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5%

External debt: $672 million (December 1991)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: capacity: 200,000 kW production: 810 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,054 kWh (1993)

Industries: tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

Agriculture: chief products - aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for South American cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $513 million

Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins (NAf.) per US$1 - 1.79 (fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate 1971-88)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Netherlands Antilles:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways: total: 950 km paved: 300 km unpaved: gravel, earth 650 km

Ports: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad

Merchant marine: total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,044,553 GRT/1,343,842 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 20, oil tanker 2, passenger 4, refrigerated cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7

Airports: total: 5 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1

@Netherlands Antilles:Communications

Telephone system: NA telephones; generally adequate facilities local: NA intercity: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: 2 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

@Netherlands Antilles:Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 56,058; males fit for military service 31,558; males reach military age (20) annually 1,734 (1995 est.)

Note: defense is responsibility of the Netherlands



NEW CALEDONIA

(overseas territory of France)

@New Caledonia:Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Map references: Oceania

Area: total area: 19,060 sq km land area: 18,760 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,254 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains

Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 14% forest and woodland: 51% other: 35%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March international agreements: NA

@New Caledonia:People

Population: 184,552 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (female 27,712; male 28,677) 15-64 years: 64% (female 58,462; male 60,169) 65 years and over: 5% (female 4,997; male 4,535) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.75% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 22.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.02 years male: 70.73 years female: 77.48 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976) total population: 91% male: 92% female: 90%

Labor force: 50,469 foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.) by occupation: NA

@New Caledonia:Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie

Digraph: NC

Type: overseas territory of France since 1956

Capital: Noumea

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence: none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on independence will be held in 1998)

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

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Didier CULTIAUX (since NA July 1994; appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior); President of the Territorial Congress Simon LOUECKHOTE (since 26 June 1989) cabinet: Consultative Committee

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly: elections last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held July 1995); results - RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS 28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO 4%, other 11%; seats - (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, other 5; note - election boycotted by FULK French Senate: elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPCR 1 French National Assembly: elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative, Jacques LAFLEUR, president - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la Republique (RPR; also called South Province Party); Melanesian proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), Paul NEAOUTYINE; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS), Nidoish NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE; Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union Oceanienne (UO), conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak (FULK), proindependence, Clarence UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC), Francois BURCK, president; "1999" (new party calling for an autonomous state), Philippe PENTECOST

Member of: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of France)

US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag: the flag of France is used

@New Caledonia:Economy

Overview: New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1991 est.)

National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1988)

National product per capita: $6,000 (1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 16% (1989)

Budget: revenues: $224 million expenditures: $211 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)

Exports: $671 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: nickel metal 87%, nickel ore partners: France 32%, Japan 23.5%, US 3.6%

Imports: $764 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment partners: France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: capacity: 250,000 kW production: 1.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,178 kWh (1993)

Industries: nickel mining and smelting

Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef

Illicit drugs: illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for some families

Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.185 billion

Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 96.25 (January 1995), 100.93 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

@New Caledonia:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways: total: 6,340 km paved: 634 km unpaved: 5,706 km (1987)

Ports: Mueo, Noumea, Thio

Merchant marine: total: 1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,079 GRT/724 DWT

Airports: total: 36 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 19 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 13

@New Caledonia:Communications

Telephone system: 32,578 telephones (1987) local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) satellite link

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 7 televisions: NA

@New Caledonia:Defense Forces

Branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Note: defense is the responsibility of France



NEW ZEALAND

@New Zealand:Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Map references: Oceania

Area: total area: 268,680 sq km land area: 268,670 sq km comparative area: about the size of Colorado note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 15,134 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 53% forest and woodland: 38% other: 7%

Irrigated land: 2,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Note: about 80% of the population lives in cities

@New Zealand:People

Population: 3,407,277 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (female 381,027; male 401,285) 15-64 years: 65% (female 1,109,402; male 1,111,079) 65 years and over: 12% (female 234,339; male 170,145) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.52% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 15.14 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.65 years male: 73.08 years female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic divisions: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%

Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Languages: English (official), Maori

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 99%

Labor force: 1,603,500 (June 1991) by occupation: services 66.6%, industry 22.6%, agriculture 10.8% (1992)

@New Zealand:Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand

Abbreviation: NZ

Digraph: NZ

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Wellington

Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)