by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 19, chemical tanker 1, container 24,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 7, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Canada 2, France 1)
registered in other countries: 536 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 1, Honduras
2, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 2, Italy 13, Kiribati 5, Liberia 91,
Marshall Islands 1, Panama 320, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 1,
Singapore 72, Thailand 1, UK 11, unknown 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Taichung
Military
Taiwan
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
Military service age and obligation:
19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service
obligation 14 months (reducing to 1 year in 2009) year; women may
enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat
roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry of Defense
has announced plans to implement an incremental voluntary enlistment
system beginning 2010, with 10% fewer conscripts each year
thereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform
alternative service or go through 3-4 months of military training
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,283,134
females age 16-49: 6,098,599 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,112,737
females age 16-49: 5,036,346 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 164,883
female: 152,085 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2006)
Transnational Issues
Taiwan
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines,
Vietnam, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has
eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of
conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China
and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the
uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's
unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea
where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting
Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor
chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem
with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising
problems with use of ketamine and club drugs
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Tajikistan
Introduction
Tajikistan
Background:
The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but
Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of
1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not
fully reestablished until 1925. Much of present-day Sughd province
was transferred from the Uzbekistan SSR to newly formed Tajikistan
SSR in 1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Sughd
province. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the
breakup of the Soviet Union, and it is now in the process of
strengthening its democracy and transitioning to a free market
economy after its 1992-97 civil war. There have been no major
security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the
poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by the international
community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought
increased economic development and security assistance, which could
create jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is
in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership
and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
Geography
Tajikistan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 143,100 sq km
land: 142,700 sq km
water: 400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to
polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:
Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley
in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead,
zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land use:
arable land: 6.52%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
99.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.96 cu km/yr (4%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,837 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes and floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil
salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in
the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai
Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain
in the former USSR
People
Tajikistan
Population:
7,211,884 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.6% (male 1,270,289/female 1,226,954)
15-64 years: 61.7% (male 2,203,720/female 2,244,660)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 113,156/female 153,105) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.6 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.893% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
27.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 42.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 47.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.97 years
male: 61.95 years
female: 68.15 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups:
Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Languages:
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2006)
Government
Tajikistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous
province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa),
Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan]
(Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence:
9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Constitution:
6 November 1994
Legal system:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994;
head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006
(next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimzon BOBOYEV 6.2%, other 14.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National
Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; 25 members
selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat
reserved for the former president; to serve five-year terms) and the
Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon
(63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 25 March 2005 (next to be
held in February 2010); Assembly of Representatives 27 February and
13 March 2005 (next to be held in February 2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3; Assembly of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%,
Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51,
CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir KARAKULOV]; Democratic
Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005);
Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin
KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimzon BOBOYEV]; People's
Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Social
Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or
SPT [Mirhuseyn NARZIYEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi
SHABDOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo NASREDDINOV] (unregistered political
party); Democratic Party or DPT [Masud SOBIROV] (splintered from
Iskanderov's DPT); Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Socialist
Party or SPT [Abdualim GHAFFOROV] (splintered from Narziyev's SPT);
Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
other: splinter parties recognized by the government but not by the
base of the party; unregistered political parties
International organization participation:
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV
chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50
Flag description:
three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and
green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is
located in the center of the white stripe
Economy
Tajikistan
Economy - overview:
Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former
Soviet republics. Only 7% of the land area is arable. Cotton is the
most important crop, but this sector is burdened with debt and an
obsolete infrastructure. Mineral resources include silver, gold,
uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum
plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in
light industry and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely
damaged the already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp
decline in industrial and agricultural production. While Tajikistan
has experienced steady economic growth since 1997, nearly two-thirds
of the population continues to live in abject poverty. Economic
growth reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped to 8% in 2005, 7% in 2006,
and 7.8% in 2007. Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile
due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak
governance, widespread unemployment, seasonal power shortages, and
the external debt burden. Continued privatization of medium and
large state-owned enterprises could increase productivity. A debt
restructuring agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002
including a $250 million write-off of Tajikistan's $300 million
debt. Tajikistan ranks third in the world in terms of water
resources per head, but suffers winter power shortages due to poor
management of water levels in rivers and reservoirs. Completion of
the Sangtuda I hydropower dam - built with Russian investment - and
the Sangtuda II and Rogun dams will add substantially to electricity
output. If finished according to Tajik plans, Rogun will be the
world's tallest dam. Tajikistan has also received substantial
infrastructure development loans from the Chinese government to
improve roads and an electricity transmission network. To help
increase north-south trade, the US funded a $36 million bridge which
opened in August 2007 and links Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.96 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.712 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.8%
industry: 30.4%
services: 45.8% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
2.1 million (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 67.2%
industry: 7.5%
services: 25.3% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.4% official rate; actual unemployment is higher (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.6 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
12.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $712.1 million
expenditures: $674.5 million (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
22.87% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$91.59 million (31 December 2006)
Stock of quasi money:
$161 million (31 December 2006)
Stock of domestic credit:
$417.4 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable
oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
17.4 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - consumption:
17.9 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports:
4.259 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
4.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.9%
hydro: 98.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
281.1 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
31,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
247.7 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
7,600 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
32 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
842 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
810 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$351 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.606 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 38.9%, Turkey 32.5%, Russia 6.6%, Uzbekistan 5.9%, Iran
5.1% (2007)
Imports:
$2.762 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 32.1%, Kazakhstan 13.1%, China 10.8%, Uzbekistan 8.4% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$241.4 million from US (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$242 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
somoni (TJS)
Currency code:
TJS
Exchange rates:
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 3.4418 (2007), 3.3 (2006),
3.1166 (2005), 2.9705 (2004), 3.0614 (2003)
Communications
Tajikistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
280,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
265,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed and not well maintained; many
towns are not linked to the national network
domestic: the domestic telecommunications network has historically
been under funded and poorly maintained; main line availability has
not changed significantly since 1998; cellular telephone use is
growing but geographic coverage remains limited
international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave
radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to
international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth
stations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2006)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)
Radios:
1.291 million (1991)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2006)
Televisions:
820,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tj
Internet hosts:
1,158 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2002)
Internet users:
19,500 (2005)
Transportation
Tajikistan
Airports:
26 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
under 914 m: 8 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 482 km
broad gauge: 482 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 27,767 km (2000)
Waterways:
200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2006)
Military
Tajikistan
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Force (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript
service obligation (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,897,356
females age 16-49: 1,911,594 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,391,287
females age 16-49: 1,561,826 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 84,137
female: 81,777 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Tajikistan
Disputes - international:
in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the
revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; talks
continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove minefields;
disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Tajikistan is a source country for women
trafficked through Kyrgyzstan and Russia to the UAE, Turkey, and
Russia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are
trafficked to Russia and Kazakhstan for the purpose of forced labor,
primarily in the construction and agricultural industries; boys and
girls are trafficked internally for various purposes, including
forced labor and forced begging
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Tajikistan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat human trafficking, especially efforts to investigate,
prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers; despite evidence of
low- and mid-level officials' complicity in trafficking, the
government did not punish any public officials for trafficking
complicity during 2007; lack of capacity and poor coordination
between government institutions remained key obstacles to effective
anti-trafficking efforts (2008)
Illicit drugs:
major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to
a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit
cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan
seizes roughly 80% of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands
third worldwide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium);
significant consumer of opiates
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Tanzania
Introduction
Tanzania
Background:
Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early
1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania
in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first
democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's
semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two
contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite
international observers' claims of voting irregularities.
Geography
Tanzania
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 35 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 945,087 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,861 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217
km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Coastline:
1,424 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Terrain:
plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones,
gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 4.23%
permanent crops: 1.16%
other: 94.61% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
91 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%)
per capita: 135 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of
coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected
marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and
trade, especially for ivory
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: