Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Nicaraguan
Liberal Alliance or ALN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Sandinista National
Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista
Renovation Movement or MRS [Enrique SAENZ Navarrete]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Workers Front or FNT (a Sandinista umbrella group of eight
labor unions including: Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health
Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of
Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of
Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE,
National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers
Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN);
Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT (an umbrella group of four
non-Sandinista labor unions including: Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers
Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS,
Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor
Action and Unity Central or CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central or
CTN (an independent labor union); Superior Council of Private
Enterprise or COSEP (a confederation of business groups)
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo CRUZ Sequeira, Jr.
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI
embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours)
FAX: [505] 252-7304
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 triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El
Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue
stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy
Nicaragua
Economy - overview:
Nicaragua has widespread underemployment, one of the highest degrees
of income inequality in the world, and the third lowest per capita
income in the Western Hemisphere. While the country has progressed
toward macroeconomic stability in the past few years, annual GDP
growth has been far too low to meet the country's needs, forcing the
country to rely on international economic assistance to meet fiscal
and debt financing obligations. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured
some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in October 2007, the
IMF approved a new poverty reduction and growth facility (PRGF)
program that should create fiscal space for social spending and
investment. The continuity of a relationship with the IMF reinforces
donor confidence, despite private sector concerns surrounding
ORTEGA, which has dampened investment. The US-Central America Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been in effect since April 2006 and has
expanded export opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured
goods. Energy shortages fueled by high oil prices, however, are a
serious bottleneck to growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.17 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.723 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 16.9%
industry: 25.8%
services: 57.2% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
2.262 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 19%
services: 52% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.9% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
48% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 33.8% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.1 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
31.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.115 billion
expenditures: $1.291 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
62.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.04% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$465.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.802 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.133 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp,
lobsters
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,
wood
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.012 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
2.413 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
63.95 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 83.9%
hydro: 7.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 8.4% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
28,880 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
808.5 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
29,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$1.001 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.313 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners:
US 31.7%, El Salvador 14%, Honduras 9.3%, Costa Rica 7.2%, Canada
5.8%, Guatemala 5.5%, Mexico 4.8% (2007)
Imports:
$4.078 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
US 22.5%, Mexico 13.5%, Costa Rica 8.4%, Venezuela 6.4%, Guatemala
6.2%, El Salvador 4.8% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$471 million (2006 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.103 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.341 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code:
NIO
Exchange rates:
gold cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 18.457 (2007), 17.582 (2006),
16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004), 15.105 (2003)
Communications
Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:
247,900 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.123 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: system being upgraded by foreign investment;
nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital
technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly
state-owned telecommunications company
domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and
mobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lags
behind other Central American countries; connected to Central
American Microwave System
international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides
connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean,
and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus 7 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
320,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ni
Internet hosts:
58,157 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
155,000 (2006)
Transportation
Nicaragua
Airports:
163 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 152
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 135 (2007)
Pipelines:
oil 54 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 6 km
narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 19,036 km
paved: 2,299 km
unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)
Waterways:
2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff
Military
Nicaragua
Military branches:
National Army of Nicaragua (ENN; includes Navy, Air Force) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour of duty 18-36
months (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,513,312
females age 16-49: 1,507,999 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,235,400
females age 16-49: 1,302,318 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 72,689
female: 70,452 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2006)
Transnational Issues
Nicaragua
Disputes - international:
memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in
Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia
at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the
western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007;
the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a
tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf
of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal
dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with
Costa Rica
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and
transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Niger
Introduction
Niger
Background:
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced
single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was
forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which
resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting
brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by
Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military
officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections
that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.
TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries
in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds
to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and
subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended
droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately
Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement
for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's
northern region throughout 2007. Events have since evolved into a
budding insurrection.
Geography
Niger
Location:
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,
Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains
in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum,
salt, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 11.43%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 88.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
33.7 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%)
per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife
populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion)
threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern
four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for
livestock and limited agriculture
People
Niger
Population:
13,272,679 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,174,834/female 3,057,003)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 3,450,393/female 3,267,496)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 159,945/female 163,008) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.4 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.878% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
49.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
20.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 115.42 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 119.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 111.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 44.28 years
male: 44.3 years
female: 44.26 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
70,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:
Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri
Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
Religions:
Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
Languages:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.7%
male: 42.9%
female: 15.1% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 4 years
male: 5 years
female: 3 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2006)
Government
Niger
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district*
(communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua,
Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted 18 July 1999
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Seyni OUMAROU (since 3 June
2007); appointed by the president and shares some executive
responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); second round of election last held 4
December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of
vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held in December
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MNSD 47, PNDS 25, CDS 22, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1
Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane
OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or
MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN;
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or
ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy
or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and
Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive
Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress
or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or
RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg
rebel group
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
FAX: [1] (202)483-3169
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 thru 64
FAX: [227] 20-73-31-67
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with
a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white
band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel
centered in the white band
Economy
Niger
Economy - overview:
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking near
last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human
development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy
centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's
largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and a
2.9% population growth rate, have undercut the economy. Niger shares
a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the
Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other
members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger
qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary
Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded
an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC
initiative significantly reduces Niger's annual debt service
obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care,
primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and
other programs geared at poverty reduction. In December 2005, Niger
received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which
translates into the forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in
debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC.
Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor
resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil,
gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Uranium prices have
increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust
infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million
Nigeriens.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.859 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.174 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Labor force:
70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the public
sector (1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources)
expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$604.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$193.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$318.9 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice;
cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Industries:
uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing,
chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
240 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
443.2 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
225 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,550 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
5,425 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$321 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$428 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:
France 57%, Nigeria 26.4%, Ghana 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
$800 million f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:
France 15.9%, French Polynesia 8.8%, Nigeria 8.6%, Belgium 8.6%, US
6.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.6% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$515.4 million (2005)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2003 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates: