Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French widely understood

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 64% male: 78% female: 51%

Labor force: 4.3 million (1994 est.) by occupation: miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture 32%, industry and construction 32%; note - shortage of skilled labor (1984)

@Syria:Government

Names: conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic conventional short form: Syria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah local short form: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

Digraph: SY

Type: republic under leftwing military regime since March 1963

Capital: Damascus

Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)

Constitution: 13 March 1973

Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971 see note); Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM, Rif'at al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote; note - President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national elections head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZU'BI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167, independents 83

Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Front includes: the ruling Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, President of the Republic, Secretary General of the party, and Chairman of the National Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-Ghani KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist Party (SCP), Khalid BAKDASH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, Sami SOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood

Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313 FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 333-2814, 714-108, 333-3788 FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

@Syria:Economy

Overview: In 1990-93 Syria's state-dominated Ba'thist economy benefited from the Gulf war, increased oil production, good weather, and economic deregulation. Economic growth averaged roughly 10%. The Gulf war provided Syria an aid windfall of nearly $5 billion dollars from Arab, European, and Japanese donors. However, the benefits of the 1990-93 boom were not evenly distributed and the gap between rich and poor is widening. A nationwide financial scandal and increasing inflation were accompanied by a decline in GDP growth to 4% in 1994. For the long run, Syria's economy is still saddled with a large number of poorly performing public sector firms, and industrial productivity remains to be improved. Oil production is likely to fall off dramatically by the end of the decade. Unemployment will become a problem for the government when the more than 60% of the population under the age of 20 enter the labor force.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $74.4 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $5,000 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.3% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1993 est.)

Budget: NA

Exports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum 53%, textiles 22%, cotton, fruits and vegetables, wheat, barley, chickens partners: EC 48%, former CEMA countries 24%, Arab countries 18% (1991)

Imports: $4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs 21%, metal products 17%, machinery 15% partners: EC 37%, former CEMA countries 15%, US and Canada 10% (1991)

External debt: $19.4 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: capacity: 4,160,000 kW production: 13.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1993)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, petroleum

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all major crops (wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly on rain-watered land causing wide swings in production; animal products - beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain or livestock products

Illicit drugs: a transit country for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional and Western markets

Economic aid: recipient: no US aid; about $4.2 billion in loans and grants from Arab and Western donors 1990-92 as a result of Gulf war stance

Currency: 1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piastres

Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 11.2 (official fixed rate), 26.6 (blended rate used by the UN and diplomatic missions), 42.0 (neighboring country rate - applies to most state enterprise imports), 46.0 - 53.0 (offshore rate) (yearend 1993)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Syria:Transportation

Railroads: total: 1,998 km broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge

Highways: total: 31,569 km paved: 24,308 km (including 670 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,261 km

Inland waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance

Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km

Ports: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus

Merchant marine: total: 80 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,701 GRT/364,714 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 68, vehicle carrier 2

Airports: total: 107 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 67 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15

@Syria:Communications

Telephone system: 512,600 telephones; 37 telephones/1,000 persons; fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber optic technology local: NA intercity: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik earth station; 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 17 televisions: NA

@Syria:Defense Forces

Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,440,030; males fit for military service 1,927,930; males reach military age (19) annually 159,942 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 6% of GDP (1992)



TAIWAN

@Taiwan:Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total area: 35,980 sq km land area: 32,260 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland and Delaware combined note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,448 km

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

International disputes: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan

Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 55% other: 15%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation

@Taiwan:People

Population: 21,500,583 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (female 2,543,134; male 2,665,878) 15-64 years: 68% (female 7,191,964; male 7,482,814) 65 years and over: 8% (female 734,535; male 882,258) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.93% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 15.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 72.17 years female: 78.93 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%

Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 86% male: 93% female: 79%

Labor force: 7.9 million by occupation: industry and commerce 53%, services 22%, agriculture 15.6%, civil administration 7% (1989)

@Taiwan:Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan

Digraph: TW

Type: multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in March, 1989

Capital: Taipei

Administrative divisions: some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization

National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the Revolution)

Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoing revision

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); Vice President LI Yuan-zu (since 20 May 1990) head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN Chan (since 23 February 1993); Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993); presidential election last held 21 March 1990 (next election will probably be a direct popular election and will be held NA March 1996); results - President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly; vice presidential election last held 21 March 1990; results - LI Yuan-zu was elected by the National Assembly cabinet: Executive Yuan; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral National Assembly Legislative Yuan: elections last held 19 December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1995); results - KMT 60%, DPP 31%, independents 9%; seats - (304 total, 161 elected) KMT 96, DPP 50, independents 15 National Assembly: first National Assembly elected in November 1946 with a supplementary election in December 1986; second and present National Assembly elected in December 1991; seats - (403 total) KMT 318, DPP 75, other 10; (next election to be held probably in 1996 and will be a direct popular election)

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan

Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), SHIH Ming-teh, chairman; Chinese New Party (CNP); Labor Party (LP)

Other political or pressure groups: Taiwan independence movement, various environmental groups note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence, both within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

Member of: expelled from UN General Assembly and Security Council on 25 October 1971 and withdrew on same date from other charter-designated subsidiary organs; expelled from IMF/World Bank group April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT; attempting to retain membership in INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972, but still allows IAEA controls over extensive atomic development, APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, IOC, WCL

Diplomatic representation in US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 10 other US cities

US diplomatic representation: unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550

Flag: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

@Taiwan:Economy

Overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GNP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are remarkably low. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $257 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $12,070 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1994)

Budget: revenues: $30.3 billion expenditures: $30.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Exports: $93 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: electrical machinery 19.7%, electronic products 19.6%, textiles 10.9%, footwear 3.3%, foodstuffs 1.0%, plywood and wood products 0.9% (1993 est.) partners: US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EC countries 15.2%, Japan 10.5% (1994 est.)

Imports: $85.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and equipment 15.7%, electronic products 15.6%, chemicals 9.8%, iron and steel 8.5%, crude oil 3.9%, foodstuffs 2.1% (1993 est.) partners: Japan 30.1%, US 21.7%, EC countries 17.6% (1993 est.)

External debt: $620 million (1992 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% (1994 est.); accounts for more than 40% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 21,460,000 kW production: 108 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,789 kWh (1993)

Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP and 16% of labor force (includes part-time farmers); heavily subsidized sector; major crops - vegetables, rice, fruit, tea; livestock - hogs, poultry, beef, milk; not self-sufficient in wheat, soybeans, corn; fish catch increasing, reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988

Illicit drugs: an important heroin transit point; also a major drug money laundering center

Economic aid: recipient: US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500 million

Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 26.2 (1994), 26.6 (1993), 25.4 (1992), 25.748 (1991), 27.108 (1990), 26.407 (1989)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Taiwan:Transportation

Railroads: total: 4,600 km; note - 1,075 km in common carrier service and about 3,525 km is dedicated to industrial use narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m

Highways: total: 20,041 km paved: bituminous, concrete pavement 17,095 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 2,371 km; graded earth 575 km

Pipelines: petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km

Ports: Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung

Merchant marine: total: 198 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,635,682 GRT/8,652,111 DWT ships by type: bulk 55, cargo 30, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 78, oil tanker 17, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Airports: total: 41 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 8 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6 with paved runways under 914 m: 8 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2

@Taiwan:Communications

Telephone system: 7,800,000 telephones; best developed system in Asia outside of Japan local: NA intercity: extensive microwave radio relay links on east and west coasts international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth stations; submarine cable links to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 23, shortwave 0 radios: 8.62 million

Television: broadcast stations: 15 (repeaters 13) televisions: 6.386 million (color 5,680,000, monochrome 706,000)

@Taiwan:Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Military Police Command

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,293,884; males fit for military service 4,863,014; males reach military age (19) annually 201,191 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion, 3.4% of GDP (FY94/95); $9.77 billion proposed for FY95/96 budget



TAJIKISTAN

Note—Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government since it gained independence in September 1991. The current president, Emomali RAKHMONOV, was elected to the presidency in November 1994, yet has been in power since 1992. The country is suffering through its third year of a civil war, with no clear end in sight. Underlying the conflict are deeply-rooted regional and clan-based animosities that pit a government consisting of people primarily from the Kulob (Kulyab), Khujand (Leninabad), and Hisor (Hissar) regions against a secular and Islamic-led opposition from the Gharm, Gorno-Badakhshan, and Qurghonteppa (Kurgan-Tyube) regions. Government and opposition representatives have held periodic rounds of UN-mediated peace talks and agreed in September 1994 to a cease-fire. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian border guards are stationed along the Tajik-Afghan border.

@Tajikistan:Geography

Location: Central Asia, west of China

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States

Area: total area: 143,100 sq km land area: 142,700 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries: total 3,651 km, Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

International disputes: boundary with China in dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area; Afghanistan's and other foreign support to Tajik rebels based in northern Afghanistan

Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Terrain: Pamir and Altay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 0% other: 71%

Irrigated land: 6,940 sq km (1990)

Environment: current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea which suffers from severe overutilization of available water for irrigation and associated pollution natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Note: landlocked

@Tajikistan:People

Population: 6,155,474 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (female 1,303,627; male 1,340,086) 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,612,429; male 1,624,379) 65 years and over: 4% (female 157,841; male 117,112) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 34.06 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 60.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.03 years male: 66.11 years female: 72.1 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Tajik(s) adjective: Tajik

Ethnic divisions: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%

Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%

Languages: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97%

Labor force: 1.95 million (1992) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, government and services 24%, industry 14%, trade and communications 11%, construction 8% (1990)

@Tajikistan:Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikistan local short form: none former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Digraph: TI

Type: republic

Capital: Dushanbe

Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati avtonomii); Viloyati Avtonomii Badakhshoni Kuni* (Khorugh - formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa - formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobad (Khujand - formerly Leninabad) note: the administrative center names are in parentheses

Independence: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: National Day, 9 September (1991)

Constitution: new constitution adopted 6 November 1994

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Emomili RAKHMONOV (since 6 November 1994; was Head of State and Assembly Chairman since NA November 1992); election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Emomili RAKHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLAJANOV 40% head of government: Prime Minister Jamshed KARIMOV (since 2 December 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Soviet: elections last held 26 February 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; estimated seats - (181 total) Communist Party and affiliates 100, Popular Party 10, Party of Political and Economic Progress 1, Party of Popular Unity 6, other 64

Judicial branch: Prosecutor General

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party (People's Party of Tajikistan - PPT), Abdumalik ABDULAJANOV; Party of Economic Freedom (PEF), Abdumalik ABDULAJANOV; Tajik Socialist Party (TSP), Shodi SHABDOLOV; Tajik Democratic Party (TDP), Abdu-Nabi SATARZADE, chairman; note - suspended for six months; Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP), Sayed Abdullo NURI, chairman; Rebirth (Rastokhez), Takhir ABDUZHABOROV; Lali Badakhshan Society, Atobek AMIRBEK; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Abdujalil HAMIDOV, chairman; Tajikistan Party of Economic and Political Renewal (TPEPR), Mukhtor BOBOYEV note: all the above-listed parties except the Communist Party, the Party of National Unity, and the People's Party were banned in June 1993

Other political or pressure groups: Tajikistan Opposition Movement based in northern Afghanistan

Member of: CIS, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: NA chancery: NA telephone: NA

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO embassy: Interim Chancery, #39 Ainii Street, Oktyabrskaya Hotel, Dushanbe mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3772) 21-03-56

Flag: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a crown surmounted by seven five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe

@Tajikistan:Economy

Overview: Tajikistan had the next-to-lowest per capita GDP in the former USSR, the highest rate of population growth, and an extremely low standard of living. Agriculture dominates the economy, cotton being the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry is limited to a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The Tajik economy has been gravely weakened by three years of civil war and by the loss of subsidies and markets for its products, which has left Tajikistan dependent on Russia and Uzbekistan and on international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the continued dominance by former Communist officials have impeded the introduction of meaningful economic reforms. In the meantime, Tajikistan's efforts to adopt the Russian ruble as its domestic currency despite Russia's unwillingness to supply sufficient rubles left the country in a severe monetary crisis throughout 1994, keeping inflation low but leaving workers and pensioners unpaid for months at a time. The government has announced plans to introduce its own currency in 1995 to help resolve the problem.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)

National product real growth rate: -12% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $1,415 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 1.5% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and unregistered unemployed people (September 1994)

Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports: $320 million to outside the FSU countries (1994) commodities: cotton, aluminum, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles partners: Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan

Imports: $318 million from outside the FSU countries (1994) commodities: fuel, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, foodstuffs partners: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate -31% (1994)

Electricity: capacity: 3,800,000 kW production: 17 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,800 kWh (1994)

Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers

Agriculture: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep and goats

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; used as transshipment points for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America

Economic aid: recipient: Russia and Uzbekistan reportedly provided substantial general assistance throughout 1993 and 1994; Western aid and credits promised through the end of 1993 were $700 million but disbursements were only $104 million; large scale development loans await IMF approval of a reform and stabilization plan

Currency: 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks; Tajikistan uses the Russian ruble as its currency by agreement with Russia; government has plans to introduce its own currency, the Tajik ruble, in 1995

Exchange rates: NA

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Tajikistan:Transportation

Railroads: total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines (1990)

Highways: total: 29,900 km paved: 21,400 km unpaved: earth 8,500 km (1990)

Pipelines: natural gas 400 km (1992)

Ports: none

Airports: total: 59 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 36

@Tajikistan:Communications

Telephone system: 303,000 telephones (December 1991); about 55 telephones/1,000 persons (1991); poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not reached by the national network local: NA intercity: cable and microwave radio relay international: linked by cable and microwave to other CIS republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by INTELSAT to international gateway switch in Ankara; 1 Orbita and 2 INTELSAT earth stations

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

Television: broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA note: 1 INTELSAT earth station provides TV receive-only service from Turkey

@Tajikistan:Defense Forces

Branches: Army (being formed), National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,410,229; males fit for military service 1,153,638; males reach military age (18) annually 57,942 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP



TANZANIA

@Tanzania:Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

Map references: Africa

Area: total area: 945,090 sq km land area: 886,040 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of California note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Land boundaries: total 3,402 km, Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Coastline: 1,424 km

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

International disputes: boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Natural resources: hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 47% other: 7%

Irrigated land: 1,530 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture natural hazards: the tsetse fly and lack of water limit agriculture; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Note: Mount Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

@Tanzania:People

Population: 28,701,077 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (female 6,724,575; male 6,676,652) 15-64 years: 50% (female 7,462,615; male 7,027,551) 65 years and over: 3% (female 425,211; male 384,473) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.55% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 45.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 19.81 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: in February 1995, a fresh influx of refugees from civil strife in Burundi brought the total number of Burundian refugees in Tanzania to about 60,000; in addition, since April 1994 more than a half million refugees from Rwanda have taken refuge in Tanzania to escape civil strife in Rwanda

Infant mortality rate: 109 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42.53 years male: 40.88 years female: 44.22 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian

Ethnic divisions: mainland: native African 99% (consisting of well over 100 tribes), Asian, European, and Arab 1% Zanzibar: NA

Religions: mainland: Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20% Zanzibar: Muslim 99% plus

Languages: Swahili (official; widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups and is used in primary education), English (official; primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education) note: first language of most people is one of the local languages

Literacy: age 15 and over has ability to read and write a letter or message in Kisahili (1988) total population: 59% male: 71% female: 48%

Labor force: 732,200 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1986 est.)

@Tanzania:Government

Names: conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Digraph: TZ

Type: republic

Capital: Dar es Salaam note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital by the end of the 1990s

Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi

Independence: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UN trusteeship under British administration); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)

Constitution: 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Ali Hassan MWINYI (since 5 November 1985); First Vice President Cleopa MSUYA (since 5 December 1994); Second Vice President and President of Zanzibar Salmin AMOUR (since 9 November 1990) election last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held 29 October 1995); results - Ali Hassan MWINYI was elected without opposition head of government: Prime Minister Cleopa David MSUYA (since 7 December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge): elections last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held 29 October 1995); results - CCM was the only party; seats - (241 total, 168 elected) CCM 168

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM or Revolutionary Party), Ali Hassan MWINYI; Civic United Front (CUF), James MAPALALA; National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR), Lyatonga (Augustine) MREMA; Union for Multiparty Democracy (UMD), Abdullah FUNDIKIRA; Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Edwin I. M. MTEI, chairman; Democratic Party (unregistered), Reverend MTIKLA

Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, FLS, G- 6, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Musama NYIRABU chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125 FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Brady ANDERSON embassy: 36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam telephone: [255] (51) 66010 through 66015 FAX: [255] (51) 66701

Flag: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue

@Tanzania:Economy

Overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about 58% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 5% of the land area. Industry accounts for 8% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-94 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $750 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $495 million expenditures: $631 million, including capital expenditures of $118 million (1990 est.)

Exports: $462 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: coffee, cotton, tobacco, tea, cashew nuts, sisal partners: Germany, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, cotton piece goods, crude oil, foodstuffs partners: Germany, UK, US, Japan, Italy, Denmark

External debt: $6.7 billion (1993)

Industrial production: growth rate 9.3% (1990); accounts for 8% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 440,000 kW production: 880 million kWh consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1993)

Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer

Agriculture: accounts for about 58% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashews, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar); food crops - corn, wheat, cassava, bananas, fruits, vegetables; small numbers of cattle, sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in food grain production

Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest Asian heroin destined for European and US markets

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $400 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $9.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $44 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $614 million

Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 523.40 (December 1994), 509.63 (1994), 405.27 (1993), 297.71 (1992), 219.16 (1991), 195.06 (1990)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Tanzania:Transportation

Railroads: total: 2,600 km; note - not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation is the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri M'poshi in Zambia; 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in Zambia; because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to Tanzania Railways narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways: total: 81,900 km paved: 3,600 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 5,600 km; improved, unimproved earth 72,700 km

Inland waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa

Pipelines: crude oil 982 km

Ports: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Lindi, Mkoani, Mtwara, Musoma, Mwanza, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,145 GRT/39,186 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Airports: total: 108 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: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 30 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 16 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 51

@Tanzania:Communications

Telephone system: 103,800 telephones; fair system operating below capacity local: NA intercity: open wire, microwave radio relay, troposcatter international: 2 satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 2 televisions: NA

@Tanzania:Defense Forces

Branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,188,455; males fit for military service 3,584,912 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $69 million, NA% of GDP (FY94/95)



THAILAND

@Thailand:Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total area: 514,000 sq km land area: 511,770 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries: total 4,863 km, Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Coastline: 3,219 km

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

International disputes: boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam; parts of border with Thailand in dispute; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain: central plain; Khorat plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 30% other: 31%

Irrigated land: 42,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

@Thailand:People

Population: 60,271,300 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (female 8,545,362; male 8,866,271) 15-64 years: 66% (female 19,733,773; male 20,185,392) 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,636,426; male 1,304,076) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.24% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate: 35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.42 years male: 64.94 years female: 72.08 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)

Languages: Thai, English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 93% male: 96% female: 91%

Labor force: 30.87 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)

@Thailand:Government

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

Digraph: TH

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Bangkok

Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Constitution: new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952) head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 23 September 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers Privy Council: NA

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) Senate (Vuthisatha): consists of a 270-member appointed body House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn): elections last held 13 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (360 total) DP 79, TNP 77, NDP 60, NAP 51, Phalang Tham 47, SAP 22, LDP 8, SP 8, Mass Party 4, Thai Citizen's Party 3, People's Party 1, People's Force Party 0

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarndika)

Political parties and leaders: Democrat Party (DP), CHUAN Likphai; Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai Party), Banhan SINLAPA-ACHA; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), Chatchai CHUNHAWAN; New Aspiration Party (NAP), Gen. Chawalit YONGCHAIYUT; Phalang Tham (Palang Dharma), CHAMLONG Simuang; Social Action Party (SAP), Montri PHONGPHANIT; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), Athit URAIRAT; Solidarity Party (SP), Uthai PHIMCHAICHON; Mass Party (Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. Choem YUBAMRUNG; Thai Citizen's Party (Prachakon Thai), Samak SUNTHONWET; People's Party (Ratsadon), Chaiphak SIRIWAT; People's Force Party (Phalang Prachachon), Col. Sophon HANCHAREON

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador MANATPHAT Chuto chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David F. LAMBERTSON embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 252-5040 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai consulate(s): Udorn (Udon Thani)

Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

@Thailand:Economy

Overview: Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political unrest in May 1992 to post an impressive 7.5% growth rate for the year, 7.8% in 1993, and 8% in 1994. One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, Thailand depends on exports of manufactures and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth. Much of Thailand's recent imports have been for capital equipment, suggesting that the export sector is poised for further growth. With foreign investment slowing, Bangkok is working to increase the generation of domestic capital. Prime Minister CHUAN's government - Thailand's fifth government in less than three years - is pledged to continue Bangkok's probusiness policies, and the return of a democratically elected government has improved business confidence. Even so, CHUAN must overcome divisions within his ruling coalition to complete much needed infrastructure development programs if Thailand is to remain an attractive place for business investment. Over the longer-term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $355.2 billion (1994 est.)

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

National product per capita: $5,970 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3.2% (1993 est.)

Budget: revenues: $28.4 billion expenditures: $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.6 billion (FY94/95 est.)

Exports: $46 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and manufactures 83%, agricultural products and fisheries 16%, others 1% (1994 est.) partners: US 22%, Japan 17%, Singapore 12%, Hong Kong 5%, Germany 4% (1993)

Imports: $52.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: capital goods 44%, intermediate goods and raw materials 37%, consumer goods 16%, other 3% (1994 est.) partners: Japan 30%, US 12%, Singapore 6%, Germany 5%, Taiwan 5% (1993)

External debt: $64.3 billion (1994 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 11.5% (1993 est.); accounts for about 26% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 12,810,000 kW production: 56.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 909 kWh (1993)

Industries: tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GDP and 62% of labor force; leading producer and exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca); other crops - rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans; except for wheat, self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, for the international drug market; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a major drug money laundering center; rapidly growing role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of heroin and cocaine

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million

Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1 - 25.074 (January 1995), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

@Thailand:Transportation

Railroads: total: 3,940 km narrow gauge: 3,940 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)

Highways: total: 77,697 km paved: 35,855 km (including 88 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel, other stabilization 14,092 km; earth 27,750 km (1988)

Inland waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km

Ports: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla

Merchant marine: total: 229 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,231,172 GRT/1,931,117 DWT ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 122, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 15, liquefied gas tanker 9, oil tanker 45, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1

Airports: total: 105 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23 with paved runways under 914 m: 42 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14

@Thailand:Communications

Telephone system: 739,500 telephones (1987); service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 11 (in government-controlled network) televisions: NA

@Thailand:Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 17,297,854; males fit for military service 10,489,564; males reach military age (18) annually 585,009 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, 2.5% of GNP (FY94/95)



TOGO

@Togo:Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Benin and Ghana

Map references: Africa

Area: total area: 56,790 sq km land area: 54,390 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries: total 1,647 km, Benin 644 km, Burkina 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Coastline: 56 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 28% other: 42%

Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting agriculture natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94

@Togo:People

Population: 4,410,370 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 49% (female 1,069,171; male 1,079,999) 15-64 years: 49% (female 1,121,685; male 1,043,000) 65 years and over: 2% (female 51,392; male 45,123) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.58% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 46.78 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 11.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate: 86.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.42 years male: 55.29 years female: 59.6 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.83 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: 37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabye, European and Syrian-Lebanese under 1%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%

Languages: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Dagomba and Kabye (the two major African languages in the north)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 43% male: 56% female: 31%

Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture 80% note: about 88,600 wage earners, evenly divided between public and private sectors

@Togo:Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Togo conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togo

Digraph: TO

Type: republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Capital: Lome

Administrative divisions: 23 circumscriptions (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription); Amlame (Amou), Aneho (Lacs), Atakpame (Ogou), Badou (Wawa), Bafilo (Assoli), Bassar (Bassari), Dapango (Tone), Kande (Keran), Klouto (Kloto), Pagouda (Binah), Lama-Kara (Kozah), Lome (Golfe), Mango (Oti), Niamtougou (Doufelgou), Notse (Haho), Pagouda, Sotouboua, Tabligbo (Yoto), Tchamba, Nyala, Tchaoudjo, Tsevie (Zio), Vogan (Vo) note: the 23 units may now be called prefectures (singular - prefecture) and reported name changes for individual units are included in parentheses

Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Legal system: French-based court system

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch: chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967); election last held 25 August 1993 (next election to be held NA 1998); all major opposition parties boycotted the election; Gen. EYADEMA won 96.5% of the vote head of government: Prime Minister Edem KODJO (since April 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) CAR 36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1 note: the Supreme Court ordered new elections for 3 seats of the Action Committee for Renewal (CAR) and the Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), lowering their total to 34 and 6 seats, respectively; the remaining 3 seats have not been filled

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel), Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles (CFN), Joseph KOFFIGOH; The Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), Edem KODJO; The Action Committee for Renewal (CAR), Yao AGBOYIBOR; The Union for Democracy and Solidarity (UDS), Antoine FOLLY; The Pan-African Sociodemocrats Group (GSP), an alliance of three radical parties: The Democratic Convention of African Peoples (CDPA), Leopold GNININVI; The Party for Democracy and Renewal (PDR), Zarifou AYEVA; The Pan-African Social Party (PSP), Francis AGBAGLI; The Union of Forces for Change (UFC), Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile); Union of Justice and Democracy (UJD), Lal TAXPANDJAN note: Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) led by President EYADEMA was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Edem Frederic HEGBE chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG (since September 1994) embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: [228] 21 77 17, 21 29 91 through 21 29 94 FAX: [228] 21 79 52

Flag: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

@Togo:Economy

Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, which accounts for about half of GDP and provides employment for 80% of the labor force. Primary agricultural exports are cocoa, coffee, and cotton, which together generate about 30% of total export earnings. Togo is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests are normal. In the industrial sector phosphate mining is by far the most important activity, although it has suffered from the collapse of world phosphate prices and increased foreign competition. Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. The government's decade-long IMF and World Bank supported effort to implement economic reform measures to encourage foreign investment and bring revenues in line with expenditures has stalled. Political unrest, including private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, has jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity. Although strikes had ended in 1994, political unrest and lack of funds prevented the government from taking advantage of the 50% currency devaluation of January 1994. Resumption of World Bank and IMF flows will depend on implementation of several controversial moves toward privatization and on downsizing the military, on which the regime depends to stay in power.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: NA%

National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $284 million expenditures: $407 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Exports: $221 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: phosphates, cotton, cocoa, coffee partners: EC 40%, Africa 16%, US 1% (1990)

Imports: $292 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemical products partners: EC 57%, Africa 17%, US 5%, Japan 4% (1990)

External debt: $1.3 billion (1991)

Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 60 million kWh consumption per capita: 83 kWh (1993)

Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Agriculture: accounts for 49% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, cotton; food crops - yams, cassava, corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock production not significant; annual fish catch of 10,000-14,000 tons

Illicit drugs: increasingly used as transit hub by heroin traffickers

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $142 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $51 million

Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990) note: the official rate is pegged to the French franc, and beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Togo:Transportation

Railroads: total: 532 km narrow gauge: 532 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways: total: 6,462 km paved: 1,762 km unpaved: unimproved earth 4,700 km

Inland waterways: 50 km Mono River

Ports: Kpeme, Lome

Merchant marine: none

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

@Togo:Communications

Telephone system: NA telephones; fair system based on network of radio relay routes supplemented by open wire lines local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and open wire lines international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE earth station

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 3 (relays 2) televisions: NA

@Togo:Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 936,270; males fit for military service 491,578 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $48 million, 2.9% of GDP (1993)



TOKELAU

(territory of New Zealand)

@Tokelau:Geography

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references: Oceania

Area: total area: 10 sq km land area: 10 sq km comparative area: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 101 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain: coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Natural resources: negligible

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: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt international agreements: NA

@Tokelau:People

Population: 1,503 (July 1995 est.)

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

Population growth rate: -1.3% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality: noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian

Religions: Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2% note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant

Languages: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Labor force: NA

@Tokelau:Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau

Digraph: TL

Type: territory of New Zealand

Capital: none; each atoll has its own administrative center

Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand)

Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)

Constitution: administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970

Legal system: British and local statutes

Suffrage: NA

Executive branch: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Head of Government: Administrator Graham ANSELL (since NA 1990; appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in New Zealand); Official Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA), Office of Tokelau Affairs; Tokelau's governing Council will elect its first head of government

Legislative branch: unicameral Council of Elders (Taupulega) on each atoll

Judicial branch: High Court in Niue, Supreme Court in New Zealand

Political parties and leaders: NA

Member of: SPC, WHO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of New Zealand)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of New Zealand)

Flag: the flag of New Zealand is used

@Tokelau:Economy

Overview: Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: NA%

National product per capita: $1,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $430,830 expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)

Exports: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983) commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts partners: NZ

Imports: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983) commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel partners: NZ

External debt: $0

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: capacity: 200 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1990)

Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Agriculture: coconuts, copra; basic subsistence crops - breadfruit, papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $24 million

Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), l.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Tokelau:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine: none

Airports: none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa

@Tokelau:Communications

Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: radiotelephone service between islands international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa

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

Television: broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA

@Tokelau:Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand



TONGA

@Tonga:Geography

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references: Oceania

Area: total area: 748 sq km land area: 718 sq km comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 419 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Natural resources: fish, fertile soil

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 55% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 2%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban

Note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)

@Tonga:People

Population: 105,600 (July 1995 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 0.78% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 24.37 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.75 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.16 years male: 65.8 years female: 70.62 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Religions: Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

Languages: Tongan, English

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write simple message in Tongan or English (1976) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)

@Tonga:Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands

Digraph: TN

Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Nuku'alofa

Administrative divisions: three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Independence: 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)

National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Legal system: based on English law

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the king Privy Council: consists of the king and the cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral; consists of twelve cabinet ministers sitting ex-officio, nine nobles selected by the country's thirty-three nobles, and nine people's representatives elected by the populace Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea): elections last held 3-4 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (30 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London consulate(s) general: San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

@Tonga:Economy

Overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor force and contributes 40% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-94 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $214 million (1994 est.)

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

National product per capita: $2,050 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $36.4 million expenditures: $68.1 million, including capital expenditures of $33.2 million (1991 est.)

Exports: $11.3 million (f.o.b., FY92/93) commodities: squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil partners: Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY90/91)

Imports: $56 million (c.i.f., FY92/93) commodities: food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY90/91)

External debt: $47.5 million (FY90/91)

Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (FY91/92); accounts for 11% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 6,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 231 kWh (1993)

Industries: tourism, fishing

Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; dominated by coconut, copra, and banana production; vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper