Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni
RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor
Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP
(became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP;
Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR;
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or
POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL
[Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for
restoration of a democratic government); Viti Landowners Association
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Winston THOMPSON
chancery: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador C. Steven McGANN
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081
Flag description:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the
shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,
bananas, and a white dove
Economy ::Fiji
Economy - overview:
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of
the most developed of the Pacific island economies though still with
a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from Fijians
working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 400,000 to
500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign
exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets
but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies.
Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is
not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the December
2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. In 2007 tourist
arrivals were down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the
service sector, and GDP dipped nearly 7%. The coup has created a
difficult business climate. The EU has suspended all aid until the
interim government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term
problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights,
and the government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas
remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased
significantly. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in
2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.587 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$3.58 billion (2007 est.)
$3.833 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.589 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
-6.6% (2007 est.)
3.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$3,900 (2007 est.)
$4,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 13.5%
services: 77.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
335,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 100
Population below poverty line:
25.5% (FY90/91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.363 billion
expenditures: $1.376 billion (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.8% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 83
Central bank discount rate:
6.32% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 47
9.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.97% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
9.01% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.042 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.088 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.948 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
$522.2 million (31 December 2007)
$636.7 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,
bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Industries:
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage
industries
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
928 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - consumption:
863 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Oil - exports:
2,455 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - imports:
20,340 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Current account balance:
-$507 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Exports:
$1.202 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 147
Exports - commodities:
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
US 15.2%, UK 11.6%, Australia 10.2%, Samoa 5.2%, Tonga 4.6%, Japan
4.1% (2008)
Imports:
$3.12 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 137
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum
products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 30.5%, Australia 20.5%, NZ 15.5%, China 5.4% (2008)
Debt - external:
$127 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$6.702 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691
(2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)
Communications ::Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:
129,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
Telephones - mobile cellular:
600,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,
telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications
center
domestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited
islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone
exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed and mobile-cellular
density is about 80 per 100 persons
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links
between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite
earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Internet country code:
.fj
Internet hosts:
12,747 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
Internet users:
103,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
Transportation ::Fiji
Airports:
28 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 118
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: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 19 (2009)
Railways:
total: 597 km
country comparison to the world: 111
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used
to haul sugarcane during the harvest season, which runs from May to
December (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,440 km
country comparison to the world: 163
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (2000)
Waterways:
203 km
country comparison to the world: 98
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
(2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 116
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Lautoka, Suva
Military ::Fiji
Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserve obligation
to age 45 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 242,567
females age 16-49: 238,556 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 192,363
females age 16-49: 204,410 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 9,107
female: 8,755 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Transnational Issues ::Fiji
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Fiji is a source country for children trafficked
for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and a destination
country for a small number of women from China and India trafficked
for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Fiji does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; the government has demonstrated no
action to investigate or prosecute traffickers, assist victims, take
steps to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts, or support any
anti-trafficking information or education campaigns; Fiji has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Finland (Europe)
Introduction ::Finland
Background:
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the
12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia
after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World
War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist
invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory.
In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable
transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern
industrial economy; per capita income is now among the highest in
Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland
was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation
in January 1999.
Geography ::Finland
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf
of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 338,145 sq km
country comparison to the world: 64
land: 303,815 sq km
water: 34,330 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,654 km
border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline:
1,250 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary
with Sweden
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because
of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea,
and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low
hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources:
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold,
silver, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 6.54%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 93.44% (2005)
Irrigated land:
640 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
110 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%)
per capita: 444 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to
acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural
chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital
on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern
coastal plain
People ::Finland
Population:
5,250,275 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 438,425/female 422,777)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,773,495/female 1,732,792)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 357,811/female 524,975) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.1 years
male: 40.5 years
female: 43.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.098% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Birth rate:
10.38 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Death rate:
10.07 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Net migration rate:
0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Urbanization:
urban population: 63% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 216
male: 3.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.97 years
country comparison to the world: 37
male: 75.48 years
female: 82.61 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:
Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy)
0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)
Religions:
Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other
Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)
Languages:
Finnish 91.2% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3.3% (small
Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2007)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 33
Government ::Finland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
local short form: Suomi/Finland
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Helsinki
geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Ahvenanmaan Laani (Aland),
Etela-Suomen Laani (Southern Finland), Ita-Suomen Laani (Eastern
Finland), Lansi-Suomen Laani (Western Finland), Lapin Laani
(Lapland), Oulun Laani
Independence:
6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution:
1 March 2000
Legal system:
civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the
Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June
2003); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2012); the president appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the
majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament
must approve the appointment; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected 17
April 2007
election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli
NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA
(VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held
29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN
reelected prime minister; election results 121-71
note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected
by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 March 2007 (next to be held March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%,
SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%,
other 3.4%; seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR
15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD
[Paivi RASANEN]; Green Party or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance
or VAS [Martti KORHONEN] (composed of People's Democratic League and
Democratic Alternative); National Coalition Party (conservative) or
Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Jutta
URPILAINEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]; True
Finns [Timo SOINI]
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara BARRETT
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800
Flag description:
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style
of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the thousands of
lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow
that covers the land in winter
Economy ::Finland
Economy - overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy
with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and
Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the
wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics
industries. Trade is important; Finland's ratio of exports to GDP
has risen from a quarter to 37% over the past 15 years. Finland
excels in high-tech exports such as mobile phones. Except for timber
and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials,
energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the
climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining
self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export
earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population.
Although Finland has been one of the best performing economies
within the EU in recent years and its banks and financial markets
have avoided the worst of global financial crisis, the world
slowdown has hit export growth and domestic demand and will serve as
a brake on economic growth in 2009 and 2010. The slowdown of
construction, other investment, and exports will cause unemployment
to rise. During 2009, unemployment will climb to over 8% of the
labor force. Long-term challenges include the need to address a
rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity that threaten
competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$194 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$192.4 billion (2007 est.)
$184.8 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$271.9 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
4.1% (2007 est.)
4.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$36,700 (2007 est.)
$35,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 32.4%
services: 64.9% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.703 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 4.5%, industry 18.3%, construction 7.3%,
commerce 16%, finance, insurance, and business services 14.5%,
transport and communications 7%, public services 32.4% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
6.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
6.9% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 24.7% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 117
25.6 (1991)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Budget:
revenues: $143.8 billion
expenditures: $132.3 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
33.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
46.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
2.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 95
5% (31 December 2007)