party - HDZ 66, SDP 57, HNS 6, HSS 6, HDSSB 3, IDS 3, SDSS 3, other 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts are
appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the
Republic, which is elected by the Assembly
Political parties and leaders:
Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB
[Vladimir SISLJAGIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo
SANADER]; Croatian Party of the Right or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian
Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]; Croatian Pensioner Party or
HSU [Silvano HRELJA]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Radimir
CACIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Djurdja ADLESIC];
Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC];
Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Social
Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: human rights groups
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI,
EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG,
OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,
UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC
chancery: Suite F13, 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. BRADTKE
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue,
superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)
Economy ::Croatia
Economy - overview:
Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics, Croatia's
economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output collapsed
and the country missed the early waves of investment in Central and
Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Between
2000 and 2007, however, Croatia's economic fortunes began to improve
slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by
a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation
over the same period has remained tame and the currency, the kuna,
stable. Nevertheless, difficult problems still remain, including a
stubbornly high unemployment rate, a growing trade deficit and
uneven regional development. The state retains a large role in the
economy, as privatization efforts often meet stiff public and
political resistance. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely
been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on
the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians.
The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural
reform. While long term growth prospects for the economy remain
strong, Croatia will face significant pressure as a result of the
global financial crisis. Croatia's high foreign debt, anemic export
sector, strained state budget, and over-reliance on tourism revenue
will result in higher risk to economic stability over the medium
term.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$82.58 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$80.65 billion (2007 est.)
$76.44 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$69.36 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
5.5% (2007 est.)
4.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,400 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$17,900 (2007 est.)
$17,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 27.7%
services: 66.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.731 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 31.3%
services: 63.6% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
13.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
11.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
11% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 23.1% (2005 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 119
29 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
31.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Budget:
revenues: $26.86 billion
expenditures: $28.54 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
42.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
4.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 49
9% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.07% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$10.71 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 43
$11.61 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$33.17 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 35
$31.86 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$49.79 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 48
$45.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$26.79 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 55
$65.98 billion (31 December 2007)
$29.01 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover,
olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,
electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper,
wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding,
petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - production:
11.47 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - consumption:
15.42 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - exports:
2.14 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.249 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
22,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Oil - consumption:
105,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Oil - exports:
43,750 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - imports:
122,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - proved reserves:
79.3 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - production:
1.58 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - consumption:
2.84 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - exports:
310 million cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - imports:
1.26 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - proved reserves:
30.58 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Current account balance:
-$6.397 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
-$4.447 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$14.36 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$12.62 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, machinery, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs,
fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 18.9%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 15.3%, Germany 10.7%, Slovenia
7.7%, Austria 5.7% (2008)
Imports:
$30.42 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$25.56 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and
lubricants; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Italy 17.1%, Germany 13.4%, Russia 10.5%, China 6.1%, Slovenia 5.6%,
Austria 4.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$12.96 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$13.67 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$54.79 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 50
$48.93 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$27.17 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$23.17 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$3.343 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$3.124 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 4.98 (2008 est.), 5.3735 (2007), 5.8625
(2006), 5.9473 (2005), 6.0358 (2004)
Communications ::Croatia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.851 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 60
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.924 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved
steadily since the mid-1990s; the number of fixed telephone lines
holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; the number of cellular
telephone subscriptions exceeds the population
domestic: more than 90 percent of local lines are digital
international: country code - 385; digital international service is
provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in
the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2
fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk
line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable
provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
.hr
Internet hosts:
1.23 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
Internet users:
1.88 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 71
Transportation ::Croatia
Airports:
68 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,327 km; oil 583 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,722 km
country comparison to the world: 62
standard gauge: 2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (980 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 28,788 km (includes 877 km of expressways) (2006)
country comparison to the world: 99
Waterways:
785 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 74
Merchant marine:
total: 80
country comparison to the world: 54
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 11, chemical tanker 3,
passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 2
registered in other countries: 30 (Bahamas 1, Belize 2, Liberia 2,
Malta 9, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 7) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube River)
Military ::Croatia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike
Hrvatske, OSRH), consists of five major commands directly
subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena
Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes
coast guard), Air Force and Air Defense Command, Joint Education and
Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports
each of the three Croatian military forces (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age
with consent for voluntary service; 6-month conscript service
obligation; full conversion to voluntary military service by 2010
(2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,035,712
females age 16-49: 1,037,896 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 770,798
females age 16-49: 849,957 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,620
female: 26,154 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.39% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Transnational Issues ::Croatia
Disputes - international:
dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small
sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders
ratification of the 1999 border agreement; the Croatia-Slovenia land
and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of
Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to
Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; Slovenia also protests
Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic;
as a European Union peripheral state, Slovenia imposed a hard border
Schengen regime with non-member Croatia in December 2007
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 2,900-7,000 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to
Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime
shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Cuba (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Cuba
Background:
The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the
European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and
following its development as a Spanish colony during the next
several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to
work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the
launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from
Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence
movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. US
intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the
Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established
Cuban independence from the US in 1902 after which the island
experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military
and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in
1959; his iron rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly
five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor
of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's Communist revolution,
with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and
Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country faced a
severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former
Soviet subsidies worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba
portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place
since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts,
alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border - is a
continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted 2,656 individuals
attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in fiscal year 2007.
Geography ::Cuba
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
country comparison to the world: 105
land: 109,820 sq km
water: 1,040 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of
Cuba
Coastline:
3,735 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April);
rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in
the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.63%
permanent crops: 6.54%
other: 65.83% (2005)
Irrigated land:
8,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
38.1 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.2 cu km/yr (19%/12%/69%)
per capita: 728 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in
general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year);
droughts are common
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater
Antilles
People ::Cuba
Population:
11,451,652 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,077,745/female 1,020,393)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 4,035,691/female 4,030,103)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 584,478/female 703,242) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.3 years
male: 36.6 years
female: 38 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.233% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Birth rate:
11.13 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Death rate:
7.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Net migration rate:
-1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Urbanization:
urban population: 76% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.82 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 181
male: 6.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.45 years
country comparison to the world: 55
male: 75.19 years
female: 79.85 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups:
white 65.1%, mulatto and mestizo 24.8%, black 10.1% (2002 census)
Religions:
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
9.1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 9
People - note:
illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart
the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers,
direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime
routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and
over-land via the southwest border
Government ::Cuba
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
name: Havana
geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special
municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,
Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla
de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,
Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence:
20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US
from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a
day of independence
National holiday:
Triumph of the Revolution, 1 January (1959)
Constitution:
24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal concepts
with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon
MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon
MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the
31-member Council of State, elected by the assembly to act on its
behalf when it is not in session
elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National
Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 24 February
2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura elected
vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular (number of seats in the National Assembly is based
on population; 614 seats; members elected directly from slates
approved by special candidacy commissions to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 January 2008 (next to be held in January
2013)
election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party,
and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice
president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights Watch; National Association of Small Farmers
International organization participation:
ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNITAR,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO