ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Le Cong PHUNG
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MICHALAK
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 3850-5000
FAX: [84] (4) 3850-5010
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description:
red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Vietnam
Economy - overview:
Vietnam is a densely-populated developing country that in the last
30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of
financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a
centrally-planned economy. Economic stagnation marked the period
after reunification from 1975 to 1985. In 1986, the Sixth Party
Congress approved a broad economic reform package that introduced
market reforms and set the groundwork for Vietnam's improved
investment climate. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to
1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level of development
and significantly reducing poverty. The 1997 Asian financial crisis
highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy and temporarily
allowed opponents of reform to slow progress toward a
market-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from 1997
to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financial crisis
and a global recession. Since 2001, Vietnamese authorities have
reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization and
international integration. They have moved to implement the
structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce
more competitive, export-driven industries. The economy grew 8.5% in
2007. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and
entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in
December 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade
and economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US increased 900% from
2001 to 2007. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007, following over
a decade long negotiation process. WTO membership has provided
Vietnam an anchor to the global market and reinforced the domestic
economic reform process. Among other benefits, accession allows
Vietnam to take advantage of the phase-out of the Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing, which eliminated quotas on textiles and
clothing for WTO partners on 1 January 2005. Agriculture's share of
economic output has continued to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to
less than 20% in 2007. Deep poverty, defined as a percent of the
population living under $1 per day, has declined significantly and
is now smaller than that of China, India, and the Philippines.
Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of a labor
force that is growing by more than one-and-a-half million people
every year. In an effort to stem high inflation which took off in
2007, early in 2008 Vietnamese authorities began to raise benchmark
interest rates and reserve requirements. Hanoi is targeting an
economic growth rate of 7.5-8% during the next four years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$221.1 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$70.02 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.5%
industry: 42.3%
services: 38.2% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
46.42 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 18.9%
services: 25.5% (July 2005)
Unemployment rate:
4.3% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
14.8% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 28.9% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (2004)
Investment (gross fixed):
37.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $18.62 billion
expenditures: $19.71 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
42% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.18% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$27.15 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$51.08 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$68.63 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews,
sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood
Industries:
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal,
steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper
Industrial production growth rate:
10.6% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
61.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
48.08 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 43.7%
hydro: 56.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
350,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
271,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
394,400 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
271,100 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - proved reserves:
600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
6.86 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.86 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:
192.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$6.993 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$48.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,
shoes
Exports - partners:
US 20.8%, Japan 12.5%, Australia 7.3%, China 6.9%, Singapore 4.5%
(2007)
Imports:
$58.92 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel
products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports - partners:
China 19.9%, Singapore 12.1%, Taiwan 11%, Japan 9.9%, South Korea
8.5%, Thailand 6% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$5.4 billion in credits and grants pledged by the 2007 Consultative
Group meeting in Hanoi (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$23.87 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$21.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$32.74 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
dong (VND)
Currency code:
VND
Exchange rates:
dong (VND) per US dollar - 16,119 (2007), 15,983 (2006), 15,746
(2005), NA (2004), 15,510 (2003)
Communications
Vietnam
Telephones - main lines in use:
10.8 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
33.2 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into
modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its
performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially
increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly
international: country code - 84; a landing point for the
SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable
systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, scheduled
for completion by the end of 2008, will provide new access links to
Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Radios:
8.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
67 (includes 61 relay, provincial, and city TV stations) (2006)
Televisions:
3.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.vn
Internet hosts:
84,151 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)
Internet users:
17.87 million (2007)
Transportation
Vietnam
Airports:
44 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 510 km; oil 49 km; refined products 206
km (2007)
Railways:
total: 2,600 km
standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435 m and 1.000-m
gauges (2006)
Roadways:
total: 222,179 km
paved: 42,167 km
unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)
Waterways:
17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 387
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 36, cargo 280, chemical
tanker 12, container 14, liquefied gas 6, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 32, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Hong Kong 1, Japan 1)
registered in other countries: 64 (Honduras 1, Liberia 4, Mongolia
23, Panama 30, Tuvalu 5, unknown 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked
vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East
Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift
Military
Vietnam
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes
People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard), Air and
Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command),
People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces
(2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service; females may
volunteer for active duty military service; conscript service
obligation - 2 years (3 to 4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age
(male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self
Defense Forces (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 24,586,328
females age 16-49: 24,335,132 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 18,849,274
females age 16-49: 20,575,884 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 903,734
female: 845,306 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Vietnam
Disputes - international:
southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check
the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese
squatters and armed encroachments along border; an estimated 300,000
Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime
boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the
sovereignty of offshore islands; demarcation of the China-Vietnam
boundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundary
delimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004,
implementation has been delayed; China occupies the Paracel Islands
also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute with
China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, 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;
Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the
Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China,
the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine
seismic activities in the Spratly Islands
Illicit drugs:
minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for
Southeast Asian heroin; government continues to face domestic
opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstanding
crackdowns
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Virgin Islands
Introduction
Virgin Islands
Background:
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two
territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane,
produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th
and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish
portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of
slavery in 1848.
Geography
Virgin Islands
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,910 sq km
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low
humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season
September to November
Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and
floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources
Geography - note:
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane
for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural
deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
People
Virgin Islands
Population:
109,840 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 11,698/female 11,390)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,035/female 38,670)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 6,312/female 7,735) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.5 years
male: 38 years
female: 39 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.002% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
12.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.92 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 82.11 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000
census)
Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French
Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government
Virgin Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI
Dependency status:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations
between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the
Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three
islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
Constitution:
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
based on US laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do
not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January
2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections
for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the
Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor
and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote
for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held
7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)
election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote -
John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the
US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008)
Judicial branch:
US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit
jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges
appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement
or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
IOC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between
the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow
eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the
other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes
below a blue panel
Economy
Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP
and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The
manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's
largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural
sector is small, with most food being imported. International
business and financial services are small but growing components of
the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from
storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to
support construction projects in the private sector, to expand
tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.577 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
43,980 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
28.9% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2003)
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
960 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
892.8 million 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:
17,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
91,680 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
398,500 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
492,300 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
NA
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.)
Exports:
$4.234 billion (2001)
Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico (2006)
Imports:
$4.609 billion (2001)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Debt - external:
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications
Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
71,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
80,300 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses
fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: full range of services available
international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to
US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth
stations - NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)
Radios:
107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (2006)
Televisions:
68,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.vi
Internet hosts:
4,610 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
30,000 (2007)
Transportation
Virgin Islands
Airports:
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 1,257 km (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay
Military
Virgin Islands
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 861
female: 897 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Virgin Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Wake Island
Introduction
Wake Island
Background: