34,296,941 (July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992)
Birth rate:
24 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
31 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
69 years male, 74 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.6 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Colombian(s); adjective - Colombian
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian
1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
87% (male 88%, female 86%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
12,000,000 (1990); services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
Organized labor:
984,000 members (1989), about 8.2% of labor force; the Communist-backed
Unitary Workers Central or CUT is the largest labor organization, with about
725,000 members (including all affiliate unions)
:Colombia Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Colombia
Type:
republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:
Bogota
Administrative divisions:
23 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 5 commissariats*
(comisarias, singular - comisaria), and 4 intendancies** (intendencias,
singular - intendencia); Amazonas*, Antioquia, Arauca**, Atlantico, Bolivar,
Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare**, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba,
Cundinamarca, Guainia*, Guaviare*, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta,
Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo**, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y
Providencia**, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes*, Vichada*;
note - there may be a new special district (distrito especial) named Bogota;
the Constitution of 5 July 1991 states that the commissariats and
intendancies are to become full departments and a capital district (distrito
capital) of Santa Fe de Bogota is to be established by 1997
Independence:
20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Constitution:
5 July 1991
Legal system:
based on Spanish law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme
Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Executive branch:
president, presidential designate, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of a nationally elected upper chamber
or Senate (Senado) and a nationally elected lower chamber or House of
Representatives (Camara de Representantes)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo (since 7 August 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party (PL), Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo, president; Social Conservative
Party (PCS), Misael PASTRANA Borrero; National Salvation Movement (MSN),
Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is headed by 19th
of April Movement (M-19) leader Antonio NAVARRO Wolf, coalition of small
leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union
(UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held 27 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Cesar GAVIRIA
Trujillo (Liberal) 47%, Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado (National Salvation Movement)
24%, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff (M-19) 13%, Rodrigo LLOREDA (Conservative) 12%
Senate:
last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (102 total) Liberal 58, Conservative 22, AD/M-19
9, MSN 5, UP 1, others 7
:Colombia Government
House of Representatives:
last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (161 total) Liberal 87, Conservative 31, AD/M-19
13, MSN 10, UP 3, other 17
Communists:
18,000 members (est.), including Communist Party Youth Organization (JUCO)
Other political or pressure groups:
three insurgent groups are active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC), led by Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National
Liberation Army (ELN), led by Manuel PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently
demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL) led by Francisco CARABALLO
Member of:
AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Jaime GARCIA Parra; Chancery at 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington,
DC 20008; telephone (202) 387-8338; there are Colombian Consulates General
in Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San
Juan (Puerto Rico), and Consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles,
and Tampa
US:
Ambassador Morris D. BUSBY; Embassy at Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota (mailing
address is P. O. Box A. A. 3831, Bogota or APO AA 34038); telephone [57] (1)
285-1300 or 1688; FAX [571] 288-5687; there is a US Consulate in
Barranquilla
Flag:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar
to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of
arms superimposed in the center
:Colombia Economy
Overview:
Economic development has slowed gradually since 1986, but growth rates
remain high by Latin American standards. Conservative economic policies have
kept inflation and unemployment near 30% and 10%, respectively. The rapid
development of oil, coal, and other nontraditional industries over the past
four years has helped to offset the decline in coffee prices - Colombia's
major export. The collapse of the International Coffee Agreement in the
summer of 1989, a troublesome rural insurgency, and drug-related violence
have dampened growth, but significant economic reforms are likely to
facilitate a resurgent economy in the medium term. These reforms center on
fiscal restraint, trade liberalization, and privatization of state utilities
and commercial banks.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $45 billion, per capita $1,300; real growth rate
3.7% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
26.8% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
10.5% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $4.39 billion; current expenditures $3.93 billion, capital
expenditures $1.03 billion (1989 est.)
Exports:
$7.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum (19%), coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers
partners:
US 40%, EC 21%, Japan 5%, Netherlands 4%, Sweden 3%
Imports:
$6.1 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, paper
products
partners:
US 36%, EC 16%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 3%, Japan 3%
External debt:
$17.0 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1% (1991 est.); accounts for 21% of GDP
Electricity:
9,624,000 kW capacity; 38,856 million kWh produced, 1,150 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals,
metal products, cement; mining - gold, coal, emeralds, iron, nickel, silver,
salt
Agriculture:
growth rate 3% (1991 est.) accounts for 22% of GDP; crops make up two-thirds
and livestock one-third of agricultural output; climate and soils permit a
wide variety of crops, such as coffee, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa
beans, oilseeds, vegetables; forest products and shrimp farming are becoming
more important
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, coca, and opium; about 37,500 hectares of coca
under cultivation; major supplier of cocaine to the US and other
international drug markets
:Colombia Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.3 billion,
Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million
Currency:
Colombian peso (plural - pesos); 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 711.88 (January 1992), 633.08 (1991),
550.00 (1990), 435.00 (1989), 336.00 (1988), 242.61 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Colombia Communications
Railroads:
3,386 km; 3,236 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track (2,611 km in use), 150 km
1. 435-meter gauge
Highways:
75,450 km total; 9,350 km paved, 66,100 km earth and gravel surfaces
Inland waterways:
14,300 km, navigable by river boats
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural
gas liquids 125 km
Ports:
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, San Andres, Santa Marta,
Tumaco
Merchant marine:
31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 289,794 GRT/443,369 DWT; includes 9
cargo, 1 chemical tanker, 3 petroleum tanker, 8 bulk, 10 container; note -
in addition, 2 naval tankers are sometimes used commercially
Civil air:
83 major transport aircraft
Airports:
1,167 total, 1,023 usable; 70 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways
over 3,659 m; 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 191 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
nationwide radio relay system; 1,890,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
413 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 28 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
and 11 domestic satellite earth stations
:Colombia Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines), Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 9,214,691; 6,240,601 fit for military service; 353,691 reach
military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $624 million, 1.4% of GDP (1991)
:Comoros Geography
Total area:
2,170 km2
Land area:
2,170 km2
Comparative area:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
340 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
claims French-administered Mayotte
Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land 35%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures 7%; forest and
woodland 16%; other 34%
Environment:
soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; cyclones possible during rainy
season
Note:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
:Comoros People
Population:
493,853 (July 1992), growth rate 3.5% (1992)
Birth rate:
47 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
12 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
84 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
55 years male, 59 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.9 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Comoran(s); adjective - Comoran
Ethnic divisions:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages:
official languages are Arabic and French but majority of population speak
Comoran, a blend of Swahili and Arabic
Literacy:
48% (male 56%, female 40%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Labor force:
140,000 (1982); agriculture 80%, government 3%; 51% of population of working
age (1985)
Organized labor:
NA
:Comoros Government
Long-form name:
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
Type:
independent republic
Capital:
Moroni
Administrative divisions:
three islands; Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mwali, formerly Grand Comore, Anjouan,
and Moheli respectively; note - there are also four municipalities named
Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Independence:
31 December 1975 (from France)
Constitution:
1 October 1978, amended October 1982 and January 1985
Legal system:
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Executive branch:
president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); coordinator of National
Unity Government (de facto prime minister) - Mohamed Taki ABDULKARIM (1
January 1992)
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
Federal Assembly:
last held 22 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) Udzima 42
President:
last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results - Said Mohamed
DJOHAR (Udzima) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN; Chancery (temporary) at the Comoran Permanent
Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017;
telephone (212) 972-8010
US:
Ambassador Kenneth N. PELTIER; Embassy at address NA, Moroni (mailing
address B. P. 1318, Moroni); telephone 73-22-03, 73-29-22
Flag:
green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the crescent
points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); there are four white
five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the
crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four
stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja,
Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a territorial collectivity of France, but
claimed by the Comoros)
:Comoros Economy
Overview:
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands
that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing
population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the
labor force contributes to a low level of economic activity, high
unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical
assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the
leading sector of the economy. It contributes about 34% to GDP, employs 80%
of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not
self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the main staple, accounts for
90% of imports. During the period 1982-86 the industrial sector grew at an
annual average rate of 5.3%, but its contribution to GDP was only 5% in
1988. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for
about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of
1.5% during 1985-90 has led to large budget deficits, declining incomes, and
balance-of-payments difficulties. Preliminary estimates for 1991 show a
moderate increase in the growth rate based on increased exports, tourism,
and government investment outlays.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $260 million, per capita $540; real growth rate
2.7% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.0% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
over 16% (1988 est.)
Budget:
revenues $88 million; expenditures $92 million, including capital
expenditures of $13 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
$16 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang
partners:
US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)
Imports:
$41 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods
partners:
Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)
External debt:
$196 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
16,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials,
soft drinks
Agriculture:
accounts for 34% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence agriculture
and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export - vanilla, cloves,
perfume essences, and copra; principal food crops - coconuts, bananas,
cassava; world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes)
and second-largest producer of vanilla; large net food importer
:Comoros Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $435 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $18
million
Currency:
Comoran franc (plural - francs); 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January 1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
(1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987); note - linked to the
French franc at 50 to 1 French franc
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Comoros Communications
Highways:
750 km total; about 210 km bituminous, remainder crushed stone or gravel
Ports:
Mutsamudu, Moroni
Civil air:
1 major transport aircraft
Airports:
4 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations
for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion; over
1,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV
:Comoros Defense Forces
Branches:
Comoran Security Forces (FCS), Federal Gendarmerie (GFC)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 105,022; 62,808 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA of GDP
:Congo Geography
Total area:
342,000 km2
Land area:
341,500 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
5,504 km; Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km,
Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km
Coastline:
169 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea:
200 nm
Disputes:
long section with Zaire along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of
the river or its islands has been made)
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October);
constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate
astride the Equator
Terrain:
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural
gas
Land use:
arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 29%; forest and
woodland 62%; other 7%
Environment:
deforestation; about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe
Noire, or along the railroad between them
:Congo People
Population:
2,376,687 (July 1992), growth rate 2.9% (1992)
Birth rate:
42 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
13 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
109 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
53 years male, 56 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
5.7 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Congolese (singular and plural); adjective - Congolese or Congo
Ethnic divisions:
about 15 ethnic groups divided into some 75 tribes, almost all Bantu; most
important ethnic groups are Kongo (48%) in the south, Sangha (20%) and
M'Bochi (12%) in the north, Teke (17%) in the center; about 8,500 Europeans,
mostly French
Religions:
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
French (official); many African languages with Lingala and Kikongo most
widely used
Literacy:
57% (male 70%, female 44%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
79,100 wage earners; agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government
25%; 51% of population of working age; 40% of population economically active
(1985)
Organized labor:
20% of labor force (1979 est.)
:Congo Government
Long-form name:
Republic of the Congo
Type:
republic
Capital:
Brazzaville
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool,
Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France; formerly Congo/Brazzaville)
Constitution:
8 July 1979, currently being modified
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
National holiday:
Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
a transitional National Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 8 February 1979); stripped of most
powers by National Conference in May 1991
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Andre MILONGO (since May 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Congolese Labor Party (PCT), President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, leader; note -
multiparty system legalized, with over 50 parties established
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
National Assembly:
transitional body selected by National Conference in May 1991; election for
new legislative body to be held spring 1992
President:
last held 26-31 July 1989 (next to be held June 1992); results - President
SASSOU-NGUESSO unanimously reelected leader of the PCT by the Party
Congress, which automatically made him president
Communists:
small number of Communists and sympathizers
Other political or pressure groups:
Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC), Congolese Trade Union Congress
(CSC), Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC), General Union of
Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Roger ISSOMBO; Chancery at 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20011; telephone (202) 726-5500
:Congo Government
US:
Ambassador James Daniel PHILLIPS; Embassy at Avenue Amilcar Cabral,
Brazzaville (mailing address is B. P. 1015, Brazzaville, or Box C, APO AE
09828); telephone (242) 83-20-70; FAX [242] 83-63-38
Flag:
red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the
upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
:Congo Economy