IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Suleiman AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ
embassy: off Jaraba Street, behind the Libyan-Swiss clinic, Ben
Ashour
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: [218] 91-220-3239
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)
Economy ::Libya
Economy - overview:
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, about
one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. The expected
weakness in world hydrocarbon prices throughout 2009 will reduce
Libyan government tax income and constrain Libyan economic growth in
2009. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with a
small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in
Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of
society. Libyan officials in the past five years have made progress
on economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the
country into the international fold. This effort picked up steam
after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya
announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build
weapons of mass destruction. UN Sanctions against Libya were lifted
in September 2003. The process of lifting US unilateral sanctions
began in the spring of 2004; all sanctions were removed by June
2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct investment,
especially in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds
continue to draw high international interest; the National Oil
Company set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to 3 million
bbl/day by 2012. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the
socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying
for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans
for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a
more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing and
construction sectors, which account for more than 20% of GDP, have
expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the
production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic
conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and
Libya imports about 75% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural
water source remains the Great Manmade River Project, but
significant resources are being invested in desalinization research
to meet growing water demands.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$87.72 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$82.83 billion (2007 est.)
$78.44 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$89.92 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
5.6% (2007 est.)
5.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$13,700 (2007 est.)
$13,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 70.9%
services: 27.4% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.64 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Population below poverty line:
7.4% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
9.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Budget:
revenues: $58.04 billion
expenditures: $35.22 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
4% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
8.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
6.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
4% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.41% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 132
6% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$26.66 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 30
$18.04 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$4.264 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 73
$3.192 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans;
cattle
Industries:
petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,
cement
Industrial production growth rate:
6.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - production:
23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - consumption:
22.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - exports:
104 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
77 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
1.875 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - consumption:
273,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - exports:
1.542 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - imports:
575.3 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - proved reserves:
43.66 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - production:
15.9 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - consumption:
5.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - exports:
10.4 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.54 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Current account balance:
$37.39 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$28.45 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$64.5 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$46.97 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Italy 38%, Germany 12%, France 7.4%, Spain 6.9%, US 6.4%,
Switzerland 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$26.55 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$17.7 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer
products
Imports - partners:
Italy 22.2%, China 9.3%, Germany 8.6%, Turkey 6.1%, Tunisia 5.8%,
South Korea 4.7%, US 4.1%, France 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$92.51 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$79.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.223 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$4.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$11.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$8.775 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$5.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$3.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2112 (2008 est.), 1.2604
(2007), 1.3108 (2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004)
Communications ::Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.033 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 79
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.828 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 90
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is state-owned and
service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state
retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile cellular telephone
system became operational in 1996; multiple providers for a mobile
telephone system that is growing rapidly; combined fixed line and
mobile telephone density is approaching 100 telephones per 100
persons
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to
France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;
tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus 1 repeater) (1999)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet hosts:
11,751 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
Internet users:
323,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
Transportation ::Libya
Airports:
137 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 59
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 17 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 776 km; gas 2,860 km; oil 6,987 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 100,024 km
country comparison to the world: 41
paved: 57,214 km
unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 17
country comparison to the world: 101
by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll
off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2)
registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli,
Zawiyah
Military ::Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab
Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya,
LAAF), Libyan Coast Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,682,183
females age 16-49: 1,611,001 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,466,578
females age 16-49: 1,409,684 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 60,710
female: 58,219 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Transnational Issues ::Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and
about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently
dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside
in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for
men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly
in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses;
Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or
punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Liechtenstein (Europe)
Introduction ::Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops
during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and
joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became
fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until
the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the
economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to
enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since
World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the
country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In
2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in
concerns about the use of financial institutions for money
laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering
legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that
went into effect in 2003.
Geography ::Liechtenstein
Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
country comparison to the world: 218
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool
to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
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,
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:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People ::Liechtenstein
Population:
34,761 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 2,877/female 2,901)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 11,917/female 12,220)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,085/female 2,761) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 41.5 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.702% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Birth rate:
9.75 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Death rate:
7.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Net migration rate:
4.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 205
male: 5.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.06 years
country comparison to the world: 22
male: 76.59 years
female: 83.53 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.52 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June
2002)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July
1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of
the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM
transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but
HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Klaus TSCHUTSCHER (since 25
March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is
usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the
leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually
appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a
coalition government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by
popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 8 February 2009 (next to be held February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL
8.9%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Die Freie Liste (The Free List) or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon
MATT]; Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei (Progressive Citizens' Party)
or FBP [Marcus VOGT]; Vaterlaendische Union (Fatherland Union) or VU
[Adolf HEEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO,
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador
to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the
blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in
the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to
distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
Economy ::Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein
has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and
the highest per capita income in the world. The Liechtenstein
economy is widely diversified with a large number of small
businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and
easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to
establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state
revenues. The country participates in a customs union with
Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It
imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has
been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving
as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and
the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its
economic policies with those of an integrated Europe. In 2008
Liechtenstein came under renewed international pressure -
particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking
and tax systems.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.16 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 165
$4.035 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.993 billion (2007)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$118,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (2007)
Labor force:
32,440 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
to work each day (2007)
country comparison to the world: 194
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 43.5%
services: 55.4% (31 December 2006)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (31 December 2007)
country comparison to the world: 11
1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 8
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$2.47 billion
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for
motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products
Imports:
$917.3 million
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery,
metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 203
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973
(2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)
Communications ::Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephones - mobile cellular:
34,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 201
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed line and mobile-cellular services widely available;
combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable
and microwave radio relay (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet hosts:
9,287 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 118
Internet users:
23,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 187
Transportation ::Liechtenstein
Pipelines: