Spain 28.9%, Germany 11.6%, France 8%, Italy 4.9%, Netherlands 4.4%
(2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.95 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$11.55 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$484.7 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 20
$483.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$117.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$114.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$69.24 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$69.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.121 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.91 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
Telephone system:
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has a
state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave
radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables
provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa,
the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to Azores (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 63, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
42 (2008)
Internet country code:
.pt
Internet hosts:
1.967 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 33
Internet users:
4.476 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
Transportation ::Portugal
Airports:
65 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 11 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 21 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,786 km
country comparison to the world: 58
broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 82,900 km
country comparison to the world: 56
paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,300 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,606 km (2005)
Waterways:
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
Merchant marine:
total: 117
country comparison to the world: 48
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 36, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15,
container 6, liquefied gas 9, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 9,
petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 84 (Bahamas 1, Belgium 8, Denmark 3, Germany 20,
Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Italy 12, Japan 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1,
Spain 11, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, US 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1,
Malta 3, Panama 9) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
Military ::Portugal
Military branches:
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portugues), Portuguese Navy (Marinha
Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca
Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military
service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval
ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant
specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,573,913
females age 16-49: 2,498,262 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,103,558
females age 16-49: 2,049,032 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 64,047
female: 57,630 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Transnational Issues ::Portugal
Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory
of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815
Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for
Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment
point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest
Asian heroin
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Puerto Rico
Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was
claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second
voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule
that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African
slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result
of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US
citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since
1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal
self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters
chose not to alter the existing political status.
Geography ::Puerto Rico
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,790 sq km
country comparison to the world: 162
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains
precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal
areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to
the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural
harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central
mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry;
fertile coastal plain belt in north
People ::Puerto Rico
Population:
3,971,020 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 404,635/female 386,733)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,260,114/female 1,361,193)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 240,318/female 318,027) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.2 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 37.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Birth rate:
12.12 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Net migration rate:
-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 162
male: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.53 years
country comparison to the world: 42
male: 74.85 years
female: 82.39 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997)
country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%,
Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Puerto Rico
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth
status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted
under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Government type:
commonwealth
Capital:
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -
municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas
Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,
Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,
Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,
Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,
Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,
Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las
Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,
Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,
Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San
German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa
Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,
Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25
July (1952)
Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952;
effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of
justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do
not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Luis FORTUNO (since 2 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic
and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor
elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits);
election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the
vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held
November 2012); House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 81.5%, PPD
18.5%; seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - PNP 72.5%, PPD 27.5%; seats by party -
PNP 37, PPD 14
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner
to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US
House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,
he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last
held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of
two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for
all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the
Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party
of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP
[Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD
[Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence
Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los
Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered
dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National
Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers
of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO
(associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a
large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially
influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the
colors of the bands and triangle reversed
Economy ::Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean
region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as
the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by
duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have
invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage
laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and
other livestock products as the main source of income in the
agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important
source of income with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million
tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the
slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again
in 2006-07.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$70.23 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$72.03 billion (2007 est.)
$73.35 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$88 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
-1.8% (2007 est.)
0.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$18,300 (2007 est.)
$18,700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
1.479 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 130
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 137
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock
products, chickens
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
23.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - consumption:
22.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1,354 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - consumption:
185,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - exports:
16,520 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - imports:
225,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - consumption:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - imports:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Exports:
$46.9 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 58
Exports - commodities:
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
concentrates, medical equipment
Imports:
$29.1 billion c.i.f.
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum
products
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.038 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 78
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.354 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 102
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by
high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data
capability
domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide
connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
34 (2008)
Internet country code:
.pr
Internet hosts:
700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
Internet users:
1 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
Transportation ::Puerto Rico
Airports:
29 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 26,186 km
country comparison to the world: 102
paved: 24,877 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,309 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 140
by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Guayanilla, Mayaguez, San Juan
Military ::Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,
Police Force
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 699,784
females age 16-49: 790,482 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,422
female: 29,396 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic
cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Qatar (Middle East)
Introduction ::Qatar
Background:
Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed
itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling
into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas
revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy
was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by
the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current
Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup
in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes
with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas
revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita
income in the world.
Geography ::Qatar
Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 11,586 sq km
country comparison to the world: 165
land: 11,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or
the median line
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on
large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
deposits
People ::Qatar
Population:
833,285 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 93,805/female 88,040)
15-64 years: 76.8% (male 454,714/female 185,004)
65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,792/female 4,930) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 32.8 years
female: 25.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.957% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Birth rate:
15.61 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Death rate:
2.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Net migration rate:
-3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Urbanization:
urban population: 96% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.46 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.38 male(s)/female
total population: 2 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 140
male: 13.51 deaths/1,000 live births