males age 16-49: 21,247,777
females age 16-49: 20,406,408 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 18,490,522
females age 16-49: 17,719,905 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 831,157
female: 792,330 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Transnational Issues ::Egypt
Disputes - international:
while Sudan retains claim to the Hala'ib Triangle north of the 1899
Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, both states withdrew their
military presence in the 1990s and Egypt has invested in and
effectively administers the area; Egypt no longer shows its
administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps;
Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008
highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq); 70,198
(Palestinian Territories); 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Egypt is a transit country for women trafficked
from Eastern European countries to Israel for sexual exploitation,
and is a source for children trafficked within the country for
commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, although the
extent to which children are trafficked internally is unknown;
children were also recruited for domestic and agricultural work;
some of these children face conditions of involuntary servitude,
such as restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages, threats, and
physical or sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Egypt is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for the third year in a row because it did not provide evidence of
increasing efforts to investigate and prosecute traffickers;
however, in July 2007, the government established the "National
Coordinating Committee to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in
Persons," which improved inter-governmental coordination on
anti-trafficking initiatives; Egypt made no discernible efforts to
punish trafficking crimes in 2007 and the Egyptian penal code does
not prohibit all forms of trafficking; Egypt did not increase its
services to trafficking victims during the reporting period (2008)
Illicit drugs:
transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe,
Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers;
concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial
regulations
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@El Salvador (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::El Salvador
Background:
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the
Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost
about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the
government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for
military and political reforms.
Geography ::El Salvador
Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 21,041 sq km
country comparison to the world: 153
land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to
April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 31.37%
permanent crops: 11.88%
other: 56.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
25.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%)
per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive
earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to
hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils
from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline
on Caribbean Sea
People ::El Salvador
Population:
7,185,218 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.4% (male 1,299,608/female 1,245,617)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 2,033,423/female 2,225,810)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 166,224/female 214,536) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 23.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.656% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Birth rate:
25.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Death rate:
5.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Net migration rate:
-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 101
male: 24.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.33 years
country comparison to the world: 118
male: 68.72 years
female: 76.11 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
35,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%,
Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
Languages:
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 142
Government ::El Salvador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,
Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union,
Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,
Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
20 December 1983
Legal system:
based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June
2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June
2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 15
March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president;
percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held 18 January 2009 (next to be held in March 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FMLN 35, ARENA 32, PCN 11, PDC 5, CD 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the
Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme
Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative
conflict)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic
Convergence or CD [Hector DADA HIREZI] (formerly United Democratic
Center or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN
[Medardo GONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ
ZEPEDA]; Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Rodrigo AVILA];
Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [Rene AGUILUZ]; Revolutionary
Democratic Front or FDR [Julio Cesar HERNANDEZ Carcamo]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or
SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and
other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of
Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or
UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union
of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers
Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL;
business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or
ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran
Industrial Association or ASI
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Francisco
ALTSCHUL Fuentes
chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Houston,
Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona),
Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge
(Virginia)
consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BLAU
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La
Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place,
Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
FAX: [503] 2501-2150
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL
SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua,
which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it
features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of
Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern
centered in the white band
Economy ::El Salvador
Economy - overview:
The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third
largest economy, but growth has been modest in recent years.
Economic growth will decelerate in 2009 due to the global slowdown
and to El Salvador's dependence on exports to the US and remittances
from the US. El Salvador leads the region in remittances per capita
with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income. In 2006 El
Salvador was the first country to ratify the Central
America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA has
bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and
supported investment in the maquila sector. The SACA administration
has sought to diversify the economy, focusing on regional
transportation and tourism. El Salvador has promoted an open trade
and investment environment, and has embarked on a wave of
privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution,
banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million
compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the
country's northern region through investments in education, public
services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure.
With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El
Salvador lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on
maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.73 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$42.66 billion (2007 est.)
$40.75 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.12 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
4.7% (2007 est.)
4.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$6,100 (2007 est.)
$6,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.7%
industry: 28.8%
services: 60.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.947 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 23%
services: 58% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
6.2% (2007 est.)
note: data are official rates; but the economy has much
underemployment
Population below poverty line:
30.7% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 37% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52.4 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 18
52.5 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Budget:
revenues: $4.016 billion
expenditures: $4.242 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
44.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
4.6% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.33% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 109
7.81% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$213.7 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
$209.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$788.7 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
$797.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.19 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
$1.15 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 79
$6.743 billion (31 December 2007)
$5.465 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef,
dairy products
Industries:
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,
textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - production:
5.559 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - consumption:
4.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - exports:
7 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
38 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - consumption:
45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Oil - exports:
1,927 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - imports:
46,310 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Current account balance:
-$1.595 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
-$1.119 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$4.611 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$4.035 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel,
gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 47.5%, Guatemala 14.2%, Honduras 11.5%, Nicaragua 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$9.003 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$8.108 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,
petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 29.9%, Guatemala 11.8%, Mexico 9.7%, China 4.5%, France 4.4%
(2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.545 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$2.199 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$10.69 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 84
$9.808 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$6.702 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$5.918 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$440 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$384 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
Communications ::El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.077 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 77
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.951 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 72
Telephone system:
general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular service providers are
expanding services rapidly and in 2008 mobile-cellular density stood
at nearly 100 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has
slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave
System (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 52, FM 144, shortwave 0 (2005)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sv
Internet hosts:
8,177 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
Internet users:
826,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 98
Transportation ::El Salvador
Airports:
65 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 47 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Railways:
total: 283 km
country comparison to the world: 123
narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge
note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and
high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2008)
Roadways:
total: 10,886 km
country comparison to the world: 136
paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)
Waterways:
Rio Lempa partially navigable for small craft (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
Military ::El Salvador
Military branches:
Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22
years of age for voluntary male or female service; service
obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,634,816
females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,201,290
females age 16-49: 1,547,278 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 77,473
female: 74,655 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 18
Transnational Issues ::El Salvador
Disputes - international:
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of
"bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary,
in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an
Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ
ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution
to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran
access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo
Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf
of Fonseca
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced
for local consumption; significant use of cocaine
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Equatorial Guinea (Africa)
Introduction ::Equatorial Guinea
Background:
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of
Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus
five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African
continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the
country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although
nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002
presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative
elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost
total control over the political system and has discouraged
political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid
economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves,
and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest
oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil
production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in
recent years, there have been few improvements in the population's
living standards.
Geography ::Equatorial Guinea
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and
Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area: