intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its
population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan
is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest
producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source
of export earnings and has come under increasing international
criticism for the use of child labor in its annual cotton harvest.
Other major export earners include gold, natural gas, and oil.
Following independence in September 1991, the government sought to
prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight
controls on production and prices. While aware of the need to
improve the investment climate, the government still sponsors
measures that often increase, not decrease, its control over
business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income
distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence.
In 2003, the government accepted Article VIII obligations under the
IMF, providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict
currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the
effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that
have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often
delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods.
Potential investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil
industry, as well as increased cooperation with South Korea in the
realm of civil aviation, may boost growth prospects. In November
2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President
KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included provisions for economic
and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased
interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and
gas. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic
Community (EurASEC), which it subsequently left in 2008, both
organizations dominated by Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US
and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating
Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$71.84 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$65.91 billion (2007 est.)
$60.19 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$27.92 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
9.5% (2007 est.)
7.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$2,400 (2007 est.)
$2,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25.8%
industry: 31.4%
services: 42.8% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
15.37 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 44%
industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
0.8% (2007 est.)
note: officially measured by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20%
underemployed
Population below poverty line:
33% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 80
44.7 (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $8.884 billion
expenditures: $8.474 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
10.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
41.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
12% (2007 est.)
note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer
prices, inflation reached 38% in 2008
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$715.3 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold,
petroleum, natural gas, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
12.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - production:
46.33 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - consumption:
41.94 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - exports:
11.44 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
11.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
83,820 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - consumption:
148,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - exports:
6,104 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Oil - imports:
35,810 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - proved reserves:
594 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - production:
67.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - consumption:
52.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - exports:
15 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Current account balance:
$6.257 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$4.267 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$10.37 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$8.026 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and
non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles
Exports - partners:
Ukraine 27.3%, Russia 19.6%, Turkey 7.5%, Kazakhstan 5.9%,
Bangladesh 5%, China 4.3%, Japan 4.1% (2008)
Imports:
$7.07 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$5.73 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and
non-ferrous metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 24.7%, China 15.4%, South Korea 13.6%, Ukraine 7.2%, Germany
5.5%, Kazakhstan 4.9%, Turkey 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$7.413 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.022 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$3.927 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,317 (2008 est.), 1,263.8
(2007), 1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004)
Communications ::Uzbekistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.85 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.734 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 49
Telephone system:
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of
modernization
domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated and
telephone density is low; the state-owned telecommunications
company, Uzbektelecom, is using loans from the Japanese government
and the China Development Bank to improve mainline services;
completion of conversion to digital exchanges planned for 2010;
mobile services are growing rapidly, with the subscriber base
reaching 12.7 million in 2008
international: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries
by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch;
after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe
(TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan plans to establish a fiber-optic
connection to Afghanistan (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 12, shortwave 3 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
28 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent and approximately 20
stations in regional capitals) (2006)
Internet country code:
.uz
Internet hosts:
50,228 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
Internet users:
2.469 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 65
Transportation ::Uzbekistan
Airports:
54 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 33
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 9,706 km; oil 868 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,645 km
country comparison to the world: 47
broad gauge: 3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 86,496 km
country comparison to the world: 55
paved: 75,511 km
unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,100 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 63
Ports and terminals:
Termiz (Amu Darya)
Military ::Uzbekistan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-year conscript
service obligation; moving toward a professional military, but
conscription will continue; the military cannot accommodate everyone
who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military
is similar to the competition for admission to universities (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,480,484
females age 16-49: 7,542,017 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,340,446
females age 16-49: 6,559,769 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 313,131
female: 310,442 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Transnational Issues ::Uzbekistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river
states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan
commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with
Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other
areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan); 1,060
(Afghanistan)
IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages
near Tajikistan border) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for women and
girls trafficked to Kazakhstan, Russia, Middle East, and Asia for
the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to
Kazakhstan and Russia for purposes of forced labor in the
construction, cotton, and tobacco industries; men and women are also
trafficked internally for the purposes of domestic servitude, forced
labor in the agricultural and construction industries, and for
commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Uzbekistan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat severe forms of trafficking in 2007; the government did not
amend its criminal code to increase penalties for convicted
traffickers; in March 2008, Uzbekistan adopted ILO Conventions on
minimum age of employment and on the elimination of the worst forms
of child labor and is working with the ILO on implementation; the
government also demonstrated its increasing commitment to combat
trafficking in March 2008 by adopting a comprehensive
anti-trafficking law; Uzbekistan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP
Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a
lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation
of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic
consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop
eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals
bound for Afghanistan
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Vanuatu (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Vanuatu
Background:
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language,
migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European
exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts
for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to
this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in
the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium,
which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the
new name of Vanuatu was adopted.
Geography ::Vanuatu
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12,189 sq km
country comparison to the world: 163
land: 12,189 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
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:
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October;
moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by
cyclones from December to April
Terrain:
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.97%
other: 91.39% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption
on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes
minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of
potable water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands;
several of the islands have active volcanoes
People ::Vanuatu
Population:
218,519 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 34,263/female 32,833)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 72,670/female 69,970)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,516/female 4,267) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 24.2 years
female: 24.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.398% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Birth rate:
21.53 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Death rate:
7.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 49.45 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 51
male: 51.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.98 years
country comparison to the world: 169
male: 62.37 years
female: 65.66 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups:
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)
Religions:
Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous
beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%,
unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)
Languages:
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or
Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified
0.7% (1999 Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA
female: NA (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
9.5% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 6
Government ::Vanuatu
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
local short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British
systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Iolu Johnson ABIL (since 3 September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22
September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 22 September
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to parliament
elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral
college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils; election for president last held 2 September 2009 (next to
be held in 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime
minister by parliament from among its members; election for prime
minister last held 22 September 2008 (next to be held following
general elections in 2012)
election results: Iolu Johnson ABIL elected president, with 41 votes
out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP
11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1,
Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent
4; note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture
and language
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after
consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:
Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES]; Jon Frum Movement or
JF [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE];
Nagriamel movement or NAG [Havo MOLI]; Namangi Aute or NA [Paul
TELUKLUK]; National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI]; People's Action
Party or PAP [Peter VUTA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato
KILMAN]; Shepherds Alliance Party [leader NA]; Union of Moderate
Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuatu Family First Party or VFFP
[Eta RORI]; Vanuatu Labor Party or VLP [Joshua KALSAKAU]; Vanuatu
National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land
Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP
[Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Vanuatu Republican Farmers Party or VPRFP
[Jean RAVOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW,
PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a
Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua
New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black
isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a
black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele leaves, all in yellow
Economy ::Vanuatu
Economy - overview:
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale
agriculture, which provides a living for over 70% of the population.
Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than
167,000 visitors in 2007 are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral
deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is
hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main
markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign
concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its
offshore financial center. In mid-2002, the government stepped up
efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort
development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially
livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New
Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$990.8 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
$929.5 million (2007 est.)
$870.3 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$573 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
6.8% (2007 est.)
7.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,600 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$4,400 (2007 est.)
$4,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
115,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 175
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.7% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 15
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $78.7 million
expenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Central bank discount rate:
6% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 75
6% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.29% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
8.16% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$101.6 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 112
$107.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$430 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
$421.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$274 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
$229.5 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables;
beef; fish
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Electricity - production:
42 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - consumption:
39.06 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Oil - imports:
653.6 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - production: