advances under the administration of President YUDHOYONO but faces
challenges stemming from the global financial crisis and world
economic downturn. Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio in recent years has
declined steadily because of increasingly robust GDP growth and
sound fiscal stewardship. The government has introduced significant
reforms in the financial sector, including in the areas of tax and
customs, the use of Treasury bills, and capital market supervision.
Indonesia's investment law, passed in March 2007, seeks to address
some of the concerns of foreign and domestic investors. Indonesia
still struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate
infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and
unequal resource distribution among regions. The non-bank financial
sector, including pension funds and insurance, remains weak. Despite
efforts to broaden and deepen capital markets, they remain
underdeveloped. Economic difficulties in early 2008 centered on high
global food and oil prices and their impact on Indonesia's poor and
on the budget. The onset of the global financial crisis dampened
inflationary pressures, but increased risk aversion for emerging
market assets resulted in large losses in the stock market,
significant depreciation of the rupiah, and a difficult environment
for bond issuance. As global demand has slowed and prices for
Indonesia's commodity exports have fallen, Indonesia faces the
prospect of growth significantly below the 6-plus percent recorded
in 2007 and 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$916.7 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$864 billion (2007 est.)
$812.8 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$511.8 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
6.3% (2007 est.)
5.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,900 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$3,700 (2007 est.)
$3,500 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.4%
industry: 48.1%
services: 37.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
112 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 42.1%
industry: 18.6%
services: 39.3% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
9.1% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
17.8% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 32.3% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.4 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 66
37 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61
Budget:
revenues: $92.62 billion
expenditures: $98.88 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
29.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
56.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
6.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.83% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
8% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.6% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 119
7.21% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$41.71 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 24
$47.78 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$131.5 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 18
$127 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$166.2 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 31
$170.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$98.76 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
$211.7 billion (31 December 2007)
$138.9 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil,
copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining,
cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - production:
134.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - consumption:
119.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1.051 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - consumption:
1.564 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - exports:
85,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - imports:
671,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Oil - proved reserves:
3.99 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - production:
70 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - consumption:
36.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - exports:
33.5 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.001 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Current account balance:
$604 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$10.49 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$139.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$118 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber
Exports - partners:
Japan 20.2%, US 9.5%, Singapore 9.4%, China 8.5%, South Korea 6.7%,
India 5.2%, Malaysia 4.7% (2008)
Imports:
$116 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$85.26 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Singapore 16.9%, China 11.8%, Japan 11.7%, Malaysia 6.9%, US 6.1%,
South Korea 5.4%, Thailand 4.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$51.64 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$56.92 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$155.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$141.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$67.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$58.96 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.656 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$9.225 billion (2006 est.)
Exchange rates:
Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 9,698.9 (2008), 9,143
(2007), 9,159.3 (2006), 9,704.7 (2005), 8,938.9 (2004)
Communications ::Indonesia
Telephones - main lines in use:
30.378 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 10
Telephones - mobile cellular:
140.578 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic service fair, international service good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
domestic satellite communications system; coverage provided by
existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone
kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile cellular subscribership
growing rapidly
international: country code - 62; landing point for both the
SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks that provide
links throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
54 local TV stations (11 national TV networks; each with its group
of local transmitters) (2006)
Internet country code:
.id
Internet hosts:
865,309 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
Internet users:
30 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 11
Transportation ::Indonesia
Airports:
683 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 10
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 164
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 56
under 914 m: 35 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 519
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 489 (2009)
Heliports:
36 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 735 km; condensate/gas 73 km; gas 5,797 km; oil 5,721 km;
oil/gas/water 12 km; refined products 1,370 km; water 44 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 8,529 km
country comparison to the world: 25
narrow gauge: 8,529 km 1.067-m gauge (565 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 391,009 km
country comparison to the world: 17
paved: 216,714 km
unpaved: 174,295 km (2005)
Waterways:
21,579 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 5
Merchant marine:
total: 971
country comparison to the world: 11
by type: bulk carrier 54, cargo 514, chemical tanker 35, container
80, liquefied gas 7, passenger 44, passenger/cargo 68, petroleum
tanker 143, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 10, specialized
tanker 10, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 43 (China 2, France 1, Germany 1, Japan 6, Norway 1,
Philippines 1, Singapore 27, Taiwan 2, UAE 2)
registered in other countries: 114 (Bahamas 2, Cambodia 2, China 1,
Hong Kong 7, Liberia 2, Mongolia 1, Panama 31, Singapore 66, unknown
2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang,
Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and 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 ::Indonesia
Military branches:
Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army
(TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL);
includes marines, naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara
(TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan Udara
Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military
service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserve
obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 63,800,825
females age 16-49: 61,729,717 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 52,997,922
females age 16-49: 52,503,046 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,197,323
female: 2,126,412 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Transnational Issues ::Indonesia
Disputes - international:
Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing
stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors;
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a
small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime
boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral
island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with
Australian claims in the south; many refugees from Timor-Leste who
left in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; a
1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of
their maritime boundary but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's award
of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 left the
sovereignty of Unarang rock and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat
oil block in the Celebes Sea in dispute; the ICJ decision has
prompted Indonesia to assert claims to and to establish a presence
on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and Singapore continue to
work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by
defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island;
Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create
repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a problem
in the Malacca Strait; maritime delimitation talks continue with
Palau; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore
Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve
to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain
catches
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 200,000-350,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh;
most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi Provinces,
and Maluku) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of
methamphetamine and ecstasy
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Iran (Middle East)
Introduction ::Iran
Background:
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979
after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza
PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces
established a theocratic system of government with ultimate
political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred
to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the
constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts.
US-Iranian relations have been strained since a group of Iranian
students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held
it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody,
indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian
Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces
between 1987 and 1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of
terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world
and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export
controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and its
nuclear weapons ambitions. Following the election of reformer Hojjat
ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and similarly a
reformer Majles (parliament) in 2000, a campaign to foster political
reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The
movement floundered as conservative politicians, through the control
of unelected institutions, prevented reform measures from being
enacted and increased repressive measures. Starting with nationwide
municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections
in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected
government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005
inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. The UN
Security Council has passed a number of resolutions (1696 in July
2006, 1737 in December 2006, 1747 in March 2007, 1803 in March 2008,
and 1835 in September 2008) calling for Iran to suspend its uranium
enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA
obligations and responsibilities. Resolutions 1737, 1477, and 1803
subject a number of Iranian individuals and entities involved in
Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs to sanctions.
Additionally, several Iranian entities are subject to US sanctions
under Executive Order 13382 designations for proliferation
activities and EO 13224 designations for support of terrorism.
Geography ::Iran
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the
Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 1,648,195 sq km
country comparison to the world: 18
land: 1,531,595 sq km
water: 116,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq
1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline:
2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the
Persian Gulf
continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain:
rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,
manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 9.78%
permanent crops: 1.29%
other: 88.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:
76,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
137.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 72.88 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions,
refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf;
wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination);
inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw
sewage and industrial waste; urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which
are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport
People ::Iran
Population:
66,429,284 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.7% (male 7,394,841/female 7,022,076)
15-64 years: 72.9% (male 24,501,544/female 23,914,172)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,725,828/female 1,870,823) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 26.8 years
female: 27.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.883% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Birth rate:
17.17 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Death rate:
5.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Net migration rate:
-2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Urbanization:
urban population: 68% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 35.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 70
male: 35.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
country comparison to the world: 132
male: 69.65 years
female: 72.72 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
86,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups:
Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%,
Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Languages:
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%,
Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77%
male: 83.5%
female: 70.4% (2002 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 67
Government ::Iran
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran
former: Persia
Government type:
theocratic republic
Capital:
name: Tehran
geographic coordinates: 35 40 N, 51 25 E
time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e
Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,
Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e
Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan,
Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan,
Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence:
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution:
2-3 December 1979; revised in 1989
note: the revision in 1989 expanded powers of the presidency and
eliminated the prime ministership
Legal system:
based on Sharia law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June
1989)
head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August
2005); First Vice President Mohammad Reza RAHIMI (since 13 September
2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are
three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-Khebregan), a
popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of
the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if
deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the
Discernment of Expediency (Majma-e-Tashkise-Maslahat-e-Nezam) exerts
supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative
branches and resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the
Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been used to advise
national religious leaders on matters of national policy; in 2005
the Council's powers were expanded to act as a supervisory body for
the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the Constitution or
Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye Negaban-e
Qanun-e Assassi) determines whether proposed legislation is both
constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates for
suitability, and supervises national elections
elections: Supreme Leader is appointed for life by the Assembly of
Experts; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term and third nonconsecutive term); last
held 12 June 2009;(next presidential election slated for June 2013)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD reelected president; percent
of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62.6%, Mir-Hosein MUSAVI-Khamenei
33.8%, other 3.6%; voter turnout 85%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami
or Majles (290 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 14 March 2008 with a runoff held 25 April 2008
(next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party -
conservatives/Islamists 167, reformers 39, independents 74,
religious minorities 5, other 5
Judicial branch: