Dependency status:
overseas territory of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007);
represented by High Administrator Philippe PAOLANTONI (since 28 July
2008)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Pesamino
TAPUTAI (since 11 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members
appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial
Assembly
note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the
Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by
the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 April 2007 (next to be held April 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UMP 13, other 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate -
elections last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held by September
2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1;
French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007 (next to
be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats -
PS 1
Judicial branch:
justice generally administered under French law by the high
administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary
law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu; a court of appeal is
located in Noumea, New Caledonia
Political parties and leaders:
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG;
Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU];
Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union
Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie
Francaise or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles
triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the
islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles
are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of
France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist
quadrant
note: the flag of France used for official occasions
Economy ::Wallis and Futuna
Economy - overview:
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with
about 80% of labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and
vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the
population is employed in government. Revenues come from French
Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South
Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New
Caledonia.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$60 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
3,104 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 216
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.2% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 156
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
Public debt:
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 33
Agriculture - products:
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Industries:
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Exports:
$47,450 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 222
Exports - commodities:
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Imports:
$61.17 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 213
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Debt - external:
$3.67 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 200
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59
(2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
Communications ::Wallis and Futuna
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 219
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 681
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2000)
Internet country code:
.wf
Internet hosts:
1,480 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154
Internet users:
1,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 212
Transportation ::Wallis and Futuna
Airports:
2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 203
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 122
by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6
foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Leava, Mata-Utu
Military ::Wallis and Futuna
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,273
females age 16-49: 3,297 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 175
female: 164 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::Wallis and Futuna
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@West Bank (Middle East)
Introduction ::West Bank
Background:
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of
Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a
series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999,
Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and
civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West
Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the
West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in
September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most
Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU,
UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the
conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties
leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The
proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed
indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not
followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader
Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA
president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed
to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace
process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all
its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in
the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from
four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel
controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A
November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the
Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint
PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance
Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led
government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce
violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between
Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March
2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS
to present a political platform acceptable to the international
community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC
was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of
Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed
travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place
between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and
early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries.
ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007
signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the
formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by
HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza
Strip, and in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent
takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza
Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential
decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent
Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for
resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations
until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and
recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government
initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve
conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with
Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some
Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue.
During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland,
ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal
of reaching a final peace settlement.
Geography ::West Bank
Location:
Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 5,860 sq km
country comparison to the world: 171
land: 5,640 sq km
water: 220 sq km
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter
of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and
Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of
depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to
hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain:
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren
in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 16.9%
permanent crops: 18.97%
other: 64.13% (2001)
Irrigated land:
150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Geography - note:
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal
aquifers; there are about 340 Israeli civilian sites - including 100
small outpost communities in the West Bank and 29 sites in East
Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)
People ::West Bank
Population:
2,461,267
country comparison to the world: 140
note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the
West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 470,735/female 446,878)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 744,822/female 708,695)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 37,471/female 52,666) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.5 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.178% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Birth rate:
25.44 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Death rate:
3.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Urbanization:
urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.96 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 123
male: 17.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.54 years
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 72.54 years
female: 76.65 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.22 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions:
Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),
English (widely understood)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::West Bank
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank
Economy ::West Bank
Economy - overview:
The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the
Palestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in
economic conditions since the second intifada began in September
2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closure
policies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions in
response to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor and
trading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002,
Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of
capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread
business closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion to
the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse
of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's
financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade
opportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bank
and externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the international
community's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA during
March 2006 - June 2007 interrupted the provision of PA social
services and the payment of PA salaries. Since then the FAYYAD
government in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and the
provision of services but would be unable to operate absent high
levels of international assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.95 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.641 billion (2008 est.) (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 13%
services: 79% (includes Gaza Strip) (2007 est.)
Labor force:
605,000 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 149
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 15%
services: 68% (June 2008)
Unemployment rate:
16.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
18.6% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
46% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.149 billion
expenditures: $2.31 billion
note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 166
3.6% (2006)
note: data in include Gaza Strip
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.19% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
7.73% (31 December 2006)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$5.251 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
$3.048 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.367 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
$368.2 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
$2.475 billion (31 December 2007)
$2.729 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Industries:
cement, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and
mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some
small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial
centers
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)
country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - production:
500 million kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East
Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to
Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank;
the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most
Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants
country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - consumption:
3.265 billion kWh
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - imports:
2.8 billion kWh
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
Exports:
$339 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 172
$301 million (2005)
note: includes Gaza Strip
Exports - commodities:
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Imports:
$1.3 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 165
$2.44 billion (2005)
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14
(2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Communications ::West Bank
Telephones - main lines in use:
348,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.153 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 140
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL
are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL
company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 25, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
30 (2008)
Internet country code:
.ps; note - same as Gaza Strip
Internet users:
356,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 118
Transportation ::West Bank
Airports:
2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 204
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 5,147 km
country comparison to the world: 153
paved: 5,147 km
note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)
Military ::West Bank
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 545,653
females age 16-49: 515,102 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,233
female: 28,745 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::West Bank
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status
subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent
status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel
continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along
parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew
from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005;
since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision
Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor
ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated
incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the
region
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 722,000 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
(2007)
page last updated on November 3, 2009
======================================================================
@Western Sahara (Africa)
Introduction ::Western Sahara
Background:
Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara
(formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and claimed the rest of the
territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla
war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in
a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on the
territory's final status has been repeatedly postponed. In April
2007, Morocco presented an autonomy plan for the territory to the
UN, which the U.S. considers serious and credible. The Polisario
also presented a plan to the UN in 2007 that called for
independence. Representatives from the Government of Morocco and the
Polisario Front have met four times since June 2007 to negotiate the
status of Western Sahara, but talks have stalled since the UN envoy
to the territory stated in April 2008 that independence is
unrealistic.
Geography ::Western Sahara
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates:
24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 266,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 77
land: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
1,110 km
Maritime claims:
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Climate:
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce
fog and heavy dew
Terrain:
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces
rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 805 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0.02%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.98% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and
spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely
restricting visibility
Environment - current issues:
sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: