transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make
parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists
of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total
area
@Svalbard:People
Population: 2,594 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.55% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Ethnic groups: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other NEGL%
(1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
@Svalbard:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
Spitzbergen)
Data code: SV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry
of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was
given to Norway
Government type: NA
National capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and
Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch; governor and
assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry
of Justice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
@Svalbard:Economy
Economy-overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on
Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal
rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation.
Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the
past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The
settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian
state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian
population on the island, runs many of the local services, and
provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping
of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Labor force: NA
Budget:
revenues: $11.7 million
expenditures: $11.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: NA kW
Electricity-production: NA kWh
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Economic aid:
recipient: Norway, $8.7 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1-7.4875 (January 1998),
7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941
(1993)
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: local telephone service
international: satellite earth station-1 of NA type (for communication
with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
@Svalbard:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
@Svalbard:Military
Military-note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
@Svalbard:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary
dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
______________________________________________________________________
SWAZILAND
@Swaziland:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 17,360 sq km
land: 17,200 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 62%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: limited supplies of potable water;
wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography-note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South
Africa
@Swaziland:People
Population: 966,462 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 223,649; female 224,782)
15-64 years: 51% (male 238,547; female 255,137)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,625; female 14,722) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.96% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 41 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 21.4 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 103.37 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.53 years
male: 37.31 years
female: 39.79 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.96 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.7%
male: 78%
female: 75.6% (1995 est.)
@Swaziland:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
National capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12
April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but
has not been formally presented to the people
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note-no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65
seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the
elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than
1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since 9
August 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the king
elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister
appointed by the king
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory
body, consists of the Senate (20 seats, 10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 10 appointed by the king; members serve five-year terms)
and the House of Assembly (65 seats, 10 appointed by the king and 55
elected by secret, popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly-last held 26 September and 11 October
1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
election results: House of Assembly-balloting is done on a nonparty
basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of
each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with
the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single
winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the king; Court
of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders:
note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on
13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large
public gatherings
illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario
MASUKU]; Swaziland Youth Congress or SWAYOCO (included in PUDEMO);
Swaziland Communist Party or SWACOPA [Mphandlana SHONGWE]; Swaziland
Liberation Front or FROLISA; Convention for Full Democracy in
Swaziland or COFUDESWA [Sabelo DLAMINI]; Swaziland National Front or
SWANAFRO; Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party or NGWASOREP; Swaziland
Democratic Alliance (represents key opposition parties) [Jerry
NXUMALO]; Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions or SFTU [Jan SITHOLE]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA
chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683
FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan R. McKEE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445
FAX: [268] 45959
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple
width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red
band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff
decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
@Swaziland:Economy
Economy-overview: In this small landlocked economy, subsistence
agriculture occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing
features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in
importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted
by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for asbestos.
Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are the main
earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a
short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South
Africa from which it receives nearly 90% of its imports and to which
it sends more than half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers
in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as
much as 20%. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for
foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist
as problems for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$3.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3% (19976 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,800 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 42%
services: 48% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 9.5% (1997)
Labor force:
total: 135,000 (1996)
by occupation: private sector about 70%, public sector about 30%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $450 million, including capital expenditures of $115
million (FY96/97)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink
concentrates
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (FY95/96)
Electricity-capacity: 130,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 407 million kWh (1995)
note: imports 60% of its electricity from South Africa
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,062 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus,
pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports:
total value: $893 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn
(1995)
partners: South Africa 58%, EU 20%, Mozambique 6% (1994)
Imports:
total value: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment,
foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1995)
partners: South Africa 88%, Japan, UK, US (FY94/95)
Debt-external: $194 million (1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1-4.9417 (January 1998), 4.5998
(1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993);
note-the Swazi emalangeni are at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 30,364 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and
low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 129,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 12,500 (1992 est.)
@Swaziland:Transportation
Railways:
total: 297 km; note-includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 2,885 km
paved: 814 km
unpaved: 2,071 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 18 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)
@Swaziland:Military
Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal
Swaziland Police Force
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 215,708 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 125,580 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $22 million (FY93/94)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Swaziland:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories
that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the
Swazi Kingdom
______________________________________________________________________
SWEDEN
@Sweden:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 449,964 sq km
land: 410,928 sq km
water: 39,036 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,205 km
border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of
straits to high seas)
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly
cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 68%
other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in
the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment-current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes;
pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic
and North Seas
@Sweden:People
Population: 8,886,738 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 852,520; female 808,600)
15-64 years: 64% (male 2,885,783; female 2,792,964)
65 years and over: 17% (male 653,631; female 893,240) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.26% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.7 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.19 years
male: 76.52 years
female: 82 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation
immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal
1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Languages: Swedish
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
@Sweden:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Data code: SW
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan,
Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan,
Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan,
Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,
Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan,
Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Independence: 6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June 1809,
a constitutional monarchy was established
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir
Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the king
(born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister
elected by the Parliament; election last held NA March 1996 (next to
be held NA 1998)
election results: Goran PERSSON elected prime minister; percent of
parliamentary vote - 183 votes out of 349
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats;
members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation
basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 September 1994 (next to be held 20 September
1998)
election results: percent of vote by party-Social Democrats 45.4%,
Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals
7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New
Democracy Party 1.2%; seats by party-Social Democrats 162, Moderate
Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22,
Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note-the New Democracy Party did
not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.0% of votes
for a seat in parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are
appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Goran
PERSSON]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Carl BILDT]; Liberal People's
Party [Maria LEISSNER]; Center Party; Christian Democratic Party [Alf
SVENSSON]; New Democracy Party [Vivianne FRANZEN]; Left Party or VP
(Communist) [Gudrun SCHYMAN]; Communist Workers' Party [Rolf HAGEL];
Green Party [no formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger
SCHLAUG]
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA,
EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINUGUA, MONUA, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rolf EKEUS
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr.
embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64
Flag description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges
of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Sweden:Economy
Economy-overview: Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole
twentieth century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living
under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare
benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and
external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber,
hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy
heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account
for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector
accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only
2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this
extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary
difficulties, inflation, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of
competitiveness in international markets. To curb the budget deficit
and bolster confidence in the economy, the government adopted an
adjustment program in November 1994 that aims to eliminate the
government budget deficit and to stabilize the debt to GDP ratio.
Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU,
which it joined at the start of 1995. Sweden has decided not to join
the EMU (European Monetary Union). Annual GDP growth should edge up to
2.5% in 1998-99.