West - 31,443 km total; 27,421 km government owned, 1.435-meter standard
gauge (12,491 km double track, 11,501 km electrified); 4,022 km
nongovernment owned, including 3,598 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (214 km
electrified) and 424 km 1.000-meter gauge (186 km electrified); East -
14,025 km total; 13,750 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 275 km 1.000-meter or
other narrow gauge; 3,830 (est.) km 1.435-meter standard gauge double-track;
3,475 km overhead electrified (1988)
Highways:
West - 466,305 km total; 169,568 km primary, includes 6,435 km autobahn,
32,460 km national highways (Bundesstrassen), 65,425 km state highways
(Landesstrassen), 65,248 km county roads (Kreisstrassen); 296,737 km of
secondary communal roads (Gemeindestrassen); East - 124,604 km total; 47,203
km concrete, asphalt, stone block, of which 1,855 km are autobahn and
limited access roads, 11,326 are trunk roads, and 34,022 are regional roads;
77,401 municipal roads (1988)
Inland waterways:
West - 5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric ton
capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is
an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea; East - 2,319
km (1988)
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km; natural gas 97,564 km
(1988)
Ports:
maritime - Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Cuxhaven, Emden, Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel,
Lubeck, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund, Sassnitz; inland - 31
major
Merchant marine:
607 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,210,060 GRT/6,626,333 DWT; includes
3 passenger, 5 short-sea passenger, 324 cargo, 10 refrigerated cargo, 135
container, 31 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 railcar carrier, 6 barge carrier, 11
oil tanker, 21 chemical tanker, 22 liquefied gas tanker, 5 combination
ore/oil, 14 combination bulk, 15 bulk; note - the German register includes
ships of the former East and West Germany; during 1991 the fleet underwent
major restructuring as surplus ships were sold off
Civil air:
239 major transport aircraft
Airports:
462 total, 455 usable; 242 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways
over 3,659 m; 40 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 55 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
West - highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of
the country; fully adequate in all respects; 40,300,000 telephones;
intensively developed, highly redundant cable and radio relay networks, all
completely automatic; broadcast stations - 80 AM, 470 FM, 225 (6,000
repeaters) TV; 6 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 12
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT antennas, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT antennas,
EUTELSAT, and domestic systems; 2 HF radiocommunication centers;
tropospheric links East - badly needs modernization; 3,970,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 23 AM, 17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV repeaters); 6,181,860
TVs; 6,700,000 radios; 1 satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT and
Intersputnik systems
:Germany Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Border Police
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 20,300,359; 17,612,677 fit for military service; 414,330 reach
military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $39.5 billion, 2.5% of GDP (1991)
:Ghana Geography
Total area:
238,540 km2
Land area:
230,020 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
2,093 km; Burkina 548 km, Ivory Coast 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline:
539 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
24 nm
Continental shelf:
200 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in
southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Natural resources:
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use:
arable land 5%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and
woodland 37%; other 36%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
recent drought in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities;
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; dry, northeasterly harmattan wind
(January to March)
Note:
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
:Ghana People
Population:
16,185,351 (July 1992), growth rate 3.1% (1992)
Birth rate:
45 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
13 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
- 1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
86 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
53 years male, 57 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.3 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Ghanaian(s); adjective - Ghanaian
Ethnic divisions:
black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga
8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages:
English (official); African languages include Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and
Ga
Literacy:
60% (male 70%, female 51%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
3,700,000; agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales and clerical
15.2%, services, transportation, and communications 7.7%, professional 3.7%;
48% of population of working age (1983)
Organized labor:
467,000 (about 13% of labor force)
:Ghana Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Ghana
Type:
military
Capital:
Accra
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern,
Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:
6 March 1957 (from UK, formerly Gold Coast)
Constitution:
24 September 1979; suspended 31 December 1981
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Executive branch:
chairman of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC), PNDC, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly dissolved after 31 December 1981 coup, and
legislative powers were assumed by the Provisional National Defense Council
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Chairman of the Provisional National Defense Council Flt. Lt. (Ret.) Jerry
John RAWLINGS (since 31 December 1981)
Political parties and leaders:
none; political parties outlawed after 31 December 1981 coup
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
no national elections; district assembly elections held in 1988-89
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Dr. Joseph ABBEY; Chancery at 3512 International Drive NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 686-4520; there is a Ghanaian
Consulate General in New York
US:
Ambassador Raymond C. EWING; Embassy at Ring Road East, East of Danquah
Circle, Accra (mailing address is P. O. Box 194, Accra); telephone [233]
(21) 775348, 775349
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large
black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a
coat of arms centered in the yellow band
:Ghana Economy
Overview:
Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana has been
implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983, including
moves toward privatization and relaxation of government controls. Heavily
dependent on cocoa, gold, and timber exports, economic growth so far has not
spread substantially to other areas of the economy. The costs of sending
peacekeeping forces to Liberia and preparing for the transition to a
democratic government have been boosting government expenditures and
undercutting structural adjustment reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange in
1990. Much of the economic improvement in 1991 was caused by favorable
weather (following a severe drought the previous year) that led to plentiful
harvests in Ghana's agriculturally based economy.
GDP:
$6.2 billion; per capita $400; real growth rate 5% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $821 million; expenditures $782 million, including capital
expenditures of $151 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
$843 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
cocoa 45%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum
partners:
US 23%, UK, other EC
Imports:
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods, capital equipment
partners:
US 10%, UK, FRG, France, Japan, South Korea, GDR
External debt:
$3.1 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 7.4% in manufacturing (1989); accounts for almost 1.5% of GDP
Electricity:
1,180,000 kW capacity; 4,140 million kWh produced, 265 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, fishing, aluminum, food processing
Agriculture:
accounts for more than 50% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); the
major cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops - rice, coffee, cassava,
peanuts, corn, shea nuts, timber; normally self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $106
million
Currency:
cedi (plural - cedis); 1 cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Ghana Communications
Railroads:
953 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 32 km double track; railroads undergoing
major renovation
Highways:
32,250 km total; 6,084 km concrete or bituminous surface, 26,166 km gravel,
laterite, and improved earth surfaces
Inland waterways:
Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for
launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder
waterways
Pipelines:
none
Ports:
Tema, Takoradi
Merchant marine:
5 cargo and 1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,435
GRT/69,167 DWT
Civil air:
8 major transport aircraft
Airports:
10 total, 9 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
poor to fair system handled primarily by microwave links; 42,300 telephones;
broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 (8 translators) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station
:Ghana Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Civil Defense
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 3,661,558; 2,049,842 fit for military service; 170,742 reach
military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $30 million, less than 1% of GNP (1989 est.)
:Gibraltar Geography
Total area:
6.5 km2
Land area:
6.5 km2
Comparative area:
about 11 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
1.2 km; Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:
12 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone:
3 nm
Territorial sea:
3 nm
Disputes:
source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:
a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment:
natural freshwater sources are meager, so large water catchments (concrete
or natural rock) collect rain water
Note:
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic
Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
:Gibraltar People
Population:
29,651 (July 1992), growth rate 0.1% (1992)
Birth rate:
18 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
- 9 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
72 years male, 79 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.5 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Gibraltarian(s); adjective - Gibraltar
Ethnic divisions:
mostly Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, and Spanish descent
Religions:
Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Moslem
8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages:
English and Spanish are primary languages; Italian, Portuguese, and Russian
also spoken; English used in the schools and for official purposes
Literacy:
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force:
about 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers); UK military establishments
and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force
Organized labor:
over 6,000
:Gibraltar Government
Long-form name:
none
Digraph:
f Assembly *** last held on 24 March 1988 (next to be held March 1992);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) SL 8,
GCL/AACR 7
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Gibraltar
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
30 May 1969
Legal system:
English law
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor, chief minister, Gibraltar Council, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and
Commander in Chief Adm. Sir Derek REFFELL (since NA 1989)
Head of Government:
Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
Political parties and leaders:
Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association
for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader NA; Gibraltar Social
Democrats, Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar National Party, Joe GARCIA
Suffrage:
universal at age 18, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Elections:
House of Assembly:
last held on 24 March 1988 (next to be held March 1992); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) SL 8, GCL/AACR 7
Other political or pressure groups:
Housewives Association, Chamber of Commerce, Gibraltar Representatives
Organization
Diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a
three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the
castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
:Gibraltar Economy
Overview:
The economy depends heavily on British defense expenditures, revenue from
tourists, fees for services to shipping, and revenues from banking and
finance activities. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public
sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of
employment. Construction workers are particularly affected when government
expenditures are cut.
GNP:
exchange rate conversion - $182 million, per capita $4,600; real growth rate
5% (FY87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $136 million; expenditures $139 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (FY88)
Exports:
$82 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
partners:
UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports:
$258 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
partners:
UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
External debt:
$318 million (1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
47,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 6,670 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK
naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port; light
manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer,
and canned fish
Agriculture:
none
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $0.8 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $188 million
Currency:
Gibraltar pound (plural - pounds); 1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.5799 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603
(1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987); note - the Gibraltar
pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
:Gibraltar Communications
Railroads:
1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways:
50 km, mostly good bitumen and concrete
Pipelines:
none
Ports:
Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 795,356 GRT/1,490,737 DWT; includes 5
cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 6 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical
tanker, 6 bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry
Civil air:
1 major transport aircraft
Airports:
1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international
radiocommunication and microwave facilities; 9,400 telephones; broadcast
stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:Gibraltar Defense Forces
Branches:
British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
:Glorioso Islands Geography
Total area:
5 km2
Land area:
5 km2; includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and
South Rock
Comparative area:
about 8.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
35.2 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
12 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
undetermined
Natural resources:
guano, coconuts
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other - lush vegetation and coconut palms 100%
Environment:
subject to periodic cyclones
Note:
located in the Indian Ocean just north of the Mozambique Channel between
Africa and Madagascar
:Glorioso Islands People
Population:
uninhabited
:Glorioso Islands Government
Long-form name:
none
Type:
French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic Jacques
DEWATRE, resident in Reunion
Capital:
none; administered by France from Reunion
:Glorioso Islands Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
:Glorioso Islands Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
:Glorioso Islands Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
:Greece Geography
Total area:
131,940 km2
Land area:
130,800 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
1,210 km; Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 228 km
Coastline:
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf:
200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
Territorial sea:
6 nm, but Greece has threatened to claim 12 nm
Disputes:
air, continental shelf, and territorial water disputes with Turkey in Aegean
Sea; Cyprus question
Climate:
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of
islands
Natural resources:
bauxite, lignite, magnesite, crude oil, marble
Land use:
arable land 23%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures 40%; forest and
woodland 20%; other 9%; includes irrigated 7%
Environment:
subject to severe earthquakes; air pollution; archipelago of 2,000 islands
Note:
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to
Turkish Straits
:Greece People
Population:
10,064,250 (July 1992), growth rate 0.2% (1992)
Birth rate:
11 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
10 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
75 years male, 81 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
1.5 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Greek(s); adjective - Greek
Ethnic divisions:
Greek 98%, other 2%; note - the Greek Government states there are no ethnic
divisions in Greece
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
Greek (official); English and French widely understood
Literacy:
93% (male 98%, female 89%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
3,657,000; services 44%, agriculture 27%, manufacturing and mining 20%,
construction 6% (1988)
Organized labor:
10-15% of total labor force, 20-25% of urban labor force
:Greece Government
Long-form name:
Hellenic Republic
Type:
presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum 8
December 1974
Capital:
Athens
Administrative divisions:
52 departments (nomoi, singular - nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia,
Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Dhrama, Evritania, Evros,
Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina,
Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki,
Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa,
Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Piraievs,
Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki,
Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos, autonomous region: Agios Oros (Mt.
Athos)
Independence:
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Constitution:
11 June 1975
Legal system:
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and
administrative courts
National holiday:
Independence Day (proclamation of the war of independence), 25 March (1821)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Greek Chamber of Deputies (Vouli ton Ellinon)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Konstantinos KARAMANLIS (since 5 May 1990); -
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Konstantinos MITSOTAKIS (since 11 April 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
New Democracy (ND; conservative), Konstantinos MITSOTAKIS; Panhellenic
Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU; Left Alliance, Maria
DAMANAKI; Democratic Renewal (DEANA), Konstantinos STEFANOPOULOS; Communist
Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA; Ecologist-Alternative List, leader rotates
Suffrage:
universal and compulsory at age 18
Elections:
Chamber of Deputies:
last held 8 April 1990 (next to be held April 1994); results - ND 46.89%,
PASOK 38.62%, Left Alliance 10.27%, PASOK/Left Alliance 1.02%,
Ecologist-Alternative List 0.77%, DEANA 0.67%, Muslim independents 0.5%;
seats - (300 total) ND 150, PASOK 123, Left Alliance 19, PASOK-Left Alliance
4, Muslim independents 2, DEANA 1, Ecologist-Alternative List 1; note - one
DEANA deputy joined ND in July, giving ND 151 seats; in November, a special
electoral court ruled in favor of ND on a contested seat, at PASOK'S
expense; PASOK and the Left Alliance divided their four joint mandates
evenly, and the seven KKE deputies split off from the Left Alliance; new
configuration: ND 152, PASOK 124, Left Alliance 14, KKE 7, others unchanged
President:
last held 4 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - Konstantinos
KARAMANLIS was elected by Parliament
:Greece Government