only exceptions are the foreign and defense ministers, who are
chosen by the president
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council; the
NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
Presidential Secretariat helps draft presidential edicts and
provides policy support to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); note - a special repeat runoff
presidential election between Viktor YUSHCHENKO and Viktor
YANUKOVYCH took place on 26 December 2004 after the earlier 21
November 2004 contest - won by YANUKOVYCH - was invalidated by the
Ukrainian Supreme Court because of widespread and significant
violations; under constitutional reforms that went into effect 1
January 2006, the majority in parliament takes the lead in naming
the prime minister
election results: Viktor YUSHCHENKO elected president; percent of
vote - Viktor YUSHCHENKO 52%, Viktor YANUKOVYCH 44.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; members
allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or
more of the national electoral vote; serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Party of Regions
34.4%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 30.7%, Our Ukraine-People's Self
Defense 14.2%, CPU 5.4%, Lytvyn bloc 4%, other parties 11.3%; seats
by party/bloc - Party of Regions 175, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 156,
Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense 72, CPU 27, Lytvyn bloc 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Union [Volodymyr STRETOVYCH]; Communist Party
of Ukraine or CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; European Party of Ukraine
[Mykola KATERYNCHUK]; Fatherland Party (Batkivshchyna) [Yuliya
TYMOSHENKO]; Forward Ukraine! [Viktor MUSIYAKA]; Labor Party of
Ukraine [Mykola SYROTA]; Our Ukraine [Viktor YUSHCHENKO]; Party of
Industrialists and Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy KINAKH]; Party of the
Defenders of the Fatherland [Yuriy Karmazin]; People's Movement of
Ukraine (Rukh) [Borys TARASYUK]; People's Party [Volodymyr LYTVYN];
Peoples' Self-Defense [Yuriy LUTSENKO]; PORA! (It's Time!) party
[Vladyslav KASKIV]; Progressive Socialist Party [Natalya VITRENKO];
Reforms and Order Party [Viktor PYNZENYK]; Party of Regions [Viktor
YANUKOVYCH]; Sobor [Anatoliy MATVIYENKO]; Social Democratic Party
[Yevhen KORNICHUK]; Social Democratic Party (United) or SDPU(o)
[Yuriy ZAHORODNIY]; Socialist Party of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr
MOROZ]; Ukrainian People's Party [Yuriy KOSTENKO]; United Center
[Ihor Krill]; Viche [Inna BOHOSLOVSKA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee of Voters of Ukraine [Ihor POPOV]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC
(observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Oleh V. SHAMSHUR
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606
FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William B. TAYLOR Jr.
embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 01901 Kyiv
mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000
FAX: [380] (44) 490-4085
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
represent grain fields under a blue sky
Economy ::Ukraine
Economy - overview:
After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most
important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing
about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its
fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet
agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities
of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise,
its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for
example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and
mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the
former USSR. Shortly after independence was ratified in December
1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a
legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to
reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform
efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to
less than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for
energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have
made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine
depends on imports to meet about three-fourths of its annual oil and
natural gas requirements. Ukraine concluded a deal with Russia in
January 2006 that almost doubled the price Ukraine pays for Russian
gas. Disputes with Russia over pricing have led to periodic gas
cut-offs. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have
encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms.
Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs
privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic
activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more
improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing
capital markets, and improving the legislative framework. Ukraine's
economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime
minister and president until mid-2008. Real GDP growth exceeded 7%
in 2006-07, fueled by high global prices for steel - Ukraine's top
export - and by strong domestic consumption, spurred by rising
pensions and wages. The drop in steel prices and Ukraine's exposure
to the global financial crisis due to aggressive foreign borrowing
has lowered growth in 2008 and the economy probably will contract in
2009. Ukraine reached an agreement with the IMF for a $16.5 billion
standby arrangement in November 2008 to deal with the economic
crisis. However, political turmoil in Ukraine as well as
deteriorating external conditions are likely to hamper efforts for
economic recovery.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$338.6 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$331.6 billion (2007 est.)
$307.4 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$179.6 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
7.9% (2007 est.)
7.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,400 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$7,200 (2007 est.)
$6,600 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 31.7%
services: 58.9% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
21.57 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19.4%
industry: 24.2%
services: 56.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
2.3% (2007 est.)
note: officially registered; large number of unregistered or
underemployed workers
Population below poverty line:
37.7% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 25.7% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 107
29 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
27.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Budget:
revenues: $56.55 billion
expenditures: $59.24 billion; note - this is the planned,
consolidated budget (2008 est.)
Public debt:
10.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
24.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
25.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
12.8% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
12% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
8% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17.49% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 71
11.33% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$29.24 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
$35.97 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$37.32 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 31
$41.51 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$101.1 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 38
$87.13 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$24.36 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
$111.8 billion (31 December 2007)
$42.87 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk
Industries:
coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and
transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)
Industrial production growth rate:
-5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - production:
185.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - consumption:
153.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - exports:
12.55 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.383 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
101,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Oil - consumption:
353,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - exports:
97,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - imports:
354,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Oil - proved reserves:
395 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - production:
19.8 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - consumption:
84 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - exports:
3.2 billion cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - imports:
64.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.104 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Current account balance:
-$12.76 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
-$5.918 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$67.72 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$49.84 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Exports - partners:
Russia 23.5%, Turkey 6.9%, Italy 4.4% (2008)
Imports:
$83.81 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$60.41 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Russia 22.7%, Germany 8.4%, Turkmenistan 6.6%, China 6.5%, Poland 5%
(2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$31.54 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$32.48 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$101.7 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
$79.96 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$41.77 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$31.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.905 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$895 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar - 4.9523 (2008 est.), 5.05 (2007), 5.05
(2006), 5.1247 (2005), 5.3192 (2004)
Communications ::Ukraine
Telephones - main lines in use:
13.177 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 20
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55.695 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 19
Telephone system:
general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan
emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international
connections, and the mobile-cellular system
domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a
telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair;
more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be
satisfied; telephone density is rising and the domestic trunk system
is being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digital
and a majority of regional centers now have digital switching
stations; improvements in local networks and local exchanges
continue to lag; the mobile-cellular telephone system's expansion
has slowed, largely due to saturation of the market which had
reached 120 mobile phones per 100 people by 2008
international: country code - 380; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a
part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and 3
Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic
Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries;
additional international service is provided by the
Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and
by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat,
and Intersputnik satellite systems
Radio broadcast stations:
524 (station frequency types NA) (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
647 (2006)
Internet country code:
.ua
Internet hosts:
706,485 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
Internet users:
10.354 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30
Transportation ::Ukraine
Airports:
425 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 189
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 96 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 236
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 214 (2009)
Heliports:
7 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 33,327 km; oil 4,514 km; refined products 4,211 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 21,655 km
country comparison to the world: 13
broad gauge: 21,655 km 1.524-m gauge (9,729 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 169,422 km
country comparison to the world: 30
paved: 165,611 km (includes 15 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,811 km (2007)
Waterways:
2,176 km (most on Dnieper River) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 42
Merchant marine:
total: 189
country comparison to the world: 36
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 141, chemical tanker 1, container 3,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated
cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Luxembourg 1, Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 204 (Belize 7, Cambodia 34, Comoros
8, Cyprus 4, Dominica 4, Georgia 18, Liberia 25, Lithuania 1, Malta
30, Moldova 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Russia 11, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 11, Sierra Leone 10,
Slovakia 12, Tuvalu 1, unknown 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Feodosiya, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Yuzhnyy
Military ::Ukraine
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces
(Viyskovo-Povitryani Syly, VPS) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and Air Force, 24
months for Navy (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,457,562
females age 16-49: 11,767,357 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,056,742
females age 16-49: 9,234,591 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 269,311
female: 257,656 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Transnational Issues ::Ukraine
Disputes - international:
1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified
due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and
reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia
is complete with preparations for demarcation underway; the dispute
over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch
Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December 2003
framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions; Moldova
and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people
and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region,
which remains under OSCE supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine until
December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin, in
their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered
Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary;
Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the
Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS
consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West;
limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point
for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and
Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved
anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the
Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and
Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering
regime continues to be monitored by FATF
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@United Arab Emirates (Middle East)
Introduction ::United Arab Emirates
Background:
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control
of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In
1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash
Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United
Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah.
The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West
European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate
foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in
the affairs of the region.
Geography ::United Arab Emirates
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf,
between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 83,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 114
land: 83,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline:
1,318 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast
desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
760 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.2 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)
per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination
plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a
vital transit point for world crude oil
People ::United Arab Emirates
Population:
4,798,491
country comparison to the world: 115
note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that
included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of
non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 500,928/female 478,388)
15-64 years: 78.7% (male 2,768,030/female 1,008,404)
65 years and over: 0.9% (male 27,601/female 15,140)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.1 years
male: 32 years
female: 24.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.689% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Birth rate:
16.02 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Death rate:
2.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Net migration rate:
22.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Urbanization:
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% 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: 2.74 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.82 male(s)/female
total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 138
male: 14.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.11 years
country comparison to the world: 70
male: 73.56 years
female: 78.78 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.42 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.18% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups:
Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other
expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions:
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 176
Government ::United Arab Emirates
Country name:
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form: none
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
abbreviation: UAE
Government type:
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal
government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
name: Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi),
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al
Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwayn)
Independence:
2 December 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution:
2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996
Legal system:
based on a dual system of Sharia and civil courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch: