Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move
the economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy
to a more productive and flexible economy with market elements, but
still within the framework of monolithic Communist control. To this
end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility
in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the
authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted
a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light
manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and
investment. The result has been a strong surge in production,
particularly in agriculture in the early 1980s. Industry also has
posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and
opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern production
methods have helped spur production of both domestic and export goods.
Aggregate output has more than doubled since 1978. On the darker side,
the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst
results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of
capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has
periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals.
In 1992-93 annual growth of GDP has accelerated, particularly in the
coastal areas - to more than 10% annually according to official
claims. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional reforms
aimed at giving more play to market-oriented institutions and at
strengthening the center's control over the financial system. Popular
resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural
cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is
essential to the nation's long-term economic viability.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.61 trillion (1993 estimate
based on a 1990 figure from the UN International Comparison Program,
as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World
Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated by use of official
Chinese growth statistics for 1992 and 1993)
National product real growth rate:
13.4% (1993)
National product per capita:
$2,200 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17.6% (December 1993 over December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
2.3% in urban areas (1992); substantial underemployment
Budget:
deficit $15.6 billion (1993)
Exports:
$92 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
textiles, garments, footwear, toys, crude oil
partners:
Hong Kong, US, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Russia (1993)
Imports:
$104 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
rolled steel, motor vehicles, textile machinery, oil products
partners:
Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, Germany, South Korea (1993)
External debt:
$80 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 20.8% (1992)
Electricity:
capacity:
158,690,000 kW
production:
740 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
630 kWh (1992)
Industries:
iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles,
petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food
processing
Agriculture:
accounts for 26% of GNP; among the world's largest producers of rice,
potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, and pork; commercial
crops include cotton, other fibers, and oilseeds; produces variety of
livestock products; basically self-sufficient in food; fish catch of
13.35 million metric tons (including fresh water and pond raised)
(1991)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of opium; bulk of production is in Yunnan Province;
transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle
Economic aid:
donor:
to less developed countries (1970-89) $7 billion
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $220.7 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $13.5
billion
Currency:
1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
Exchange rates:
yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.7000 (January 1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146
(1992), 5.3234 (1991), 4.7832 (1990), 3.7651 (1989)
note:
beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the
midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's
prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@China, Communications
Railroads:
total about 64,000 km; 54,000 km of common carrier lines, of which
53,400 km are 1.435-meter gauge (standard) and 600 km are 1.000-meter
gauge (narrow); 11,200 km of standard gauge common carrier route are
double tracked and 6,900 km are electrified (1990); an additional
10,000 km of varying gauges (0.762 to 1.067-meter) are dedicated
industrial lines
Highways:
total:
1.029 million km
paved:
170,000 km
unpaved:
gravel/improved earth 648,000 km; unimproved earth 211,000 km (1990)
Inland waterways:
138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable
Pipelines:
crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km; natural gas 6,200 km
(1990)
Ports:
Dalian, Guangzhou, Huangpu, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Xingang,
Zhanjiang, Ningbo, Xiamen, Tanggu, Shantou
Merchant marine:
1,541 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,884,756 GRT/22,475,985
DWT, barge carrier 1, bulk 285, cargo 819, chemical tanker 13,
combination bulk 9, container 85, liquefied gas 4, multifunction/barge
carrier 1, oil tanker 192, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 25,
refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger
43, vehicle carrier 2
note:
China beneficially owns an additional 227 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling approximately 6,187,117 DWT that operate under Panamanian,
British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Saint
Vincent, Bahamian, and Romanian registry
Airports:
total:
330
usable:
330
with permanent-surface runways:
260
with runways over 3,659 m:
fewer than 10
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
90
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
200
Telecommunications:
domestic and international services are increasingly available for
private use; unevenly distributed internal system serves principal
cities, industrial centers, and most townships; 11,000,000 telephones
(December 1989); broadcast stations - 274 AM, unknown FM, 202 (2,050
repeaters) TV; more than 215 million radio receivers; 75 million TVs;
satellite earth stations - 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, and 55 domestic
@China, Defense Forces
Branches:
People's Liberation Army (PLA), PLA Navy (including Marines), PLA Air
Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missle force), People's
Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to
Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of
the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in war
time)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 347,458,052; fit for military service 192,546,413;
reach military age (18) annually 10,256,181 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
defense budget - 52.04 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1994 est.); note -
conversion of the defense budget into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results
@Christmas Island
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of Australia)
@Christmas Island, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, between Australia and
Indonesia
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
135 sq km
land area:
135 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
138.9 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Natural resources:
phosphate
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
almost completely surrounded by a reef
international agreements:
NA
Note:
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
@Christmas Island, People
Population:
973 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-9% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
NA
male:
NA
female:
NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
Nationality:
noun:
Christmas Islander(s)
adjective:
Christmas Island
Ethnic divisions:
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous
population
Religions:
Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%,
Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%,
Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown
4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)
Languages:
English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas
Island, Ltd.
@Christmas Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form:
Christmas Island
Digraph:
KT
Type:
territory of Australia
Capital:
The Settlement
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
NA
Constitution:
Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system:
under the authority of the governor general of Australia
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA)
cabinet:
Advisory Council
Legislative branch:
none
Judicial branch:
none
Political parties and leaders:
none
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
the flag of Australia is used
@Christmas Island, Economy
Overview:
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but
in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no
longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the
mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
phosphate
partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
consumer goods
partners:
principally Australia
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
11,000 kW
production:
30 million kWh
consumption per capita:
17,800 kWh (1990)
Industries:
phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Agriculture:
NA
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704,
(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@Christmas Island, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Flying Fish Cove
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 TV
@Christmas Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
@Clipperton Island
Header
Affiliation:
(possession of France)
@Clipperton Island, Geography
Location:
Middle America, in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of
Mexico
Map references:
World
Area:
total area:
7 sq km
land area:
7 sq km
comparative area:
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
11.1 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Mexico
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
coral atoll
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100% (all coral)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
reef about 8 km in circumference
@Clipperton Island, People
Population:
uninhabited
@Clipperton Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Clipperton Island
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ile Clipperton
former:
sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Digraph:
IP
Type:
French possession administered by France from French Polynesia by High
Commissioner of the Republic
Capital:
none; administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence:
none (possession of France)
@Clipperton Island, Economy
Overview:
The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.
@Clipperton Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
@Clipperton Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of Australia)
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 1,070 km southwest of
Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
14 sq km
land area:
14 sq km
comparative area:
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note:
includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months
of the year; moderate rain fall
Terrain:
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other
vegetation
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, People
Population:
598 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.98% (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Cocos Islander(s)
adjective:
Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:
West Island:
Europeans
Home Island:
Cocos Malays
Religions:
Sunni Muslims
Languages:
English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Digraph:
CK
Type:
territory of Australia
Capital:
West Island
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
NA
Constitution:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system:
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage:
NA
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA)
cabinet:
Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN bin Bynie
(since NA)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
the flag of Australia is used
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Economy
Overview:
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra
and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens
and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and
most other necessities must be imported from Australia.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
copra
partners:
Australia
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
foodstuffs
partners:
Australia
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
1,000 kW
production:
2 million kWh
consumption per capita:
2,980 kWh (1990)
Industries:
copra products
Agriculture:
gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704
(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
none; lagoon anchorage only
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications via satellite with Australia; broadcast stations - 1
AM, no FM, no TV
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
@Colombia, Geography
Location:
Northern South America, between Panama and Venezuela
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones
of the World
Area:
total area:
1,138,910 sq km
land area:
1,038,700 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
note:
includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla
Bank
Land boundaries:
total 7,408 km, Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru
2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;
territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y
Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Climate:
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains,
eastern lowland plains
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
29%
forest and woodland:
49%
other:
16%
Irrigated land:
5,150 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides
natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; periodic droughts
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratified -
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Note:
only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific
Ocean and Caribbean Sea
@Colombia, People
Population:
35,577,556 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.77% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
22.64 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.75 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
28.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.1 years
male:
69.33 years
female:
74.95 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Colombian(s)
adjective:
Colombian
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%,
Indian 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
87%
male:
88%
female:
86%
Labor force:
12 million (1990)
by occupation:
services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
@Colombia, Government