_#_Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast
monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
_#_Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling
foothills
_#_Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber,
oil potential
_#_Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and
pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 71%; other 28%
_#_Environment: one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast;
some active volcanos; frequent earthquakes
_#_Note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia
_*_People
_#_Population: 3,913,186 (July 1991), growth rate 2.3% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 56 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun--Papua New Guinean(s); adjective--Papua New
Guinean
_#_Ethnic divisions: predominantly Melanesian and Papuan; some
Negrito, Micronesian, and Polynesian
_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects
10%; indigenous beliefs 34%
_#_Language: 715 indigenous languages; English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin
English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region
_#_Literacy: 52% (male 65%, female 38%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: 1,660,000; 732,806 in salaried employment; agriculture
54%, government 25%, industry and commerce 9%, services 8% (1980)
_#_Organized labor: more than 50 trade unions, some with fewer than 20
members
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
_#_Type: parliamentary democracy
_#_Capital: Port Moresby
_#_Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern
Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne
Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons,
Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
_#_Independence: 16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under
Australian administration)
_#_Constitution: 16 September 1975
_#_Legal system: based on English common law
_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, National Executive Council (cabinet)
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (sometimes
referred to as the House of Assembly)
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Vincent ERI (since 18 January 1990);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Rabbie NAMALIU (since 4 July
1988); Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO (since 29 April 1990);
note--Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO has the title only since he has
been suspended pending trial for alleged corruption charges
_#_Political parties:
Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Rabbie NAMALIU;
People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN;
United Party (UP), Paul TORATO;
Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA;
National Party (NP), Paul PORA;
Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18
_#_Elections:
National Parliament--last held 13 June-4 July 1987 (next to be held
4 July 1992);
results--PP 14.7%, PDM 10.8%, PPP 6.1%, MA 5.6%, NP 5.1%, PAP 3.2%,
independents 42.9%, other 11.6%;
seats--(109 total) PP 26, PDM 17, NP 12, MA 7, PAP 6, PPP 5, independents
22, other 14
_#_Communists: no significant strength
_#_Member of: ACP, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret TAYLOR; Chancery at
Suite 350, 1330 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036;
telephone (202) 659-0856;
US--Ambassador Robert W. FERRAND; Embassy at Armit Street, Port
Moresby (mailing address is P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby); telephone
[675] 211-455 or 594, 654
_#_Flag: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper
triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the
lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered
_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and
the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a
subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mining of numerous
deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of
export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid
under World Bank auspices help sustain the economy.
_#_GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $725; real growth rate - 3.0% (1989
est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1989)
_#_Unemployment rate: 5% (1988)
_#_Budget: revenues $867 million; expenditures $873 million,
including capital expenditures of $119 million (1990 est.)
_#_Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);
commodities--gold, copper ore, coffee, cocoa, copra, palm oil,
timber, lobster;
partners--FRG, Japan, Australia, UK, Spain, US
_#_Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
commodities--machinery and transport equipment, fuels, food,
chemicals, consumer goods;
partners--Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand, UK
_#_External debt: $2.76 billion (December 1990)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 25% of
GDP
_#_Electricity: 397,000 kW capacity; 1,510 million kWh produced,
400 kWh per capita (1990)
_#_Industries: copra crushing, oil palm processing, plywood
processing, wood chip production, gold, silver, copper, construction,
tourism
_#_Agriculture: one-third of GDP; livelihood for 85% of population;
fertile soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a wide variety of
crops; cash crops--coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels; other
products--tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork;
net importer of food for urban centers
_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $6.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million
_#_Currency: kina (plural--kina); 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
_#_Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1--1.0549 (January 1991), 1.0467
(1990), 1.1685 (1989), 1.1538 (1988), 1.1012 (1987), 1.0296 (1986),
1.0000 (1985)
_#_Fiscal year: calendar year
_*_Communications
_#_Highways: 19,200 km total; 640 km paved, 10,960 km gravel, crushed
stone, or stabilized-soil surface, 7,600 km unimproved earth
_#_Inland waterways: 10,940 km
_#_Ports: Anewa Bay, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
_#_Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,711
GRT/34,682 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 combination
ore/oil, 2 bulk
_#_Civil air: about 15 major transport aircraft
_#_Airports: 567 total, 479 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
40 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
_#_Telecommunications: services are adequate and being improved;
facilities provide radiobroadcast, radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal
radio, aeronautical radio, and international radiocommunication services;
submarine cables extend to Australia and Guam; 51,700 telephones (1985);
stations--31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987); 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
station
_*_Defense Forces
_#_Branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy,
Air Force)
_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 983,175; 546,824 fit for
military service
_#_Defense expenditures: $42 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.)
_%_
_@_Paracel Islands
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: undetermined
_#_Comparative area: undetermined
_#_Land boundaries: none
_#_Coastline: 518 km
_#_Maritime claims: undetermined
_#_Disputes: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
_#_Climate: tropical
_#_Terrain: undetermined
_#_Natural resources: none
_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
_#_Environment: subject to typhoons
_#_Note: located 400 km east of Vietnam in the South China Sea
about one-third of the way between Vietnam and the Philippines
_*_People
_#_Population: no permanent inhabitants
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: none
_*_Economy
_#_Overview: no economic activity
_*_Communications
_#_Ports: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and
Duncan Island currently under expansion
_#_Airports: 1 on Woody Island
_*_Defense Forces
_#_Note: occupied by China
_%_
_@_Paraguay
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 406,750 km2; land area: 397,300 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly smaller than California
_#_Land boundaries: 3,920 km total; Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia
750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
_#_Coastline: none--landlocked
_#_Maritime claims: none--landlocked
_#_Disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of
Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined
_#_Climate: varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west
_#_Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay;
Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near
the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
_#_Natural resources: iron ore, manganese, limestone, hydropower,
timber
_#_Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and
pastures 39%; forest and woodland 35%; other 5%; includes irrigated
NEGL%
_#_Environment: local flooding in southeast (early September to June);
poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
_#_Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil
_*_People
_#_Population: 4,798,739 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun--Paraguayan(s); adjective--Paraguayan
_#_Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and
Indian 5%
_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations
_#_Language: Spanish (official) and Guarani
_#_Literacy: 90% (male 92%, female 88%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: 1,300,000; agriculture 44%, industry and commerce
34%, services 18%, government 4% (1986)
_#_Organized labor: about 2% of labor force
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Republic of Paraguay
_#_Type: republic
_#_Capital: Asuncion
_#_Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco,
Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu,
Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
_#_Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
_#_Constitution 25 August 1967
_#_Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French
codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice;
does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
_#_National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
_#_Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet),
Council of State
_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de
Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de
Diputados)
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia)
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. Andres
RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)
_#_Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, acting president;
Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Juan Manuel BENITEZ Florentin;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge Dario CRISTALDO;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO;
Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER
_#_Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60
_#_Elections:
President--last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held February 1993);
results--Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%;
Chamber of Senators--last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by
May 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1;
Chamber of Deputies--last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by
May 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, PL 1, PLR 1
_#_Communists: Oscar Creydt faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction
(both illegal); 3,000 to 4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in
Paraguay, very few are hard core; party beginning to return from exile is
small and deeply divided
_#_Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers (CUT);
Roman Catholic Church
_#_Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Marcos MARTINEZ MENDIETA;
Chancery at 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
(202) 483-6960 through 6962; there are Paraguayan Consulates General in
New Orleans and New York, and a Consulate in Houston;
US--Ambassador Jon GLASSMAN; Embassy at 1776 Avenida Mariscal
Lopez, Asuncion (mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO Miami
34036-0001); telephone [595] (21) 213-715
_#_Flag: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the
emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)
bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a
green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within
two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the
treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y
Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL
PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
_*_Economy
_#_Overview: The economy is predominantly agricultural. Agriculture,
including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GNP, employs about 45% of
the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay has no known
significant mineral or petroleum resources but does have a large
hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined
compared with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an
average annual rate of nearly 11%. During 1982-86 real GDP fell in three
of five years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and
foreign debt rose. Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the
economy were the completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather
for crops, and weak international commodity prices for agricultural
exports. In 1987 the economy experienced a minor recovery because of
improved weather conditions and stronger international prices for key
agricultural exports. The recovery continued through 1990, on the
strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. The government, however, must
follow through on promises of reforms needed to deal with escalating
inflation, large fiscal deficits, growing debt arrearages, and falling
reserves.
_#_GDP: $4.6 billion, per capita $1,000; real growth rate 3.5%
(1990 est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 44% (1990 est.)
_#_Unemployment rate: 12% (1989 est.)
_#_Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion,
including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991)
_#_Exports: $980 million (registered f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities--cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee,
tung oil, meat products;
partners--EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
_#_Imports: $1.4 billion (registered c.i.f., 1990 est.);
commodities--capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and
lubricants 19%, raw materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco
10%;
partners--Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
_#_External debt: $1.7 billion (1989 est.)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts
for 16% of GDP
_#_Electricity: 5,169,000 kW capacity; 15,144 million kWh produced,
3,250 kWh per capita (1990)
_#_Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
_#_Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash
crops--cotton, sugarcane; other crops--corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans,
cassava, fruits, and vegetables; animal products--beef, pork, eggs,
milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods
_#_Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed
for the US and Europe
_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $1.05 billion
_#_Currency: guarani (plural--guaranies);
1 guarani (0) = 100 centimos
_#_Exchange rates: guaranies (0) per US$1--1,204.5 (October 1989),
1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989), 339.17 (1986),
306.67 (1985)
_#_Fiscal year: calendar year
_*_Communications
_#_Railroads: 970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km
1.000-meter gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
_#_Highways: 21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and
19,698 km earth
_#_Inland waterways: 3,100 km
_#_Ports: Asuncion
_#_Merchant marine: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,743
GRT/22,954 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
(POL) tanker; note--1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
_#_Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft
_#_Airports: 851 total, 738 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 60 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m
_#_Telecommunications: principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity
microwave net; 78,300 telephones; stations--40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7
shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
_*_Defense Forces
_#_Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,130,690; 823,136 fit for
military service; 51,415 reach military age (17) annually
_#_Defense expenditures: $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)
_%_
_@_Peru
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 1,285,220 km2; land area: 1,280,000 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska
_#_Land boundaries: 6,940 km total; Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km,
Chile 160 km, Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
_#_Coastline: 2,414 km
_#_Maritime claims: