0-14 years: 37% (male 1,088,579; female 1,042,087)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,575,806; female 1,748,250)
65 years and over: 5% (male 135,556; female 161,789) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 26.71 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.32 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.66 years
male: 66.31 years
female: 73.17 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups: mestizo 94%, Amerindian 5%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%
note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the
country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million
Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.5%
male: 73.5%
female: 69.8% (1995 est.)
@El Salvador:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
Data code: ES
Government type: republic
National capital: San Salvador
Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos,
singular-departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan,
La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador,
Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 20 December 1983
Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994);
Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994); note-the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June
1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 20 March 1994,
with a run-off election held 24 April 1994 (next to be held NA March
1999)
election results: Armando CALDERON Sol elected president; percent of
vote-Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas
(CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%;
because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election was held
and the results were as follows-Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 68.35%,
Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%,
PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%,
other 0.8%; seats by party - ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3,
CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are selected by
the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance or ARENA
[Alfredo CRISTIANI]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN
[Facundo GUARDADO, general coordinator]; Christian Democratic Party or
PDC [Ronal UMANA, secretary general; title in dispute]; National
Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general];
Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general];
Popular Labor Party or PPL [Jose VILANOVA, secretary general]; Liberal
Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; Social
Christian Union or USC (formed by union of the PRSC, MU, and MSN)
[Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Democratic Party or PD [Ana Guadeloupe
MARTINEZ, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor organizations: National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers
(CNTS)National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS); Federation of the
Construction Industry, Similar, Transport and other activities
(FESINCONTRANS); Salvadoran Workers Central (CTS); Port Industry Union
of El Salvador (SIPES); Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador
(SIES); Workers Union of Electrical Corporation (STCEL)
business organizations: Salvadoran Industrial Association
(ASI)Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association (ASIC); National
Association of Small Enterprise (ANEP)
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rene A. LEON
chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, San
Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
telephone: [503] 278-4444
FAX: [503] 278-6011
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band;
the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of
Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white
band-it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE
NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to
the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X
pattern centered in the white band
@El Salvador:Economy
Economy-overview: In 1997 the government emphasized a fixed exchange
rate, along with conservative monetary and fiscal policies to promote
foreign investment. Inflation fell to an unprecedented low of 2%.
Exports reached a record level and were the main engine of growth.
Productivity in other sectors remained weaker, however. For the last
few years, El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its
trade and its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by
remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and
from external aid. The deficit is expected to increase in 1998 as
imports continue to rise. San Salvador is stepping up its
privatization efforts in 1998 to increase revenues. Late in 1997 the
legislative assembly approved a privatization law that will facilitate
the sale of the state-owned telephone company sometime in 1998. The
government also plans to privatize pension funds later in the year.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$17.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 24%
services: 61% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1997)
Labor force:
total: 2.26 million (1997 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%,
government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.75 billion
expenditures: $1.82 billion, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals,
fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 900,000 kW (1996)
Electricity-production: 3.5 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 603 kWh (1997 est.)
Agriculture-products: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseed,
cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp
Exports:
total value: $1.96 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: coffee, sugar; shrimp; textiles
partners: US, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica, Honduras
Imports:
total value: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels
partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Japan
Debt-external: $2.6 billion (yearend 1997)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $763 million (1996)
note: US has committed $280 million in economic assistance to El
Salvador for 1995-97 (excludes military aid)
Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of period)-8.755
(January 1998-1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993)
note: as of 1 June 1990, the rate is based on the average of the
buying and selling rates, set on a weekly basis, for official receipts
and payments, imports of petroleum, and coffee exports; prior to that
date, a system of floating was in effect
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 350,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 80, shortwave 2
Radios: 1.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (1996 est.)
Televisions: 700,000 (1997 est.)
@El Salvador:Transportation
Railways:
total: 602 km (single track; note-some sections abandoned, unusable,
or operating at reduced capacity)
narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 9,977 km
paved: 1,985 km (including 266 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,992 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union,
Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 88 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 84
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 66 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@El Salvador:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 1,362,504 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 864,419 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 65,130 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $104 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.9% (1997)
@El Salvador:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly
resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
decision; the presidents of Honduras and El Salvador signed in January
1998 an agreement allowing citizens in the 1992 demarcated areas to
choose Honduran or Salvadoran citizenship; the two countries also
agreed to a final demarcation of the border within one year; the
agreement awaits ratification by the legislative assemblies of both
countries; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de
Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and
advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras
and Nicaragua likely would be required
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for
local consumption
______________________________________________________________________
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
@Equatorial Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 28,050 sq km
land: 28,050 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Malabo 3,008 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of
gold, manganese, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: violent windstorms
Environment-current issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: insular and continental regions rather widely
separated
@Equatorial Guinea:People
Population: 454,001 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 97,993; female 97,470)
15-64 years: 53% (male 114,960; female 126,453)
65 years and over: 4% (male 7,597; female 9,528) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.56% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 38.9 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 13.32 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 93.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.93 years
male: 51.61 years
female: 56.31 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.06 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni
(primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan
practices
Languages: Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English,
Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.5%
male: 89.6%
female: 68.1% (1995 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
former: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
Government type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
National capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias,
singular-provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur,
Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991;
emended January 1995
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since April
1996); First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel OYONO
(since January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs
Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term;
election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003)
election results: President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected without
opposition; percent of popular vote-98%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Peoples Representatives or
Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PDGE 68,
CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Brig.
Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]
opposition parties: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS
[Santiago OBAMA, president; Placido Miko ABOGO, secretary-general];
Democratic Social Union or UDS [Camelo MODU, general secretary];
Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD [Alfonso Nsue MIFUMU, president];
Liberal Party or PL [Santos PASCUAL]; National Democratic Union or
UDENA [Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president]; National Movement of the
Liberation of Equatorial Guinea or MONALIGE [Dr. Aldolfo Obrang BIKO,
president]; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD
[Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinator]; Party of Progress
or PP [Mocache MEINGA, interim chairman]; Popular Action of Equatorial
Guinea or APGE [Casiano Masi Edu]; Popular Union or UP [Juan BITUI,
president]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Basilio
Ava Eworo and Domingo ABUY]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP
[Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president]; Social Democratic and Popular
Convergence or CSDP [Secundino Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha Balinga
Alene, general secretary]; Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea or
PSGE [Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,
UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
chancery: Suite 405, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 393-0525
FAX: [1] (202) 393-0348
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations
with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde,
Cameroon
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,
and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the
coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six
yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore
islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below
which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace,
Justice)
@Equatorial Guinea:Economy
Economy-overview: The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves
have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Farming,
forestry, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence
farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea
counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the
deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has
diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid
programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off
since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and
mismanagement. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government
officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources
include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The
country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in
January 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$660 million (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 46%
industry: 33%
services: 21% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 5,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 20 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 48 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca),
bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc; livestock; timber
Exports:
total value: $197 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: petroleum, timber, cocoa
partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, Spain 13%, China 13%, Nigeria
Imports:
total value: $248 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
partners: Cameroon 40%, Spain 18%, France 14%, US 8%
Debt-external: $254 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998),
583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16
(1993)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 2,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: poor system with adequate government services
domestic: NA
international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to
African and European countries; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Transportation
Railways:
total: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,820 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 2,820 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,766 GRT/84,780 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1997
est.)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force,
National Police
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 98,960 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 50,308 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $2.5 million (FY93/94)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Equatorial Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because
of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary
dispute with Nigeria because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich
areas in the Gulf of Guinea
______________________________________________________________________
ERITREA
Introduction
Historical perspective: On 29 May 1991, ISAIAS Afworki, secretary
general of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which
then served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation
of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the
23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region
of Eritrea; the referendum resulted in a landslide vote for
independence, which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993.
@Eritrea:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and
Sudan