aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. The
country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs
two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports,
featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The fish catch
declined during the El Nino of 2002-03 but returned to normal by
mid-2005. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural
products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people
to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in
Australia. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP;
122,000 tourists visited the islands in 2007. The Samoan Government
has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement
of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same
time protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibility
of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic
advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the
external debt is stable, and inflation is low.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.021 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$1.057 billion (2007 est.)
$996.5 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$500 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
6.1% (2007 est.)
1.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,700 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$4,900 (2007 est.)
$4,700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 13.1%
services: 75.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
66,270 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $171.3 million
expenditures: $78.1 million (FY04/05 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.66% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 66
12.65% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$60.13 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
$69.97 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$162.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 118
$168.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$208.5 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
$215.1 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - production:
109 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - consumption:
101.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - imports:
1,105 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Current account balance:
-$24 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Exports:
$131 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 187
Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer
Exports - partners:
Australia 36.8%, American Samoa 35.3%, US 2.9% (2008)
Imports:
$324 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 191
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
NZ 20.1%, Fiji 18.2%, Singapore 18.1%, China 8.7%, Australia 6.4%
(2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$70.15 million (FY03/04)
country comparison to the world: 150
Debt - external:
$177 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 182
Exchange rates:
tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103 (2005),
2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)
Communications ::Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
28,800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 179
Telephones - mobile cellular:
124,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 70 telephones per 100 persons; coverage extended to roughly
95 percent of the country
international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2002)
Internet country code:
.ws
Internet hosts:
13,985 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 112
Internet users:
9,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 200
Transportation ::Samoa
Airports:
4 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,337 km
country comparison to the world: 170
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 154
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Cyprus 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Apia
Military ::Samoa
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 53,417 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 43,169
females age 16-49: 40,957 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,597
female: 2,477 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces;
informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider
any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues ::Samoa
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@San Marino (Europe)
Introduction ::San Marino
Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco),
San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According
to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus
in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of
Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track
closely with those of its larger neighbor.
Geography ::San Marino
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 61 sq km
country comparison to the world: 228
land: 61 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one third times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Natural resources:
building stone
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography - note:
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See
and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People ::San Marino
Population:
30,324 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,636/female 2,451)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 9,539/female 10,428)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 2,273/female 2,997) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.5 years
male: 41.1 years
female: 41.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.148% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Birth rate:
9.63 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Death rate:
8.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Net migration rate:
10.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 186
male: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.97 years
country comparison to the world: 5
male: 78.53 years
female: 85.72 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups:
Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 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:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo
Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino,
Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)
Constitution:
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions
of a constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Francesco MUSSONI
and Captain Regent Stefano PALMIERI (for the period 1 October
2009-31 March 2010)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Antonella MULARONI (since 3 December 2008)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in
September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held 9 November 2008
(next to be held by 2013)
election results: Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella
MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political
affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent
(co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over
meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress
of State), which has 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and
General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of
state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some
prime ministerial roles
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale
(60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino
coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino
Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%: Party
of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the
Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35: PDCS
22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2;
Reforms and Freedom coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats
18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrats or PDCS [Pasquale VALENTINI]; Communist
Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center or DdC
[Giovanni LONGERNINI]; Freedom List (including NPS and We
Sammarinesi or NS [Gabriele GATTEI]; New Socialist Party or NPS
[Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats or PDS [Paride
ANDREOLI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Carlo FRANCIOSI]; Union of
Moderates (including National Alliance or ANS [Glcuco SANSOVINI] and
San Marino Populars or pop [Romeo MORRI and Angela VENTURINI];
United Left of SU [Alessandro ROSSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI
chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: 202-337-2260
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to
Italy is accredited to San Marino
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the
national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms
has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a
wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS
(Liberty)
Economy ::San Marino
Economy - overview:
San Marino's economy relies heavily on its tourism and banking
industries, as well as from the manufacture and export of ceramics,
clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The
economy also benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively
low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. The San
Marino government, sworn in on 3 December 2008, will continue to
work towards an economic cooperation agreement with Italy - a
longstanding priority - as well as harmonizing its fiscal laws with
EU members. The per capita level of output and standard of living
are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy,
which supplies much of its food.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.662 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 188
$850 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.048 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$41,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 19
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 46.5%
services: 53.4% (2007)
Labor force:
22,660 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 201
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 37.7%
services: 62.2% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 35
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $690.6 million
expenditures: $652.9 million (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-3.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 1
-1.5% (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 113
7.58% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$7.511 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese,
hides
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 78
Exports:
$4.628 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 114
$1.291 billion (2004)
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods,
hides, ceramics
Imports:
$3.744 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 130
$2.035 billion (2004)
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 208
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into
Italian system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
130 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian
international network (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet hosts:
6,734 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
Internet users:
17,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
Transportation ::San Marino
Roadways:
total: 292 km
country comparison to the world: 202
paved: 292 km (2006)
Military ::San Marino
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari
Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support
functions (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,613 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,343
females age 16-49: 6,048 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 161
female: 160 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy
Transnational Issues ::San Marino
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)
Introduction ::Sao Tome and Principe
Background:
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the
islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the
19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of
which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was
achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the
late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but
frequent internal wrangling between the various political party's
precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup
attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf
of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small
island nation.
Geography ::Sao Tome and Principe
Location:
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the
Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 964 sq km
country comparison to the world: 184
land: 964 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
209 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 48.96%
other: 42.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a
chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People ::Sao Tome and Principe
Population:
212,679 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 50,475/female 49,188)
15-64 years: 49.7% (male 51,325/female 54,289)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,335/female 4,067) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 15.9 years
female: 17 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.093% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Birth rate:
38.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Death rate:
5.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Net migration rate:
-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 37.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 68
male: 38.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.32 years
country comparison to the world: 149
male: 66.65 years
female: 70.04 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.33 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups:
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros
(descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from
Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais
born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions:
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%,
other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.9%
male: 92.2%
female: 77.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Sao Tome and Principe
Country name: