 |
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (14 seats, 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats by party—SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts)
Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement or PAM
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edwards ERSTEIN chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the embassy in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far more in taxes than it was receiving in government services, but the vote on cessation failed in August 1998. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$235 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 6.3% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,000 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 22.5% services: 72% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.3% (1997)
Labor force: 18,172 (June 1995)
Labor force—by occupation: services 69%, manufacturing 31%
Unemployment rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $64.1 million expenditures: $73.3 million, including capital expenditures of $10.4 million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 81 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 81 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Exports: $43.7 million (1997)
Exports—commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco
Exports—partners: US 68.5%, UK 22.3%, Caricom nations 5.5% (1995 est.)
Imports: $129.6 million (1997)
Imports—commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports—partners: US 42.4%, Caricom nations 17.2%, UK 11.3% (1995 est.)
Debt—external: $56 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $5.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3,800 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) domestic: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone international: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 25,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 9,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 58 km narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 136 km unpaved: 184 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force, Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US
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@Saint Lucia —————-
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 53 N, 60 68 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 620 sq km land: 610 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area—comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km
Maritime claims: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 21% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 13% other: 53% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 154,020 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 26,068; female 25,359) 15-64 years: 61% (male 46,265; female 48,100) 65 years and over: 6% (male 3,097; female 5,131) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.55 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.81 years male: 68.14 years female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups: black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 67% male: 65% female: 69% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Data code: ST
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Castries
Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux Fort
Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution: 22 February 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Kenny ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body, six appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly—last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: House of Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—SLP 16, UWP 1
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders: United Workers Party or UWP
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Juliet Elaine MALLET PHILLIP chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction. In 1997, strong activity in tourism and other service sectors offset the contraction in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Improvement in the construction sector and growth of the tourism industry was expected to expand GDP in 1998. The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997 primarily because of a severe decline in banana production.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$625 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.2% (1997)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10.7% industry: 32.3% services: 57% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (1997)
Labor force: 43,800
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $141.2 million expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate: -8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 110 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 110 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Exports: $70.1 million (1997)
Exports—commodities: bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports—partners: UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)
Imports: $292.4 million (1997)
Imports—commodities: food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports—partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4% (1995)
Debt—external: $159 million (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $51.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 26,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: system is automatically switched international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 104,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which two are commercial (1997)
Televisions: 26,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,210 km paved: 63 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $5 million (1991); note?for police force
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (1991)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
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@Saint Pierre and Miquelon ————————————-
Geography
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 242 sq km land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Area—comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 4% other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: vegetation scanty
People
Population: 6,966 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.75% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.13 years male: 75.58 years female: 79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%
Languages: French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Data code: SB
Dependency status: self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France) note: there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by the US Government, but there are two communes—Saint Pierre, Miquelon
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Remi THUAU (since NA) head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC (since NA 1996) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats—15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 15, other 4 note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS [leader NA];
International organization participation: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy—overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$74 million (1996 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 3,000 (1996)
Labor force—by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $70 million expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 39 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 39 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports: $1.2 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports—commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts
Exports—partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)
Imports: $60.5 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports—commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
Imports—partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3,650 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 3,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ————————————————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 340 sq km land: 340 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 18% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 36% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People
Population: 120,519 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 18,160; female 17,524) 15-64 years: 65% (male 39,448; female 38,672) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,762; female 3,953) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.8 years male: 72.29 years female: 75.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: black, white, East Indian, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General David JACK (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 15 June 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDP 8, ULP 7
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [James Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C. A. LAYNE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
Economy
Economy—overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism sector has considerable potential for development over the next decade. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$289 million (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10.6% industry: 17.5% services: 71.9% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1996)
Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $85.7 million expenditures: $98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 67.74% hydro: 32.26% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports: $47.3 million (1997)
Exports—commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports—partners: Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)
Imports: $158.8 million (1997)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports—partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)
Debt—external: $83.6 million (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $47.5 million (1995); note?Stabex (EU), $34.5 million (1998)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 6,189 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20,600 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 720 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kingstown
Merchant marine: total: 814 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,726,930 GRT/11,835,144 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 138, cargo 402, chemical tanker 26, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 7, container 47, liquefied gas tanker 3, livestock carrier 4, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 64, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 40, roll-on/roll-off cargo 51, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20 countries among which are Croatia 17, Slovenia 7, China 5, Greece 5, UAE 3, Norway 2, Japan 2, and Ukraine 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Samoa ——-
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 2,860 sq km land: 2,850 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 24% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 47% other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment—current issues: soil erosion
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 229,979 (July 1999 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 162,000
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 45,647; female 44,141) 15-64 years: 57% (male 68,054; female 62,612) 65 years and over: 4% (male 4,477; female 5,048) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 28.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.82 years male: 67.43 years female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1971 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa conventional short form: Samoa former: Western Samoa
Data code: WS
Government type: constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital: Apia
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)
Constitution: 1 January 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963) head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi (since 24 November 1998); note—TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November 1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice elections: upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats—47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%, independents 23.7%; seats by party—HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand) embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. Outside of a large automotive wire harness factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,0000 tourists visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$470 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,100 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 25% services: 35% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 82,500 (1991 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $52 million expenditures: $99 million, including capital expenditures of $37 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 65 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.54% hydro: 38.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 65 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coconuts, bananas, taro, yams
Exports: $14.6 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: coconut oil and cream, copra, fish, beer
Exports—partners: Australia 82%, New Zealand 6%, Slovakia, Germany, American Samoa (1996)
Imports: $99.7 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports—commodities: intermediate goods, food, capital goods
Imports—partners: Australia 33%, New Zealand 25%, Japan 15%, Fiji 8%, US 8% (1996)
Debt—external: $167 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $42.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1—2.9011 (January 1999), 2.9429 (1998), 2.5562 (1997), 2.4618 (1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 790 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 458 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Military—note: Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@San Marino —————
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 39 km border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain: rugged mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m highest point: Monte Titano 749 m
Natural resources: building stone
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography—note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People
Population: 25,061 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 2,008; female 2,036) 15-64 years: 67% (male 8,501; female 8,294) 65 years and over: 17% (male 1,774; female 2,448) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.41 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.22 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.47 years male: 77.59 years female: 85.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups: Sammarinese, Italian
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97% female: 95% (1976 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino
Data code: SM
Government type: republic
Capital: San Marino
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular—castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence: 301 (by tradition)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3 September
Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Pietro BERTI and Captain Regent Paolo BOLLINI (for the period 1 October 1998-31 March 1999) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term elections: cochiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA March 1999); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held NA June 1998 (next to be held NA June 2003) election results: Pietro BERTI and Paolo BOLLINI elected captain regents; percent of legislative vote—NA; Gabriele GATTI reelected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote—NA note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (cochiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General Council; assisting the captains regent are three secretaries of state—Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance—and several additional secretaries; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Great and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—PDCS 40.8%, PSS 23.3%, PPDS 18.6%, AP 9.8%, RC 3.3%, Reformist Socialists 4.2%; seats by party—PDCS 25, PSS 14, PPDS 11, AP 6, RC 2, RS 2
Judicial branch: Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDCS MACINA, secretary general]; Reformist Socialists or RS (formerly San
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: San Marino does not have an embassy in the US honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC, and New York honorary consulate(s): Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
Economy
Economy—overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1995 more than 3.3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of Italy, which supplies much of its food.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$20,000 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1995)
Labor force: 15,600 (1995)
Labor force—by occupation: services 55%, industry 43%, agriculture 2% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (April 1996)
Budget: revenues: $320 million expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by Italy
Agriculture—products: wheat, grapes, maize, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Exports—commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics
Imports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Imports—commodities: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note—also mints its own coins
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1—1,668.7 (January 1998),1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 15,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system international: microwave radio relay and cable connections to Italian network; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Televisions: 9,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km; note—there is a 1.5 km cable railway connecting the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore
Highways: total: 220 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military branches: Voluntary Military Force, Police Force
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $3.7 million (1995)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe ——————————-
Geography
Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,000 sq km land: 1,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 36% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: NA% other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment—international agreements: party to: Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change
People
Population: 154,878 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 37,322; female 36,423) 15-64 years: 48% (male 36,067; female 38,730) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,876; female 3,460) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.14% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.71 years male: 63.18 years female: 66.28 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups: mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: Portuguese (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Data code: TP
Government type: republic
Capital: Sao Tome
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Legal system: based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30 December 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 June and 15 July 1996 (next to be held in 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote—Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%%, ADI 29%; seats by party—MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic Convergence Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or other small parties
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy—overview: This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence over 20 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies, but economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$164 million (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 19% services: 58% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing note: there are shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate: 50% in the formal business sector (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $58 million expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)
Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Exports: $5.3 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)
Exports—partners: Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)
Imports: $19.2 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports—partners: Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium, Japan (1997)
Debt—external: $267 million (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $57.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1—6,873.5 (October 1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995), 732.6 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine: total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,610 GRT/9,446 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 31,724 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 16,766 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $500,000 (1994)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.5% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Saudi Arabia ——————
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 1,960,582 sq km land: 1,960,582 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries: total: 4,415 km border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 1% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Environment—current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People
Population: 21,504,613 (July 1999 est.) note: includes 5,321,938 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 4,705,724; female 4,543,918) 15-64 years: 54% (male 6,925,020; female 4,783,570) 65 years and over: 3% (male 291,449; female 254,932) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.39% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 37.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.45 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.55 years male: 68.67 years female: 72.53 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.8% male: 71.5% female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Data code: SA
Government type: monarchy
Capital: Riyadh
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular—mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: a consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: none allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr. embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy—overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The Saudi economy was severely hit by the large decline in world oil prices in 1998. GDP fell by nearly 11%; the budget deficit rose to $12.3 billion; and the current account recorded a $13 billion deficit—the first in three years. The government announced plans to implement large spending cuts in 1999 because of weak oil prices and will continue to call on greater private sector involvement in the economy. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$186 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -10.8% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 53% services: 41% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 7 million note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: government 40%, industry, construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $32.3 billion expenditures: $44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 budget est.)
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 95 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 95 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports: $59.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports—partners: Japan 18%, US 15%, South Korea 11%, Singapore 8%, India 4% (1997 est.)
Imports: $26.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports—partners: US 23%, UK 17%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Italy 5% (1997 est.)
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 1993, Saudi Arabia has committed $208 million for assistance to the Palestinians
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1—3.7450 (fixed rate since June 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.46 million (1993)
Telephone system: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 5 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 117 (1997)
Televisions: 4.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 1,390 km standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways: total: 162,000 km paved: 69,174 km unpaved: 92,826 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports and harbors: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine: total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,124,110 GRT/1,467,121 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 7, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 17, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 8 (1998 est.)
Airports: 205 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 30 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 135 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 78 914 to 1,523 m: 38 under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 5,696,772 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,171,860 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually: males: 197,386 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $18.1 billion (1997 est.)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 12% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; in 1996, agreed with Qatar to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and cocaine
======================================================================
@Senegal ———-
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries: total: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 54% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment—current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography—note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
People
Population: 10,051,930 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,403,384; female 2,416,791) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,360,113; female 2,594,278) 65 years and over: 3% (male 134,765; female 142,599) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.32% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.88 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.71 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.83 years male: 54.95 years female: 60.78 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Diola 3.7%, Mandink 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 33.1% male: 43% female: 23.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal
Data code: SG
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular—region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence: 4 April 1960 from France; complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 (The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution: 3 March 1963, revised 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; Senegal has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Lamine LOUM (since 4 July 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of vote—Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (140 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—PS 50.19%, PDS 19%, UDS-R 13%, And/Jef-PADS 5%, LD/MPT 4%, CDP/Garab-Gi 2%, FSD 1%, PDS-R 1%, RND 1%, BCG 1%, PIT 1% ; seats by party—PS 93, PDS 23, UDS-R 11, And-Jef/PADS 4, LD-MPT 3, CDP/Garab-Gi 1, FSD 1, PDS-R 1, RND 1, BCG 1, PIT 1
Judicial branch: under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Democracy and secretary general]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT
Political pressure groups and leaders: students; teachers; labor; Muslim brotherhoods
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr. embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy—overview: In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which is linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually in 1995-98. Annual inflation has been pushed below 2%, and the fiscal deficit has been cut to less than 1.5% of GDP. Investment rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction. Forecasters predict growth will continue in the 5% range in 1999-2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$15.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5.7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,600 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 17% services: 64% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 42.8% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 60%
Unemployment rate: NA%; urban youth 40%
Budget: revenues: $885 million expenditures: $885 million, including capital expenditures of $125 million (1996 est.)
Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 1.027 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 730 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1997)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1997)
Agriculture—products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports—partners: France 20%, other EU countries, India, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali (1996)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports—partners: France 36%, other EU countries, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, US, China, Japan (1996)
Debt—external: $3.8 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $647.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1966), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 81,988 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 6, shortwave 1
Radios: 850,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 61,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 904 km narrow gauge: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995)
Highways: total: 14,576 km paved: 4,271 km unpaved: 10,305 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river
Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard-Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Merchant marine: total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 20 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 2,096,438 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,095,047 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually: males: 103,348 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $68 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.4% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: short section of boundary with The Gambia is indefinite
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
======================================================================
@Serbia and Montenegro ——————————-
Introduction
Background: Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US. The US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 102,350 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,938 sq km) land: 102,136 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,724 sq km) water: 214 sq km (Serbia 0 sq km; Montenegro 214 sq km)
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky (Serbia is slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro is slightly smaller than Connecticut)
Land boundaries: total: 2,246 km border countries: Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km (with Serbia), Croatia (north) 241 km (with Serbia), Croatia (south) 25 km (with Montenegro), Hungary 151 km (with Serbia), The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km (with Serbia), Romania 476 km (with Serbia) note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km
Coastline: 199 km (Montenegro 199 km, Serbia 0 km)
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland
Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People
Population: 11,206,847 (Serbia—10,526,478; Montenegro?680,369) (July 1999 est.) note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerable error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing
Age structure: 0-14 years: Serbia—20% (male 1,102,109; female 1,025,069); Montenegro—21% (male 75,633; female 70,464) 15-64 years: Serbia—67% (male 3,538,689; female 3,483,192); Montenegro—68% (male 232,223; female 227,371) 65 years and over: Serbia—13% (male 595,200; female 782,219); Montenegro—11% (male 30,829; female 43,849) (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate: Serbia—0.02%; Montenegro?0.07% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: Serbia—12.54 births/1,000 population; Montenegro? 13.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: Serbia—9.68 deaths/1,000 population; Montenegro? 7.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: Serbia—-2.65 migrants/1,000 population; Montenegro—-5.09 migrants/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: Serbia—1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: Serbia—1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: Serbia—1.02 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: Serbia—0.76 male(s)/female; Montenegro—0.70 male(s)/female total population: Serbia—0.99 male(s)/female; Montenegro—0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: Serbia—16.49 deaths/1,000 live births; Montenegro—10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: Serbia—73.45 years; Montenegro—76.32 years male: Serbia—71.03 years; Montenegro— 72.87 years female: Serbia—76.05 years; Montenegro—80.07 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: Serbia—1.74 children born/woman; Montenegro—1.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s) adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%, Hungarians 4%, other 13%
Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora note: Serbia and Montenegro has self-proclaimed itself the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) but the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation
Data code: Serbia—SR; Montenegro?MW
Government type: republic
Capital: Belgrade (Serbia), Podgorica (Montenegro)
Administrative divisions: 2 republics (republike, singular—republika); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular—autonomna pokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence: 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)
National holiday: St. Vitus Day, 28 June
Constitution: 27 April 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Slobodan MILOSEVIC (since 23 July 1997); note—Milan MILUTINOVIC is president of Serbia (since 21 December 1997); Milo DJUKANOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 21 December 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Momir BULATOVIC (since 20 May 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September 1995), Vuk DRASKOVIC (since 1 February 1999), Jovan ZEBIC (since 9 April 1998), and Vladan KUTLESIC (since 20 March 1997), Zoran LILIC (since 20 May 1998), Danilo VUKSANOVIC (since 20 May 1998) cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 23 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Slobodan MILOSEVIC elected president; percent of legislative vote—Slobodan MILOSEVIC 90%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Savezna Skupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40 seats—20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed on the basis of party representation in the republican assemblies to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138 seats -, 108 Serbian with half elected by constituency majorities and half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with six elected by constituency and 24 proportionally; members serve four-year terms) elections: Chamber of Republics—last held 24 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens—last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Chamber of Republics—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA; note—seats are filled on a proportional basis to reflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics of Montenegro and Serbia; Chamber of Citizens—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno 22, DPSCG 20, SRS 16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note—Zajedno coalition includes SPO, DS, GSS |
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