Portugal 62.2%, US 11.6%, Gabon 4.5% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$31.9 million in December 2000 under the Heavily Indebted Poor
Country Initiative (HIPC) program (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$34.6 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$318 million (2002)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
dobra (STD)
Currency code:
STD
Exchange rates:
dobras (STD) per US dollar - 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4
(2005), 9,902.3 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003)
Communications
Sao Tome and Principe
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,700 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,100 (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with
most lines connected to digital switches
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
approaching 20 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
38,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2001)
Televisions:
23,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.st
Internet hosts:
1,355 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
23,000 (2007)
Transportation
Sao Tome and Principe
Airports:
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 6
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 5
foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Sao Tome
Military
Sao Tome and Principe
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of
Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP),
Presidential Guard (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 42,340
females age 16-49: 43,781 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 33,735
females age 16-49: 36,779 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,437
female: 2,394 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
Military - note:
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no
resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating
unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and
maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years
in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged
nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the
past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are
being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army
and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised
from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of
the Armed Forces staff (2005)
Transnational Issues
Sao Tome and Principe
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Saudi Arabia
Background:
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two
holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was
founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud)
after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A
male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules
the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law.
Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted
the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western
and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait
the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on
Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension
between the royal family and the public until all operational US
troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and
November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic
terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious
reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased
political participation, the government held elections nationwide
from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179
municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the
process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory
municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil
and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil
reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and
diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the
WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the
kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy
largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing
governmental concerns.
Geography
Saudi Arabia
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of
Yemen
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline:
2,640 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain:
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:
arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%)
per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues:
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack
of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the
development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal
pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great
leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and
Suez Canal
People
Saudi Arabia
Population:
28,146,656
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 5,458,023/female 5,245,911)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,470,353/female 7,284,696)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 356,910/female 330,764) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.5 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 19.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.954% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
28.85 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
2.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.3 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female
total population: 1.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.09 years
male: 74.04 years
female: 78.25 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2004)
Government
Saudi Arabia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash
Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah
(Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence:
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday:
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:
governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates
the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by
royal decree in 1992
Legal system:
based on Sharia law, several secular codes have been introduced;
commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; male
Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin
Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January
1928); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz
Al Saud (since 1 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four
years and includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance
Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future
Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after
Crown Prince Sultan becomes king
Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the
Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to
introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial
assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative
Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to
five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights)
other: gas companies; religious groups
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ford M. FRAKER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307;
International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description:
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or
Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is
no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white
horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to
the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al
Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932
Economy
Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government
controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20%
of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest
exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The
petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of
GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the
private sector. Roughly 5.5 million foreign workers play an
important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and
service sectors. High oil prices have boosted growth, government
revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling
Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging
private sector growth - especially in power generation,
telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals - to
lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase
employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, nearly
40% of which are youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high,
and the large youth population generally lacks the education and
technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially
boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure
development, and government salaries. As part of its effort to
attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia
acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of
negotiations. The government has announced plans to establish six
"economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote
development and diversification.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$546 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$376 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 63.7%
services: 33.3% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
6.563 million
note: about one-third of the population in the 15-64 age group is
non-national (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 25%
services: 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates
range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
20% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $163 billion
expenditures: $118.3 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
24.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA
Stock of money:
$102.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$109.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$66.94 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens,
eggs, milk
Industries:
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals,
ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement,
fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial
aircraft repair, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
156.8 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
10.25 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.311 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
8.9 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - imports:
41,680 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
266.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
7.167 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$86.62 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$226.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners:
US 17.1%, Japan 16.3%, South Korea 9.7%, China 8.1%, Taiwan 4.7%,
Singapore 4% (2007)
Imports:
$82.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,
textiles
Imports - partners:
US 12.6%, China 9.4%, Germany 8.8%, Japan 8.1%, Italy 5%, South
Korea 4.9%, UK 4.5% (2007)
Economic aid - donor:
since 2002, Saudi Arabia has provided more than $480 million in
budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority, supported
Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN Relief and
Works Agency (UNRWA), provided more than $250 million to Arab League
funds for the Palestinians, and pledged $500 million in assistance
over the next three years at the Donors Conference in Dec 2007;
pledged $230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1
billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133
million in direct grant aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and
$153 million in export credits for Pakistan earthquake relief;
pledged a total of $1.59 billion to Lebanon in assistance and
deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an
additional $1.1 billion in early 2007
Economic aid - recipient:
$26.29 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$34.01 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$58.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$326.9 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:
SAR
Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747
(2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003)
Communications
Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.996 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
28.381 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and
fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been
increasing rapidly
international: country code - 966; landing point for the
international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable
networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and
US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE,
Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite
earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
6.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
117 (1997)
Televisions:
5.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sa
Internet hosts:
141,232 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2003)
Internet users:
6.2 million (2007)
Transportation
Saudi Arabia
Airports:
213 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 136
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 15 (2007)
Heliports:
8 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil
4,521 km; refined products 1,148 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 221,372 km
paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)
unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 62
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 13, container 5, passenger/cargo
8, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 7, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 71 (Bahamas 16, Comoros 1, Dominica
2, France 1, Liberia 27, Marshall Islands 5, Norway 3, Panama 16)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Military
Saudi Arabia
Military branches:
Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National
Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,547,441
females age 16-49: 6,381,098 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,398,417
females age 16-49: 5,525,357 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 271,905
female: 261,795 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
10% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier
along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem
illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue
discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories)
(2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers
from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to conditions that
constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to
physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and
withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement;
domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are
confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi
Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni,
Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked
for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some
Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for
commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to
lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of
widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal
prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking
crimes committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)
Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering
legislation and enforcement
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Senegal
Introduction
Senegal
Background: