0-14 years: 28% (male 159,353; female 152,898)
15-64 years: 65% (male 375,889; female 347,115)
65 years and over: 7% (male 36,627; female 44,713) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.27% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 14.89 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -19.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.51 years
male: 68.06 years
female: 73.03 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups: black 40%, East Indian (a local term-primarily
immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese
1%, other 3.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%, other
Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%
Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 97% (1995 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Data code: TD
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**;
Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint
David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution: 1 August 1976
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19
March 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November
1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college that consists of
the members of the Senate and House of Representatives for a five-year
term; election last held NA February 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in
the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister
election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president;
percent of electoral college vote-69%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (31
seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of five
years) and a House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives-last held 6 November 1995 (next to
be held by December 2000)
election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote-PNM 52%,
UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party-PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1, independent
1; note-the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 15 members
serving four-year terms
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister; Supreme Court, judges
are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement (PNM),
Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY;
National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), Nizam MOHAMMED; Movement
for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint
Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; National Development Party
(NDP), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), Hulsie
BHAGGAN
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Michael A. ARNEAUD
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176
FAX: [1] (809) 628-5462
Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the
upper hoist side
@Trinidad and Tobago:Economy
Economy-overview: Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an
excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful
economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign investment and
trade are flourishing. Unemployment - a main cause of the country's
socio-economic problems-is high, but has decreased to its lowest point
in five years. The country enjoys a healthy trade surplus, yet its
heavy dependence on oil and petrochemical prices makes its trade
balance vulnerable to sudden shifts. Tourism is a major foreign
exchange earner, with 260,000 arrivals in 1995, 80% from Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$13.2 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.1% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$10,400 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 45%
services: 53% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.4% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 404,500
by occupation: construction and utilities 13%, manufacturing, mining,
and quarrying 14%, agriculture 11%, services 62% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16.1% (December 1996)
Budget:
revenues: $1.7 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $243
million (1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement,
beverage, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 1.15 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 3.9 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,068 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee,
vegetables; poultry
Exports:
total value: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel
products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
partners: US 48%, Caricom countries 15%, Latin America 9%, EU 5%
(1994)
Imports:
total value: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods,
food, live animals
partners: US 48%, Venezuela 10%, UK 8%, Germany, Canada (1995)
Debt-external: $1.9 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1-6.2840
(January 1998), 6.2503 (1997), 6.0051 (1996), 5.9478 (1995), 5.9249
(1994), 5.3511 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 170,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: excellent international service; good local service
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0
note: there were a total of 10 radio stations in 1995
Radios: 700,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1995 est.)
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Transportation
Railways:
note: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway
service was discontinued in 1968
Highways:
total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas
904 km
Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas,
Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336 GRT/2,567 DWT
(1997 est.)
Airports: 6 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Military
Military branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground
Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 313,018 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 223,511 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $83 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Trinidad and Tobago:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
for the US and Europe and producer of cannabis
______________________________________________________________________
TROMELIN ISLAND
(possession of France)
@Tromelin Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3.7 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sandy
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (scattered bushes)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: climatologically important location for forecasting
cyclones; wildlife sanctuary
@Tromelin Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Tromelin Island:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Tromelin
Data code: TE
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Tromelin Island:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
Communications
Communications-note: important meteorological station
@Tromelin Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Tromelin Island:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Tromelin Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Madagascar and Mauritius
______________________________________________________________________
TUNISIA
@Tunisia:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south
merges into the Sahara
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is
ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw
sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography-note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
@Tunisia:People
Population: 9,380,404 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 1,526,743; female 1,433,503)
15-64 years: 63% (male 2,933,487; female 2,947,189)
65 years and over: 5% (male 275,411; female 264,071) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.43% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 20.07 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.64 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.1 years
male: 71.72 years
female: 74.58 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
French (commerce)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.7%
male: 78.6%
female: 54.6% (1995 est.)
@Tunisia:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis
Data code: TS
Government type: republic
National capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte,
Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef,
Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana,
Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint
session
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September
1989)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected without
opposition; percent of vote-Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab
(163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party-RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others
1.3%; seats by party-RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note-the government
changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition won seats
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally Party
(RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party); Movement of
Democratic Socialists (MDS); five other political parties are legal,
including the Communist Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalist
party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
MIPONUH, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Noureddine MEJDOUB
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. RAPHEL
embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] (1) 782-566
FAX: [216] (1) 789-719
Flag description: red with a white disk in the center bearing a red
crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and
star are traditional symbols of Islam
@Tunisia:Economy
Economy-overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important
agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors.
Governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over
the past decade with increasing privatization of trade and commerce,
simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt.
Real growth averaged 4.6% in 1992-96 and reached 5.6% in 1997, down
from 6.9% in 1996, which benefited from a record cereal crop.
Inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and increased trade
have been key elements in this solid record. Tunisia's association
agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 March 1998,
the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be
activated. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers
to trade with the EU over the next decade. Further privatization, the
attraction of increased foreign investment, and improvements in
government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$56.5 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$6,100 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 28%
services: 58% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 4.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 2.917 million (1993 est.)
by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: 15% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $6.3 billion
expenditures: $6.8 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.5
billion (1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore),
tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 1.414 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 6.165 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 696 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain, sugar
beets, grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports:
total value: $5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: hydrocarbons, textiles, agricultural products, phosphates
and chemicals
partners: EU 80%, North African countries 6%, Asia 4%, US 1% (1996)
Imports:
total value: $7.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%,
food 12%, consumer goods
partners: EU countries 80%, North African countries 5.5%, Asia 5.5%,
US 5% (1996)
Debt-external: $10.6 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $221 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1-1.1612 (January 1998),
1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995), 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037
(1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 560,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: the system is above the African average; key centers
are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis
domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable,
and microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control station; coaxial
cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in
Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 0
Radios: 1,693,527 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 19
Televisions: 1.4 million
Communications-note: Internet access is available through two private
service providers licensed by the government
@Tunisia:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,260 km
standard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (1993 est.)
Highways:
total: 23,100 km
paved: 18,226 km
unpaved: 4,874 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742
km
Ports and harbors: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis,
Zarzis
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 157,475 GRT/165,922 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas
tanker 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger
3, specialized tanker 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 32 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (1997 est.)
@Tunisia:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces
Military manpower-military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 2,534,929 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 1,450,442 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 96,966 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $535 million (1995)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.8% (1995)
@Tunisia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; Malta
and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration
______________________________________________________________________
TURKEY
@Turkey:Geography
Location: southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is
sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 780,580 sq km
land: 770,760 sq km
water: 9,820 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,627 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline: 7,200 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only-to the maritime boundary
agreed upon with the former USSR
territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea,; 12 nm in the Black Sea and
in the Mediterranean Sea