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Data code: JE
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
National capital: Saint Helier
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995) cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (57 seats, 53 elected including 12 senators popularly elected for six-year terms, half retiring every third year, 12 constables popularly elected triennially, and 29 deputies popularly elected triennially) elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 52
Judicial branch: Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
@Jersey:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light tax and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $643.7 million expenditures: $597.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 50,000 kW standby note: electricity supplied by France
Electricity-production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by France
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
Agriculture-products: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; meat, dairy products
Exports: $NA commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles partners: UK
Imports: $NA commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals partners: UK
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Jersey pound (LJ) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 61,447 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
@Jersey:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Jersey:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Jersey:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
JOHNSTON ATOLL
(territory of the US)
@Johnston Atoll:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 169 30 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 2.8 sq km land: 2.8 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 10 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources: NA; guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed to the public; former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
@Johnston Atoll:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are 1,200 US military and civilian contractor personnel (January 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -6.41% (1998 est.)
@Johnston Atoll:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
Data code: JQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA) and managed cooperatively by DSWA and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Johnston Atoll:Economy
Economy-overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity-capacity: NA kW note: electricity supplied by the base operating support contractor
Electricity-production: six 25,000 kWh generators note: electricity supplied by the base operating support contractor
Communications
Telephone system: 13 outgoing and 10 incoming commercial lines; adequate telecommunications domestic: 60-channel submarine cable, 22 DSN circuits by satellite, Autodin with standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), UHF/VHF air-ground radio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network (PCTN) satellite international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 5 channels; also 1 local volunteer FM radio station;, shortwave NA; 1 amateur station, call sign KJ6BZ
Television broadcast stations: commercial satellite television system, 16 channels
@Johnston Atoll:Transportation
Ports and harbors: Johnston Island
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Johnston Atoll:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Johnston Atoll:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
JORDAN
@Jordan:Geography
Location: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 89,213 sq km land: 88,884 sq km water: 329 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,619 km border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,754 m
Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 1% other: 85% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 630 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Jordan:People
Population: 4,434,978 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 985,211; female 935,982) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,224,595; female 1,160,915) 65 years and over: 3% (male 64,406; female 63,869) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.54% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 35.18 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 3.91 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.29 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.84 years male: 70.96 years female: 74.84 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.79 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 96%, Christian 4% (1997 est.)
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.6% male: 93.4% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
@Jordan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan
Data code: JO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Amman
Administrative divisions: 12 governorates (muhafazat, singular-muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution: 8 January 1952
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King HUSSEIN bin Talal Al-Hashimi (since 2 May 1953) head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Salam al-MAJALI (since 19 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the king elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointed by the king
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the king from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives-last held 4 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2 note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the king several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party, Dr. Ahmad ZO'BI, secretary general; Arab Ba'th Progressive Party, Mahmoud al-MA'AYTAH, secretary general; Arab Islamic Democratic Party (Doa'a), Yousif ABU BAKR, secretary general; Arab Jordanian Ansar Party, Muhammad MAJALI, secretary general; Arab Land Party, Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general; Islamic Action Front, Dr. Ishaq al-FARHAN, secretary general; Jordanian Arab Constitutional Front Party, Milhem TELL, secretary general; Jordanian Ba'th Arab Socialist Party, Tayseer al-HOMSI, secretary general; Jordanian Communist Party, Ya'acoub ZAYADIN, secretary general; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party, Sa'eed MUSTAPHA, secretary general; Jordanian Labor Party, Muhammad KHATAYIBAH, secretary general; Jordanian Peace Party, Dr. Shaher KHREIS, secretary general; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (HASHD), Salem NAHHAS, secretary general; Jordanian Unitary Democratic Party, Mousa al-MA'AYTAH, secretary general; Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party, Suleiman 'ARAR, secretary general; National Action Party (Haqq), Muhammad ZO'BI, secretary general; National Constitutional Party, Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general; National Democratic Public Movement Party, Muhammad al-'AMER, secretary general; Progressive Party, Na'el BARAKAT, secretary general; Al-Umma (Nation) Party, Ahmad HNEIDI, secretary general
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFCTU, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHIR chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wesley W. EGAN, Jr. embassy: Jabel Amman, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 820101 FAX: [962] (6) 820159
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran
@Jordan:Economy
Economy-overview: Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil and coal. Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual real GNP growth averaged more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed real economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports-mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food-outstripped exports, with the difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling negotiations and agreed to implement an IMF-supported program designed to gradually reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed structural reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990, however, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf, but recovery was uneven in 1994-97. The government is implementing the reform program adopted in 1992 and continues to secure rescheduling and write-offs of its heavy foreign debt. Debt, poverty, and unemployment remain Jordan's biggest on-going problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$20.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.3% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,800 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 30% services: 64% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 1.15 million plus 300,000 foreign workers (1997 est.) by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10.0%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52.0% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 15% official rate; note-actual rate is 20%-25% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $630 million (1997 est.)
Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: -3.4% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 1.066 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 5.02 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,259 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry
Exports: total value: $1.53 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures partners: Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE
Imports: total value: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997) commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods partners: EU, Iraq, US, Japan, Turkey
Debt-external: $7.3 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $424 million (1996)
Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1-0.7090 (January 1998-1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993) note: since May 1989, the dinar has been pegged to a basket of currencies
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 81,500 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: adequate telephone system domestic: microwave radio relay, cable, and radiotelephone links international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria; microwave radio relay to Lebanon is inactive; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0
Radios: 1.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 8 and 1 TV receive-only satellite link
Televisions: 350,000 (1992 est.)
@Jordan:Transportation
Railways: total: 676 km narrow gauge: 676 km 1.050-m gauge; note-an additional 110 km stretch of the old Hejaz railroad is out of use
Highways: total: 6,640 km paved: 6,640 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 209 km
Ports and harbors: Al 'Aqabah
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,759 GRT/69,795 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 17 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Jordan:Military
Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,076,618 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 766,973 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 48,706 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $627 million (1997 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 7.8% (1997)
@Jordan:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND
(possession of France)
@Juan de Nova Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 4.4 sq km land: 4.4 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24.1 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth the of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: wildlife sanctuary
@Juan de Nova Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Juan de Nova Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
Data code: JU
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Juan de Nova Island:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
@Juan de Nova Island:Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; short line going to a jetty
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Juan de Nova Island:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Juan de Nova Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Madagascar
KAZAKHSTAN
@Kazakhstan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, northwest of China
Geographic coordinates: 48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 2,717,300 sq km land: 2,669,800 sq km water: 47,500 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 12,012 km border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Terrain: extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oasis and desert in Central Asia
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m highest point: Zhengis Shingy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 11% permanent pastures: 57% forests and woodland: 4% other: 16% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 22,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Environment-current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salinization from faulty irrigation practices
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: landlocked
@Kazakhstan:People
Population: 16,846,808 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 2,486,607; female 2,413,207) 15-64 years: 64% (male 5,243,028; female 5,523,199) 65 years and over: 7% (male 393,950; female 786,817) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.17% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 17.24 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.15 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 58.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.59 years male: 58.12 years female: 69.33 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.12 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 46%, Russian 34.7%, Ukrainian 4.9%, German 3.1%, Uzbek 2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, other 7.1% (1996)
Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq) official language spoken by over 40% of population, Russian official language spoken by two-thirds of population and used in everyday business
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Kazakhstan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KZ
Government type: republic
National capital: Astana (Akmola) note: the government has recently moved from Almaty to Astana
Administrative divisions: 14 oblystar (singular-oblys) and 1 city (qalalar, singular-qala)*; Almaty Qalasy*, Almaty Oblysy, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau; formerly Gur'yev), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavl), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz; formerly Dzhambul) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995 the governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Leninsk)
Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 October (1991); Republic Day, 16 December (1991)
Constitution: adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995; first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990-91, president since 1 December 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Nurlan BALGIMBAYEV (since 10 October 1997) and First Deputy Prime Minister Uraz ZHANDOSOV (since 20 February 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 2000); note-President NAZARBAYEV's term was extended to the year 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president without opposition; percent of vote-NA note: President NAZARBAYEV has expanded his presidential powers by decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve parliament, call referenda at his discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members are popularly elected, two each from each oblast and Almaty, to serve four-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; members are popularly elected to serve four-year terms); note-with the oblasts being reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37 elections: Senate-(indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); Majilis-last held 9 December and 23 December 1995 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-party members 13, no party affiliation 34, of which "independent" state officials 25, nominated by the president 7, elected by popular vote 15; Majilis-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PUP 24, December National Democratic Party 12, Kazakh Agrarian Union 5, Confederation of Kazakh Trade Unions 5, KPK 2, independents and others 19
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders: Alash National Freedom Party [Aron ATABEK]; People's Unity Party or PUP (was Union of People's Unity) [Akhan BIZHANOV, chairman]; Democratic Party [Tulegen ZHUKEYEV and Altynbek SARSENBAYEV, cochairmen]; People's Congress of Kazakhstan or NKK [Anuar ISMAILOV, chairman]; AZAMAT Movement [Petr SVOIK, Murat AUEZOV, and Galym ABILSIITOV, cochairmen]; Communist Party or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN, first secretary]; National Democratic Party [Hasen KOZHAKHMETOV, chairman]; AZAT party [Toleubek KARAMENDIN, chairman]; Labor and Workers Movement [Madel ISMAILOV, chairman]; Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakhstan or KPU; Republican People's Slavic Movement-Harmony or Lad [Aleksander SAMARKIN, chairman]; Party for Social Justice and Economic Revival "Tagibat"; Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan or SDPK [Dos KUSHIMOV, cochairman]; People's Cooperative Party [Umirzak SARSENOV, chairman]; Organization of Veterans; Republican Party [Sabetkazy AKATAYEV]; Russian Center or RT [Nina SIDOROVA, chairwoman]; Russian Cossacks [Vladimir DESYATOV, head (ataman)]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Liberal Movement [Asylbek BISENBAYEV, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Independent Trade Union Center [Leonid SOLOMIN, president]; Kazakhstani-American Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Democratic Committee on Human Rights [Baretta YERGALIEVA, chairwoman]; Independent Miners Union [Victor GAIPOV, president]; The Almaty-Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights [Ninel FOKINA, chairwoman]; Legal Development of Kazakhstan [Vitaliy VORONOV, chairman]
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bolat K. NURGALIYEV chancery: (temporary) 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-4504 through 4507 FAX: [1] (202) 333-4509
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador A. Elizabeth JONES embassy: 99/97 Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan 480012 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3272) 63-39-05, 63-13-75, 63-24-26 FAX: [7] (3272) 63-38-83
Flag description: sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow
@Kazakhstan:Economy
Economy-overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a relatively large machine building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the collapse of demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since 1991, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97 the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. The December 1996 signing of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium agreement to build a new pipeline from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field to the Black Sea increases prospects for substantially larger oil exports in several years. The emigration of large numbers of skilled Slavic managers and technicians from the northern industrial areas will hold back future growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$50 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.1% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 12% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 6.9 million by occupation: industry 27%, agriculture and forestry 23%, other 50% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large additional numbers of unemployed and underemployed workers (December 1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3 billion expenditures: $4.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $40 million (1996 est.)
Industries: oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials; much of industrial capacity is shut down and/or is in need of repair
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 18.9 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 61.7 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,800 kWh (1996 est.)
Agriculture-products: grain, mostly spring wheat, cotton; wool, meat
Exports: total value: $5.6 billion (1996) commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Netherlands, China
Imports: total value: $6 billion (1996) commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Germany
Debt-external: $3.3 billion (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $4,780 million ($1,795 million disbursements)
Currency: 1 Kazakhstani tenge = 100 tiyn
Exchange rates: tenges per US$1-76.4 (February 1998), 75.55 (January 1998), 75.44 (1997), 67.30 (1996), 60.95 (1995), 35.54 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.2 million
Telephone system: service is poor domestic: landline and microwave radio relay international: international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat and a new satellite earth station established at Almaty of unknown type
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program diffusion 6.082 million)
Television broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station; Orbita (TV receive only) earth station
Televisions: 4.75 million
@Kazakhstan:Transportation
Railways: total: 13,841 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 13,841 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1992)
Highways: total: 141,076 km paved: 113,566 km unpaved: 27,510 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 4,002 km on the Syr Darya and Ertis Darya
Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural gas 3,480 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Airports: 10 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Kazakhstan:Military
Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Border Guards, General Purpose Forces, Air Force), Republican Guard
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 4,429,484 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 3,534,839 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 154,218 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: 18.9 billion tenges (1995); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Kazakhstan:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrone); limited government eradication program; cannabis consumed largely in the CIS; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia, North America, and Western Europe from Southwest Asia
KENYA
@Kenya:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 582,650 sq km land: 569,250 sq km water: 13,400 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries: total: 3,446 km border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline: 536 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 37% forests and woodland: 30% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions
Environment-current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value
@Kenya:People
Population: 28,337,071 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 6,248,260; female 6,109,443) 15-64 years: 54% (male 7,609,631; female 7,607,810) 65 years and over: 2% (male 333,881; female 428,046) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.71% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 31.68 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 14.19 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.57 years male: 47.02 years female: 48.13 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.07 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
Religions: Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 6%, other 2%
Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70% (1995 est.)
@Kenya:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya former: British East Africa
Data code: KE
Government type: republic
National capital: Nairobi
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997
Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote from among the members of the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president appointed by the president election results: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote-Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.12%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.09%, Raila ODINGA (NDP) 10.2%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-Kenya) 8.29%, Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.71%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members popularly elected to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held between 1 December 2002 and 30 April 2003) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-KANU 107, FORD-Asili 1, FORD-Kenya 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president-KANU 6, FORD-Kenya 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by the president; High Court
Political parties and leaders: ruling party: Kenya African National Union or KANU [President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI] opposition party: Democratic Party of Kenya or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili or FORD-Asili [Martin SHIKUKU, chairman]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya [Michael Kijana WAMALWA]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimani wa NYOIKE]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Saba Saba or Asili Saba Saba [Kenneth MATIBA, chairman]; National Development Party or NDP [Raila ODINGA, president and Dr. Charles MARANGA, secretary-general]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Charity NGILU]; SAFINA [Mutari KIGANO, chairman and Dr. Richard LEAKEY, secretary-general]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political parties and non-government organizations [Kivutha KIBWANA, leader]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations
International organization participation: ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Samson K. CHEMAI chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL (17 July 1996) embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (2) 334141 FAX: [254] (2) 340838
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center
@Kenya:Economy
Economy-overview: Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997. Political violence damaged the tourist industry, and the IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover, El Nino rains destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in 1997 and on into 1998. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$45.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.9% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,600 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 20% services: 53% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 8.8% (1996)
Labor force: total: 8.78 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%, non-agriculture 20%-25%
Unemployment rate: 35% urban (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3 billion expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $638 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing agricultural products; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 808,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 3.59 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 134 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Exports: total value: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products (1995) partners: Uganda 22.8%, UK 20.1%, Tanzania 19.1%, Germany 14.0%, Netherlands 7.6%, US 6.1%
Imports: total value: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31%, consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995) partners: UK 21.3%, UAE 18%, Japan 14%, Germany, US
Debt-external: $7 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: NA
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1-61.164 (January 1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994), 58.001 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 357,251 (1989 est.)
Telephone system: in top group of African systems domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 6
Televisions: 260,000 (1993 est.)
@Kenya:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,652 km narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 63,800 km paved: 8,868 km unpaved: 54,932 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya
Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km
Ports and harbors: Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 240 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 211 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 114 under 914 m: 83 (1997 est.)
@Kenya:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 6,870,889 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,257,985 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $134 million (FY94/95)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.9% (FY94/95)
@Kenya:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary
Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa
KINGMAN REEF
(territory of the US)
@Kingman Reef:Geography
Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1 sq km land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain: low and nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1996)
Natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment-current issues: none
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
@Kingman Reef:People
Population: uninhabited
@Kingman Reef:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Data code: KQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the US Navy; however, it is awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and is uninhabited
National capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Kingman Reef:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
@Kingman Reef:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
@Kingman Reef:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Kingman Reef:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
KIRIBATI
@Kiribati:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note-on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands and make it the same day throughout the country
Geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 717 sq km land: 717 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups-Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Area-comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: 51% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 3% other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes
Environment-current issues: heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean-the others are Makatea in French Polynesia and Nauru
@Kiribati:People
Population: 83,976 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.82% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 26.46 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.62 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 49.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.61 years male: 60.79 years female: 64.68 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.13 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)
Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy: NA
@Kiribati:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss former: Gilbert Islands
Data code: KR
Government type: republic
National capital: Tarawa
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands note: in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils-one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution: 12 July 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president, attorney general, and up to eight other ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note-the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election; election last held 30 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); vice president appointed by the president election results: Teburoro TITO elected president; percent of vote-Teburoro TITO 51.2%, Tewareka TENTOA 18.3%, Roniti TEIWAKI 16.0%, Peter Taberannang TIMEON 14.5%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Maneaban Te Mauri Party 13, National Progressive Party 7, independents 19
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates' courts judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaban Te Mauri Party, Teburoro TITO note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
@Kiribati:Economy
Economy-overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP growth has declined from about 10% in 1988 to about 2.6% in 1995 and 1.9% in 1996. Growth in 1997 was expected to parallel the 1996 performance. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal in amount to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$62 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$800 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 7% services: 79% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: -0.6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $33.3 million expenditures: $47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1992 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 2,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 7 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 88 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Exports: total value: $6.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: copra 62%, seaweed, fish partners: US, Australia, NZ (1996)
Imports: total value: $37.4 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel partners: Australia 46%, Fiji, Japan, NZ, US (1996)
Debt-external: $7.2 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $4.725 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $2.175 million from NZ (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1-1.5281 (January 1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993)
Fiscal year: NA
Communications
Telephones: 1,400 (1984 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 0 (1988 est.)
@Kiribati:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 670 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands
Ports and harbors: Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,248 GRT/4,496 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 21 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)
@Kiribati:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Kiribati:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
KOREA, NORTH
@Korea, North:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 120,540 sq km land: 120,410 sq km water: 130 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries: total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline: 2,495 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 61% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
Environment-current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography-note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated
@Korea, North:People
Population: 21,234,387 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 2,800,857; female 2,669,250) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,089,039; female 7,406,901) 65 years and over: 6% (male 387,011; female 881,329) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.03% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 15.3 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 15.57 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.44 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 87.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.32 years male: 48.88 years female: 53.88 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages: Korean
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
@Korea, North:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: none note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country abbreviation: DPRK
Data code: KN
Government type: Communist state; one-man dictatorship
National capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)
Independence: 9 September 1948 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: KIM Chong-il [de facto]; note-President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994, leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor; KIM Chong-il became General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party on 8 October 1997, but has not assumed the presidency head of government: KANG Song-san is premier, but is in ill health; Vice Premier HONG Song-nam has been acting premier since NA February 1997 cabinet: State Administration Council appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly election results: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); note-the term of the Assembly expired in April 1995 without a new election and it has not been convened since the death of KIM Il-song in July 1994 election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
Political parties and leaders: major party-Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Chong-il, General Secretary; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman
International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note-North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
@Korea, North:Economy
Economy-overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song in the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by an average of 4%-5% or more annually during 1989-97 because of systemic problems and disruptions in economic and technological links with the former USSR and China. The leadership has insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since World War II. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea is not yet self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, systemic inefficiencies, a cumbersome distribution system, and extensive floods in 1995-96 followed by a severe drought in 1997 have resulted in increasingly serious food shortages. Substantial grain shipments from Japan and South Korea are offsetting a portion of the losses. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$21.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -3.7% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$900 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 60% services: 15% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total: 9.615 million by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $19.3 billion expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Industries: military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: -7% to -9% (1992 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 9.5 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 35.2 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,499 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports: total value: $912 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments) partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia
Imports: total value: $1.95 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods partners: China, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Singapore
Debt-external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: an estimated $200 million to $300 million in aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 1997
Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1-2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 30,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: system is believed to be available principally for government business domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.5 million
Television broadcast stations: 11
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
@Korea, North:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,000 km standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km double track) narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge dual gauge: 240 km (standard and broad gauge) (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines: crude oil 37 km
Ports and harbors: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine: total: 105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 663,527 GRT/930,587 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 87, combination bulk 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 3, passenger 3, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 note: North Korea owns an additional 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,143 DWT operating under the registry of Honduras (1997 est.)
Airports: 49 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
@Korea, North:Military
Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 5,704,690 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 3,449,880 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 175,181 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $5 billion to $7 billion (1995 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 25% (1995 est.)
@Korea, North:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: 33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
KOREA, SOUTH
@Korea, South:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 98,480 sq km land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline: 2,413 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 65% other: 13% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest
Environment-current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Desertification
@Korea, South:People
Population: 46,416,796 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 5,505,564; female 4,894,780) 15-64 years: 71% (male 16,772,319; female 16,272,145) 65 years and over: 7% (male 1,126,963; female 1,845,025) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.01% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.08 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.67 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.95 years male: 70.37 years female: 78 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions: Christianity 49%, Buddhism 47%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%
Languages: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99.3% female: 96.7% (1995 est.)
@Korea, South:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: none note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Hanguk" to refer to their country abbreviation: ROK
Data code: KS
Government type: republic
National capital: Seoul
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6 special cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*
Independence: 15 August 1945; note-date of liberation from Japanese colonial rule
National holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution: 25 February 1988
Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kim Dae-jung (since 25 February 1998) head of government: Acting Prime Minister KIM Chong-p'il (since 3 March 1998) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held 18 December 2002); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation election results: Kim Dae-jung elected president; percent of vote-Kim Dae-jung (NCNP) 40.3%, YI Hoe-chang (GNP) 38.7%, YI In-che (NPP) 19.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NKP 139, NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16; note-the distribution of seats as of February 1998 was GNP 165, NCNP 78, ULD 43, NPP 8, independents 4, vacant 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president subject to the consent of the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Grand National Party (GNP), CHO Sun, president; National Congress for New Politics (NCNP), Kim Dae-jung, president; United Liberal Democrats (ULD), PAK Tae-chun, president; New People's Party (NPP), YI In-che, president note: subsequent to the legislative election of April 1996 the following parties disbanded-New Korea Party (NKP) and Democratic Party (DP)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Korean National Council of Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean Traders Association; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS (pending member), CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador YI Hong-ku chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen W. BOSWORTH embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845 consulate(s): Pusan
Flag description: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field
@Korea, South:Economy
Economy-overview: As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago its GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is eight times India's, 15 times North Korea's, and already up with the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997/98 exposed certain longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. Also, a number of private sector conglomerates are near bankruptcy. At yearend 1997, an international effort, spearheaded by the IMF, was underway to shore up reserves and stabilize the economy. Growth in 1998 will be sharply cut. Long-term growth will depend on how successfully South Korea implements planned economic reforms that would bolster the financial sector, improve corporate management, and open the economy further to foreign participation.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$631.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$13,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 45% services: 47% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5% (1996)
Labor force: total: 20 million by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $101 billion expenditures: $101 billion, including capital expenditures of $20 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 8.2% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 31.665 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 174.52 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,831 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh largest in world
Exports: total value: $129.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish partners: US 17%, EU 13%, Japan 12% (1995)
Imports: total value: $150.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains partners: US 22%, Japan 21%, EU 13% (1995)
Debt-external: $154 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)
Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1-1,706.80 (January 1998), 951.29 (1997), 804.45 (1996), 771.27 (1995), 803.45 (1994), 802.67 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16.6 million (1993)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services domestic: NA international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 79, FM 46, shortwave 0
Radios: 42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 256 (57 of which are 1 kW or greater) (1987 est.)
Televisions: 9.3 million (1992 est.)
@Korea, South:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,081 km standard gauge: 3,081 km 1.435-m gauge (560 km electrified) (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 83,400 km paved: 63,467 km (including 1,920 km of expressways) unpaved: 19,933 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km; note-additionally, there is a parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being completed
Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine: total: 474 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,749,052 GRT/10,447,597 DWT ships by type: bulk 118, cargo 131, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 3, combination ore/oil 1, container 70, liquefied gas tanker 12, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 72, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 13 note: South Korea owns an additional 273 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,985,267 DWT operating under the registries of Cambodia, Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Panama, and Singapore (1997 est.)
Airports: 103 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 32 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 202 (1997 est.)
@Korea, South:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 13,849,615 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 8,837,541 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 399,034 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $17.4 billion (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.3% (1996)
@Korea, South:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) claimed by Japan
KUWAIT
@Kuwait:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 464 km border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April, they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August
Environment-current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment-international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Geography-note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
@Kuwait:People
Population: 1,913,285 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 1,168,185 non-nationals (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 338,933; female 279,087) 15-64 years: 66% (male 811,713; female 444,679) 65 years and over: 2% (male 23,642; female 15,231) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.1% (1998 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of expatriates
Birth rate: 20.97 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 2.29 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 22.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.55 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.78 years male: 74.76 years female: 78.91 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.44 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
@Kuwait:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt
Data code: KU
Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy
National capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular-muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli |
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