Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern
Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied
by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed
by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace
treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South
Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Dokdo) occupied by South
Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to
the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and
Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East
China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Jersey (Europe)
Introduction ::Jersey
Background:
Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of
the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and
England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German
troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is
not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally
responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography ::Jersey
Location:
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 224
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
70 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population
concentrated in Saint Helier
People ::Jersey
Population:
91,626 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 7,623/female 7,087)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 30,914/female 31,081)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 6,614/female 8,307) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.9 years
male: 42.1 years
female: 43.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.211% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Birth rate:
8.63 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Net migration rate:
2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 5.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.75 years
country comparison to the world: 25
male: 77.23 years
female: 82.46 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.57 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%,
Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Jersey
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Saint Helier
geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement,
Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary,
Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes;
justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December
2008); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are
elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting
members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are
constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are
deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy
bailiff, and 3 non-voting members includes the Dean of Jersey, the
Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November
2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2008 were independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support);
Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association);
Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); La
Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group); Progress
Jersey [Darius J. PEARCE, Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human
rights); Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society or
RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle);
Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building
preservation)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the
flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red
shield with the three lions of England in yellow
Economy ::Jersey
Economy - overview:
Jersey's economy is based on international financial services,
agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for
about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes,
and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to
the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and
represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to
the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of
GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry
to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry
has developed, displacing more traditional industries. All raw
material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large
share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the
island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of
the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 2%
services: 97% (2005)
Labor force:
53,560 (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 181
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $829 million
expenditures: $851 million (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (December 2006)
country comparison to the world: 55
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs,
textiles
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,
mineral fuels, chemicals
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.5302 (2008 est.), 0.4993 (2007),
0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004)
note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Jersey
Telephones - main lines in use:
74,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 154
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83,900 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 185
Telephone system:
general assessment: state owned, partially-competitive market;
increasingly modern, with some broadband access
domestic: digital telephone system launch announced in 2006 and
currently being implemented; fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density exceeds
100 per 100 persons
international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and
France (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (UK radio broadcasts carried via local
relays) (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (UK television carried by local relays with a switch to digital
broadcasts scheduled for 2010) (2008)
Internet country code:
.je
Internet hosts:
219 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
Internet users:
29,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 181
Transportation ::Jersey
Airports:
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 224
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 358 km (2002)
country comparison to the world: 199
Ports and terminals:
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military ::Jersey
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 16,920
females age 16-49: 16,826 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 586
female: 541 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Jersey
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Jordan (Middle East)
Introduction ::Jordan
Background:
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the
UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain
separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine
in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it
adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler
was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully
navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and
UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian
population. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war and
barely managed to defeat Palestinian rebels who threatened to
overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently
relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank. In 1989, he
reinstituted parliamentary elections and initiated a gradual
political liberalization; political parties were legalized in 1992.
In 1994, he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the
son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne following his father's death
in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and
undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to
the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in
the European Free Trade Association in 2001. In 2003, Jordan
staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of Saddam in Iraq and
following the outbreak of insurgent violence in Iraq, absorbed
thousands of displaced Iraqis. Municipal elections were held in July
2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils
were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held
in November 2007 and saw independent pro-government candidates win
the vast majority of seats. In November 2007, King ABDALLAH
instructed his new prime minister to focus on socioeconomic reform,
developing a healthcare and housing network for civilians and
military personnel, and improving the educational system.
Geography ::Jordan
Location:
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 89,342 sq km
country comparison to the world: 111
land: 88,802 sq km
water: 540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km,
Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:
26 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift
Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.32%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 95.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.9 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%)
per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab
country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied
West Bank
People ::Jordan
Population:
6,342,948 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 1,014,183/female 973,538)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 2,183,638/female 1,904,420)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 128,759/female 138,410) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.3 years
male: 25 years
female: 23.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.264% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Birth rate:
19.55 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Death rate:
2.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Net migration rate:
5.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Urbanization:
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 128
male: 17.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.87 years
country comparison to the world: 38
male: 76.34 years
female: 81.56 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.39 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Nationality:
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some
Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several
small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle
classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 84.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 77
Government ::Jordan
Country name:
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Amman
geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last
Friday in September
Administrative divisions:
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al
'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az
Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution:
1 January 1952; amended many times
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of
legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown
Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II
head of government: Prime Minister Nader al-DAHABI (since 25
November 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the
Senate, also called the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (55
seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms)
and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of
Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (110 seats; members elected
using a single, non-transferable vote system in multi-member
districts to serve four-year terms); note - six seats are reserved
for women, nine seats are reserved for Christian candidates, nine
seats are reserved for Bedouin candidates, and three seats are
reserved for Jordanians of Chechen or Circassian descent
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 November 2007 (next
scheduled to be held in 2011)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - IAF 6, independents and other 104; note - seven
women serve in the Assembly, six of whom filled women's quota seats
and one was directly elected
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation (Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Fuad DABBOUR]; Ba'ath Arab Progressive
Party [Tayseer al-HAMSI]; Call Party [Mohammed Abu BAKR]; Democratic
People's Party [Ahmad Yusuf 'ALIYA]; Democratic Popular Unity Party
[Sa'ed DIAB]; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Ishaq al-FARHAN]; Islamic
Center Party [Marwan al-FA'OURI; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir
HAMARNEH]; Jordanian National Party [Mona Abu BAKR]; Jordanian
United Front [Amjad al-MAJALI]; Life Party [Thaher 'AMROU]; Message
Party [Hazem QASHOU]; National Constitution Party [Ahmed al-SHUNAQ];
National Movement for Direct Democracy [Mohammed al-QAQ];
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice
chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman];
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Jordanian
Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ZEID Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein, Prince
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. BEECROFT
embassy: Abdoun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box
5, DPO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the
Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and
green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle
on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and
bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven
verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven
points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national
spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is
based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
Economy ::Jordan
Economy - overview: