21,626,784 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
34 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-2 migrants/1,000 population (1992); note - 179,000 persons left Uzbekistan
in 1990
Infant mortality rate:
65 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
64 years male, 70 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
4.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Uzbek(s); adjective - Uzbek
Ethnic divisions:
Uzbek 71%, Russian 8%, Tajik 5%, other 16%; note - includes 70% of Crimean
Tatars since their World War II deportation
Religions:
Muslim (mostly Sunnis) 75-80%, other (includes Farsi) 20-25%
Languages:
Uzbek 85%, Russian 5%, other 10%
Literacy:
NA%
Labor force:
7,941,000; agriculture and forestry 39%, industry and construction 24%,
other 37% (1990)
Organized labor:
NA
:Uzbekistan Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Uzbekistan
Type:
republic
Capital:
Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:
11 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and 1 autonomous republic*
(avtomnaya respublika); Andizhan, Bukhara, Dzhizak, Fergana, Karakalpakstan*
(Nukus), Kashkadar'ya (Karshi), Khorezm (Urgench), Namangan, Samarkand,
Surkhandar'ya (Termez), Syrdar'ya (Gulistan), Tashkent; note - an
administrative division has the same name as its administrative center
(exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 from the Soviet Union; note - formerly Uzbek Soviet Socialist
Republic in the Soviet Union
Constitution:
NA
Legal system:
NA
National holiday:
NA
Executive branch:
president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
NA
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Islam KARIMOV (since 29 December 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Abdulhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (formerly Communist Party), Islam
KARIMOV, chairman; ERK, Mukhammad SOLIKH, chairman
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results -
Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%
Supreme Soviet:
last held NA March 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (500 total) Communist 450, ERK 10, other 40
Communists:
NA
Other political or pressure groups:
Birlik (Unity) Abdurakhim PULATOV, chairman; Islamic Renaissance Party,
Abdulljon UTAEV, chairman
Member of:
CIS, CSCE, IMF, NACC, UN UNCTAD
Diplomatic representation:
NA
US:
Charge d'Affaires Michael MOZUR; Embassy at Hotel Uzbekistan, ;55
Chelendarskaya, Tashkent (mailing address is APO AE 09862); telephone [8]
(011) 7-3712-33-15-74
:Uzbekistan Government
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands - blue (top), white, and green with a crescent
moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
:Uzbekistan Economy
Overview:
Although Uzbekistan accounted for only 3.4% of total Soviet output, it
produced two-thirds of the USSR's cotton. Moscow's push for ever-increasing
amounts of cotton included massive irrigation projects which caused
extensive environmental damage to the Aral Sea and rivers of the republic.
Furthermore, the lavish use of chemical fertilizers has caused extensive
pollution and widespread health problems. Recently the republic has sought
to encourage food production at the expense of cotton. The small industrial
sector specializes in such items as agricultural machinery, mineral
fertilizers, vegetable oil, and electrical cranes. Uzbekistan also has some
important natural resources including gold (about 30% of Soviet production),
uranium, and natural gas. The Uzbek government has encouraged land reform
but has shied away from other aspects of economic reform.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate -0.9%
(1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
83% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$1.5 billion (1990)
commodities:
cotton, gold, textiles, chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil
partners:
Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe
Imports:
$3.5 billion (1990)
commodities:
machinery and parts, consumer durables, grain, other foods
partners:
principally other former Soviet republics
External debt:
$2 billion (end of 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.8% (1991)
Electricity:
11,400,000 kW capacity; 54,100 million kWh produced, 2,662 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil, textiles
Agriculture:
cotton, with much smaller production of grain, fruits, vegetables, and
livestock
Illicit drugs:
illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption;
status of government eradication programs unknown; used as transshipment
points for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
$NA
Currency:
as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency
Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Uzbekistan Communications
Railroads:
3,460 km all 1.520-meter gauge (includes NA km electrified); does not
include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
78,400 km total (1990); 67,000 km hard-surfaced, 11,400 km earth
Inland waterways:
NA km
Pipelines:
NA
Ports:
none - landlocked
Civil air:
NA
Airports:
NA
Telecommunications:
poorly developed; telephone density NA; linked by landline or microwave with
CIS member states and by leased connection via the Moscow international
gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations - Orbita and
INTELSAT (TV receive only)
:Uzbekistan Defense Forces
Branches:
Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard; CIS
Forces (Ground, Air and Air Defense)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18)
annually
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
:Vanuatu Geography
Total area:
14,760 km2
Land area:
14,760 km2; includes more than 80 islands
Comparative area:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Contiguous zone:
24 nm
Continental shelf:
edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land 1%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and
woodland 1%; other 91%
Environment:
subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism
causes minor earthquakes
Note:
located 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about
three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia
:Vanuatu People
Population:
174,574 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Birth rate:
35 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
67 years male, 72 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
5.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural); adjective - Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic divisions:
indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, remainder Vietnamese, Chinese, and
various Pacific Islanders
Religions:
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages:
English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy:
53% (male 57%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
Labor force:
NA
Organized labor:
7 registered trade unions - largest include Oil and Gas Workers' Union,
Vanuatu Airline Workers' Union
:Vanuatu Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Vanuatu
Type:
republic
Capital:
Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula,
Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and UK; formerly New Hebrides)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament; note - the National Council of Chiefs advises on
matters of custom and land
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister
Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge
VOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party
(NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel
Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
Parliament:
last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note - after
election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the
National United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991; seats -
(46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,
IOC, ITU, NAM, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington
US:
the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green (bottom) with a black
isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged
yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face
the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a
boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
:Vanuatu Economy
Overview:
The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a
living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other
mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has
no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the
local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $142 million, per capita $900 (1988 est.); real
growth rate 6% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $90.0 million; expenditures $103.0 million, including capital
expenditures of $45.0 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
$15.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4%
partners:
Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
Imports:
$60.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%, basic manufactures 18%,
raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6%
partners:
Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
External debt:
$30 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDP
Electricity:
17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - copra, cocoa, coffee, and fish;
subsistence crops - copra, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, and vegetables
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$606 million
Currency:
vatu (plural - vatu); 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
vatu (VT) per US$1 - 112.55 (March 1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990),
116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988), 109.85 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Vanuatu Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads
Ports:
Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu
Merchant marine:
121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,443 GRT/3,168,822 DWT; includes
26 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1
livestock carrier, 5 petroleum tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas,
51 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a
flag of convenience registry
Civil air:
no major transport aircraft
Airports:
33 total, 31 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; satellite ground
stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
:Vanuatu Defense Forces
Branches:
no military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile
Force (VMF)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
:Venezuela Geography
Total area:
912,050 km2
Land area:
882,050 km2
Comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
4,993 km total; Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline:
2,800 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
15 nm
Continental shelf:
200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo river; maritime boundary dispute
with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
Andes mountains and Maracaibo lowlands in northwest; central plains
(llanos); Guyana highlands in southeast
Natural resources:
crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower,
diamonds
Land use:
arable land 3%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 20%; forest and
woodland 39%; other 37%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts; increasing
industrial pollution in Caracas and Maracaibo
Note:
on major sea and air routes linking North and South America
:Venezuela People
Population:
20,675,970 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
27 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
4 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
23 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
71 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
3.3 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Venezuelan(s); adjective - Venezuelan
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2%
Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
Languages:
Spanish (official); Indian dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in
the remote interior
Literacy:
88% (male 87%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
Labor force:
5,800,000; services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16% (1985)
Organized labor:
32% of labor force
:Venezuela Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Venezuela
Type:
republic
Capital:
Caracas
Administrative divisions:
21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* (territorios, singular
- territorio), 1 federal district** (distrito federal), and 1 federal
dependence*** (dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua,
Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias
Federales***, Distrito Federal**, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda,
Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy,
Zulia; note - the federal dependence consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution:
23 January 1961
Legal system:
based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation
Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Executive branch:
president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) consists of an
upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
(Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Carlos Andres PEREZ (since 2 February 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and Eduardo
FERNANDEZ, secretary general; Democratic Action (AD), Humberto CELLI,
president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward
Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy MUNOZ, secretary
general
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results -
Carlos Andres PEREZ (AD) 54.6%, Eduardo FERNANDEZ (COPEI) 41.7%, other 3.7%
Senate:
last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) AD 23, COPEI 22, other 4;
note - 3 former presidents (1 from AD, 2 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate
seats
Chamber of Deputies:
last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results - AD
43.7%, COPEI 31.4%, MAS 10.3%, other 14.6%; seats - (201 total) AD 97, COPEI
67, MAS 18, other 19
Communists:
10,000 members (est.)
:Venezuela Government
Other political or pressure groups:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of
Workers, the Democratic Action - dominated labor organization
Member of:
AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Simon Alberto CONSALVI Bottaro; Chancery at 1099 30th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 342-2214; there are Venezuelan
Consulates General in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US:
Ambassador Michael Martin SKOL; Embassy at Avenida Francisco de Miranda and
Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracas (mailing address is P. O. Box
62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037); telephone [58] (2) 285-2222; FAX
[58] (2) 285-0336; there is a US Consulate in Maracaibo
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of
arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white
five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
:Venezuela Economy
Overview:
Petroleum is the cornerstone of the economy and accounted for 23% of GDP,
80% of central government revenues, and 80% of export earnings in 1991.
President PEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed
office in February 1989. Lower tariffs and price supports, a free market
exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy into
confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. However, the economy
recovered part way in 1990, and grew by 9.2% in 1991, led by the petroleum
sector.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $52.3 billion, per capita $2,590; real growth
rate 9.2% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
30.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.3% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $13.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
$15.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 80%, bauxite and aluminum, iron ore, agricultural products, basic
manufactures
partners:
US 50.7%, Europe 13.7%, Japan 4.0% (1989)
Imports:
$10.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, chemicals, manufactures, machinery and transport equipment
partners:
US 44%, FRG 8.0%, Japan 4%, Italy 7%, Canada 2% (1989)
External debt:
$30.9 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5.4% (1991 est.); accounts for one-fourth of GDP, including
petroleum
Electricity:
20,128,000 kW capacity; 55,753 million kWh produced, 2,762 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing,
textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products - corn, sorghum,
sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish;
not self-sufficient in food other than meat
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug trade
on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country
from Colombia
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries
(1970-89), $10 million
Currency:
bolivar (plural - bolivares); 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 65.39 (March 1992), 56.82 (1991), 46.90 (1990),
34.68 (1989), 14.50 (fixed rate 1987-88)
:Venezuela Economy
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Venezuela Communications
Railroads:
542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track, government
owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned
Highways:
77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel, 14,450 km earth roads,
and 15,835 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:
crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
Ports:
Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz
Merchant marine:
57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 790,108 GRT/1,257,637 DWT; includes 1
short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 22 cargo, 1 container, 2
roll-on/roll-off, 17 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 8
bulk, 1 vehicle carrier, 1 combination bulk
Civil air:
56 major transport aircraft
Airports:
308 total, 287 usable; 135 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 88 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 181 AM, no
FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite ground
stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic
:Venezuela Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground Forces (Army), Naval Forces (including Navy, Marines, Coast Guard),
Air Forces, Armed Forces of Cooperation (National Guard)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 5,365,880; 3,884,558 fit for military service; 210,737 reach
military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)
:Vietnam Geography
Total area:
329,560 km2
Land area:
325,360
Comparative area:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
3,818 km total; Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 km
Coastline:
3,444 km; excludes islands
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
24 nm
Continental shelf:
edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute
over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and
possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand; maritime
boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied
by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan
Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to
mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in
far north and northwest
Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil deposits,
forests
Land use:
arable land 22%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and
woodland 40%; other 35%; includes irrigated 5%
Environment:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
:Vietnam People