body of water between Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica
Map references:
Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
73.6 million sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than eight times the size of the US; third-largest ocean
(after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the
Arctic Ocean)
note:
includes Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of
Malacca, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel, and
other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
66,526 km
International disputes:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate:
northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to
October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November
in the north Indian Ocean and January/February in the south Indian
Ocean
Terrain:
surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of
currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface
currents in the north Indian Ocean, low atmospheric pressure over
southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest
monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high
pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in
the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents;
ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided
by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and
Ninety East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258 meters in the Java Trench
Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer
deposits, polymetallic nodules
Environment:
current issues:
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and
whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of
Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait;
ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near Antarctica
from May to October
@Indian Ocean, Government
Digraph:
XO
@Indian Ocean, Economy
Overview:
The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East,
Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a
particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from
the oil fields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of
great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic
consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, Korea, and
Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna.
Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas
of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western Australia. An estimated 40%
of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean.
Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are
actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South
Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Industries:
based on exploitation of natural resources, particularly fish,
minerals, oil and gas, fishing, sand and gravel
@Indian Ocean, Communications
Ports:
Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka),
Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia), Jakarta (Indonesia),
Melbourne (Australia), Richards Bay (South Africa)
Telecommunications:
submarine cables from India to United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, and
from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia
@Indonesia, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, between Malaysia and Australia
Map references:
Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,919,440 sq km
land area:
1,826,440 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total 2,602 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline:
54,716 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with
Portugal and not recognized by the UN; two islands in dispute with
Malaysia
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Natural resources:
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile
soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
67%
other:
15%
Irrigated land:
75,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air
pollution in urban areas
natural hazards:
occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Marine Life Conservation
Note:
archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles Equator;
strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean
to Pacific Ocean
@Indonesia, People
Population:
200,409,741 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.59% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
24.45 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
67.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
60.74 years
male:
58.7 years
female:
62.88 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.8 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Indonesian(s)
adjective:
Indonesian
Ethnic divisions:
Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other
26%
Religions:
Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%,
other 1% (1985)
Languages:
Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official), English, Dutch,
local dialects the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
77%
male:
84%
female:
68%
Labor force:
67 million
by occupation:
agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%, transport and
communications 3% (1985 est.)
@Indonesia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form:
Indonesia
local long form:
Republik Indonesia
local short form:
Indonesia
former name:
Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Digraph:
ID
Type:
republic
Capital:
Jakarta
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special
regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1
special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali,
Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah,
Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah,
Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara
Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara,
Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara,
Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*
Independence:
17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949,
Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Constitution:
August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional
Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous
concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968); Vice President
Gen. (Ret.) Try SUTRISNO (since 11 March 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral
House of Representatives:
(Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR) elections last held on 8 June 1992
(next to be held NA 1997); results - GOLKAR 68%, PPP 17%, PDI 15%;
seats - (500 total, 400 elected, 100 military representatives
appointed) GOLKAR 282, PPP 62, PDI 56
note:
the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or
MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected members who meet
every five years to elect the president and vice president and,
theoretically, to determine national policy
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)
Political parties and leaders:
GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen.
(Ret.) HARMOKO, general chairman; Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI -
federation of former Nationalist and Christian Parties), Megawati
SUKARNOPUTRI, chairman; Development Unity Party (PPP, federation of
former Islamic parties), Ismail Hasan METAREUM, chairman
Member of:
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Arifin SIREGAR
chancery:
2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 775-5200
FAX:
(202) 775-5365
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, New York, and Los Angeles
consulate(s):
San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert L. BARRY
embassy:
Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Box 1, Jakarta
mailing address:
APO AP 96520
telephone:
[62] (21) 360-360
FAX:
[62] (21) 386-2259
consulate(s):
Medan, Surabaya
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag
of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which
is white (top) and red
@Indonesia, Economy
Overview:
Indonesia is a mixed economy with some socialist institutions and
central planning but with a recent emphasis on deregulation and
private enterprise. Indonesia has extensive natural wealth, yet, with
a large and rapidly increasing population, it remains a poor country.
Real GDP growth in 1985-93 averaged about 6%, quite impressive, but
not sufficient to both slash underemployment and absorb the 2.3
million workers annually entering the labor force. Agriculture,
including forestry and fishing, is an important sector, accounting for
21% of GDP and over 50% of the labor force. The staple crop is rice.
Once the world's largest rice importer, Indonesia is now nearly
self-sufficient. Plantation crops - rubber and palm oil - and textiles
and plywood are being encouraged for both export and job generation.
Industrial output now accounts for almost 40% of GDP and is based on a
supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas,
timber, metals, and coal. Foreign investment has also boosted
manufacturing output and exports in recent years. Indeed, the
economy's growth is highly dependent on the continuing expansion of
nonoil exports. Japan remains Indonesia's most important customer and
supplier of aid. Rapid growth in the money supply in 1989-90 prompted
Jakarta to implement a tight monetary policy in 1991, forcing the
private sector to go to foreign banks for investment financing. Real
interest rates remained above 10% and off-shore commercial debt grew.
The growth in off-shore debt prompted Jakarta to limit foreign
borrowing beginning in late 1991. Despite the continued problems in
moving toward a more open financial system and the persistence of a
fairly tight credit situation, GDP growth in 1992 and 1993 has matched
the government target of 6%-7% annual growth.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $571 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3% official rate; underemployment 45% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$32.8 billion
expenditures:
$32.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $12.9 billion (FY95)
Exports:
$38.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum and gas 28%, clothing and fabrics 15%, plywood 11%, footwear
4% (1992)
partners:
Japan 32%, US 13%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 6% (1992)
Imports:
$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery 37%, semi-finished goods 16%, chemicals 14%, raw materials
10%, transport equipment 7%, food stuffs 6%, petroleum products 4%,
consumer goods 3% (1992)
partners:
Japan 22%, US 14%, Germany 8%, South Korea 7%, Singapore 6%, Australia
5%, Taiwan 5% (1992)
External debt:
$100 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11.6% (1989 est.); accounts 35% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
11,600,000 kW
production:
38 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
200 kWh (1990)
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement, chemical
fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber
Agriculture:
accounts for 21% of GDP; subsistence food production; small-holder and
plantation production for export; main products are rice, cassava,
peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, other tropical
products, poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade, but not
a major player; government actively eradicating plantings and
prosecuting traffickers
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $25.9
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $175 million
Currency:
1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)
Exchange rates:
Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,116.9 (January 1994), 2,087.1
(1993), 2,029.9 (1992), 1,950.3 (1991), 1,842.8 (1990), 1,770.1 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Indonesia, Communications
Railroads:
6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter gauge,
78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; all
government owned
Highways:
total:
119,500 km
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
undifferentiated:
provincial 34,180 km; district 73,508 km; state 11,812 km
Inland waterways:
21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan
10,460 km, Sulawesi 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural gas 1,703 km
(1989)
Ports:
Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Ujungpandang, Semarang,
Surabaya
Merchant marine:
430 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,893,830 GRT/2,768,294 DWT,
bulk 26, cargo 256, chemical tanker 7, container 11, liquefied gas 6,
livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 83, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 13,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 7,
vehicle carrier 4
Airports:
total:
444
usable:
414
with permanent-surface runways:
122
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
11
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
68
Telecommunications:
interisland microwave system and HF police net; domestic service fair,
international service good; radiobroadcast coverage good; 763,000
telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV; satellite
earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Pacific
Ocean INTELSAT earth station; and 1 domestic satellite communications
system
@Indonesia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 54,518,490; fit for military service 32,175,853; reach
military age (18) annually 2,201,295 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 1.5% of GNP (FY93/94 est.)
@Iran, Geography
Location:
Middle East, between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea
Map references:
Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1.648 million sq km
land area:
1.636 million sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total 5,440 km, Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan (north)
432 km, Azerbaijan (northwest) 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km,
Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline:
2,440 km
note:
Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
50 nm in the Gulf of Oman; continental shelf limit, continental shelf
boundaries, or median lines in the Persian Gulf
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still
trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes
from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation,
prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the
Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf
claimed by the UAE: Tunb as Sughra (Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek
(Persian) or Lesser Tunb, and Tunb al Kubra (Arabic), Jazireh-ye
Tonb-e Bozorg (Persian) or Greater Tunb; it jointly administers with
the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE, Abu Musa
(Arabic) or Jazireh-ye Abu Musa (Persian); in 1992 the dispute over
Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally
tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE
portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face
of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region; periodic
disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights
Climate:
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain:
rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains;
small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,
manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
27%
forest and woodland:
11%
other:
54%
Irrigated land:
57,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions,
refinery operations, and industry; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; shortages of
drinking water
natural hazards:
periodic droughts
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation
@Iran, People
Population:
65,615,474 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.46% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
42.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.83 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
60.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.66 years
male:
64.7 years
female:
66.68 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Iranian(s)
adjective:
Iranian
Ethnic divisions:
Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab
3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Shi'a Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and
Baha'i 1%
Languages:
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%,
Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
54%
male:
64%
female:
43%
Labor force:
15.4 million
by occupation:
agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
note:
shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)
@Iran, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form:
Iran
local long form:
Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form:
Iran
Digraph:
IR
Type:
theocratic republic
Capital:
Tehran
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan,
Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence:
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday:
Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution:
2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and
eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system:
the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
Suffrage:
15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
supreme leader and functional chief of state:
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since
4 June 1989); supreme leader (velayat-e faqih)
head of government:
President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3 August 1989); election
last held June 1993 (next to be held June-July 1997); results - Ali
Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of the vote
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; selected by the president with legislative
approval
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Islamic Consultative Assembly:
(Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami) elections last held 8 April 1992 (next to
be held April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(270 seats total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
there are at least 76 licensed parties; the three most important are -
Tehran Militant Clergy Association, Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI;
Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar
MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin Islam Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI
Other political or pressure groups:
groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Hizballah,
Hojjatiyeh Society, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim
Students Following the Line of the Imam; armed political groups that
have been almost completely repressed by the government include
Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Kurdish
Democratic Party; the Society for the Defense of Freedom
Member of:
CCC, CP, ESCAP, ECO, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy in Washington,
DC
chancery:
Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20007
telephone:
(202) 965-4990
US diplomatic representation:
protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the
national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red
is centered in the white band; Allah Alkbar (God is Great) in white
Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green
band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band
@Iran, Economy