53.5%, DPP 38.2%, NPSU 2.4%, PFP 0.3%, others 1.6%, independents 4%;
seats by party - KMT 81, DPP 27, NPSU 3, PFP 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of
the Legislative Yuan)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen]; Kuomintang or
KMT (Nationalist Party) [WU Po-hsiung], MA Ying-jeou elected in July
2009, takes office on 12 September 2009; Non-Partisan Solidarity
Union or NPSU [LIN Pin-kuan]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Organization for Taiwan Nation Building; World United Formosans for
Independence
other: environmental groups; independence movement; various business
groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's
legislature have opened public debate on the island's national
identity; a broad public consensus has developed that the government
enjoys popular sovereignty and - whatever the ultimate outcome
regarding unification or independence - that Taiwan's people must
have the deciding voice; public opinion polls consistently show a
substantial majority of Taiwan people supports maintaining Taiwan's
status quo for the foreseeable future; advocates of Taiwan
independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify
with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement
include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the
UN; advocates of eventual unification predicate their goal on the
democratic transformation of the mainland
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC, IOC, ITUC, WCL, WFTU, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; commercial and cultural relations with the people in the
United States are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality,
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United
States (TECRO), a private nonprofit corporation that performs
citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts
representative: Jason C. YUAN
office: 4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] 202 895-1800
Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices): Atlanta,
Boston, Chicago, Guam, Houston, Honolulu, Kansas City, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan
are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the American
Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit corporation that
performs citizen and consular services similar to those at
diplomatic posts
director: William A. STANTON
office: #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan
telephone: [1] [886] (02) 2162-2000
FAX: [1] [886] (07) 238-7744
other offices: Kaohsiung
Flag description:
red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Economy ::Taiwan
Economy - overview:
Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing
government guidance of investment and foreign trade. In keeping with
this trend, some large, state-owned banks and industrial firms have
been privatized. Exports have provided the primary impetus for
industrialization. The island runs a large trade surplus, and its
foreign reserves are among the world's largest. Recently opened
cross-strait travel, transportation, and tourism links are likely to
increase Taiwan and China's economic interdependence. In 2008 China
overtook the US to become Taiwan's second-largest source of imports,
after Japan. China is also the island's number one destination for
foreign direct investment. Growth fell to 0.1% in 2008 because of
the global slowdown.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$713.7 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$713 billion (2007 est.)
$674.5 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$391.4 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
5.7% (2007 est.)
4.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$31,100 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$31,200 (2007 est.)
$29,600 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 25.1%
services: 73.2% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
10.85 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 36.8%
services: 58% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
3.9% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
0.95% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 6.7%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Budget:
revenues: $73.02 billion
expenditures: $77.96 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
29.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
32.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
1.8% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.5% (January 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.06% (2008 est.)
Stock of quasi money:
$618 billion (November 2008)
country comparison to the world: 7
$NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$677.8 billion (November 2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
$NA (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 20
$654 billion (28 December 2007)
$654 billion (28 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Industries:
electronics, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles,
iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles,
consumer products, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - production:
225 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Electricity - consumption:
233 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
12,310 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Oil - consumption:
959,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Oil - exports:
303,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - imports:
1.251 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - proved reserves:
2.38 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - production:
360 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - consumption:
12.44 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - imports:
12.08 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Current account balance:
$24.89 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$32.98 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$254.9 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$246.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronics, flat panels, machinery, metals, textiles, plastics,
chemicals, auto parts (2008)
Exports - partners:
China 29.2%, US 12%, Hong Kong 9.8%, Japan 6.9%, Singapore 4.6%
(2008 est.)
Imports:
$236.7 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$216.1 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum, precision instruments, organic
chemicals, metals (2008)
Imports - partners:
Japan 19.3%, China 13%, US 10.9%, Saudi Arabia 6.3%, South Korea
5.5% (2008 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$296.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$275 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$93.02 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$97.85 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$102.3 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
$52.65 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$107.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$96.81 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar - 31.53 (2008 est.), 32.84
(2007), 32.534 (2006), 31.71 (2005), 34.418 (2004)
Communications ::Taiwan
Telephones - main lines in use:
14.273 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 19
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25.412 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 33
Telephone system:
general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every
business and private need
domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized
international: country code - 886; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and the
US; satellite earth stations - 2
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 21, FM 143, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
76 (5 television networks with 46 digital and 30 analog stations)
(2007)
Internet country code:
.tw
Internet hosts:
5.704 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
Internet users:
15.143 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 25
Transportation ::Taiwan
Airports:
42 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 38
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Heliports:
4 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 406 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 1,588 km
country comparison to the world: 81
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,093 km 1.067-m gauge; 150 km .762-m gauge
note: the 150 km of .762 gauge track belongs primarily to Taiwan
Sugar Corporation and Taiwan Forestry Bureau; some to other entities
(2007)
Roadways:
total: 40,262 km
country comparison to the world: 88
paved: 38,171 km (includes 976 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,091 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 102
country comparison to the world: 50
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 19, chemical tanker 1, container 24,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 7, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Canada 2, France 1)
registered in other countries: 536 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 1, Honduras
2, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 2, Italy 13, Kiribati 5, Liberia 91,
Marshall Islands 1, Panama 320, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 1,
Singapore 72, Thailand 1, UK 11, unknown 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Taichung
Military ::Taiwan
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
Military service age and obligation:
19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service
obligation 14 months (reducing to 1 year in 2009); women may enlist;
women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles;
reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry of Defense has
announced plans to implement an incremental voluntary enlistment
system beginning 2010, with 10% fewer conscripts each year
thereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform
alternative service or go through 3-4 months of military training
(2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,283,134
females age 16-49: 6,098,599 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,106,730
females age 16-49: 5,008,563 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 165,738
female: 154,123 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 75
Transnational Issues ::Taiwan
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines,
Vietnam, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has
eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of
conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China
and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting 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
where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting
Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor
chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem
with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising
problems with use of ketamine and club drugs
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Tajikistan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Tajikistan
Background:
The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but
Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of
1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not
fully reestablished until 1925. Much of present-day Sughd province
was transferred from the Uzbek SSR to the newly formed Tajik SSR in
1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Sughd province.
Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the
Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions
from 1992-97. There have been no major security incidents in recent
years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet
sphere. Attention by the international community since the beginning
of the NATO intervention in Afghanistan has brought increased
economic development and security assistance, which could create
jobs and strengthen stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the
early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has
joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
Geography ::Tajikistan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 143,100 sq km
country comparison to the world: 95
land: 141,510 sq km
water: 2,590 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to
polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:
Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley
in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead,
zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land use:
arable land: 6.52%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
99.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.96 cu km/yr (4%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,837 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil
salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in
the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai
Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain
in the former USSR
People ::Tajikistan
Population:
7,349,145 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.3% (male 1,282,681/female 1,238,607)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 2,260,552/female 2,303,034)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 112,334/female 151,937) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.9 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 22.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.878% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Birth rate:
26.9 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Death rate:
6.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Net migration rate:
-1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Urbanization:
urban population: 26% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.03 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 64
male: 45.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.33 years
country comparison to the world: 166
male: 62.29 years
female: 68.52 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.99 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups:
Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Languages:
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 132
Government ::Tajikistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous
province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa),
Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan]
(Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence:
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Constitution:
6 November 1994
Legal system:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994;
head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006
(next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimjon BOBOEV 6.2%, other 14.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National
Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; 25 members
selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat
reserved for the former president; to serve five-year terms) and the
Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon
(63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 25 March 2005 (next to be
held in February 2010); Assembly of Representatives 27 February and
13 March 2005 (next to be held in February 2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3; Assembly of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%,
Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51,
CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir QARAQULOV]; Democratic
Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005);
Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin
KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimjon BOBOEV]; People's
Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Social
Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or
SPT [Mirhuseyn NARZIEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi
SHABDOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
splinter parties recognized by the government but not by the base of
the party: Democratic Party or DPT [Masud SOBIROV] (splintered from
ISKANDAROV's DPT); Socialist Party or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFFOROV]
(splintered from NARZIEV's SPT)
unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo
NASREDDINOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Unity Party
[Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
International organization participation:
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV
chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50
Flag description:
three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and
green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is
located in the center of the white stripe
Economy ::Tajikistan
Economy - overview: