Southeastern Asia, between Indonesia and China
Map references:
Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
300,000 sq km
land area:
298,170 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
36,289 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by
1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area
in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
International disputes:
involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state
of Sabah
Climate:
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use:
arable land:
26%
permanent crops:
11%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
40%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; air pollution in Manila
natural hazards:
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six
cyclonic storms per year; subject to landslides, active volcanoes,
destructive earthquakes, tsunamis
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Tropical Timber
@Philippines, People
Population:
69,808,930 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.92% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
27.34 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
50.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.39 years
male:
62.88 years
female:
68.02 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.35 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Filipino(s)
adjective:
Philippine
Ethnic divisions:
Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Languages:
Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog), English (official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
90%
male:
90%
female:
90%
Labor force:
24.12 million
by occupation:
agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services 18.5%, government
10%, other 9.5% (1989)
@Philippines, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form:
Philippines
local long form:
Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form:
Pilipinas
Digraph:
RP
Type:
republic
Capital:
Manila
Administrative divisions:
72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan
del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*,
Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,
Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*,
Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*,
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz,
Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*,
Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao
Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*,
Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo
City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del
Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte,
Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque,
Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental,
Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental,
North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*,
Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga,
Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino,
Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San
Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor,
Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu,
Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,
Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,
Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
Independence:
4 July 1946 (from US)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)
Constitution:
2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992); Vice President
Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); election last held 11
May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998); results - Fidel
Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of votes, a narrow plurality
cabinet:
Executive Secretary; appointed by the president with the consent of
the Commission of Appointments
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Kongreso)
Senate (Senado):
elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May
1995); results - LDP 66%, NPC 20%, Lakas-NUCD 8%, Liberal 6%; seats -
(24 total) LDP 15, NPC 5, Lakas-NUCD 2, Liberal 1, Independent 1
House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan):
elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May
1995); results - LDP 43.5%; Lakas-NUCD 25%, NPC 23.5%, Liberal 5%, KBL
3%; seats - (200 total) LDP 87, NPC 45, Lakas-NUCD 41, Liberal 15, NP
6, KBL 3, Independent 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipinas,
Laban), Edgardo ESPIRITU; People Power-National Union of Christian
Democrats (Lakas ng Edsa, NUCD and Partido Lakas Tao, Lakas/NUCD);
Fidel V. RAMOS, President of the Republic, Raul MANGLAPUS, Jose de
VENECIA, secretary general; Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC),
Eduardo COJUANGCO; Liberal Party, Jovito SALONGA; People's Reform
Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; New Society Movement (Kilusan
Bagong Lipunan; KBL), Imelda MARCOS; Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador
H. LAUREL, president
Member of:
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
chancery:
1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 483-1414
FAX:
(202) 328-7614
consulate(s) general:
Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s):
San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE
embassy:
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address:
APO AP 96440
telephone:
[632] 521-7116
FAX:
[632] 522-4361
consulate(s) general:
Cebu
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white
equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the
triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing
three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small
yellow five-pointed star
@Philippines, Economy
Overview:
Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy failed to grow
in 1992 and rose only slightly in 1993. Drought and power supply
problems hampered production, while inadequate revenues prevented
government pump priming. Worker remittances helped to supplement GDP.
A marked increase in capital goods imports, particularly power
generating equipment, telecommunications equipment, and electronic
data processors, contributed to 20% import growth in both 1992 and
1993.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $171 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1.4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.6% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
9.2% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$11.5 billion
expenditures:
$13 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1994
est.)
Exports:
$11.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
electronics, textiles, coconut products, cooper, fish
partners:
US 39%, Japan 18%, Germany 5%, UK 5%, Hong Kong 5% (1992)
Imports:
$17.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products 10%
partners:
Japan 21%, US 18%, Taiwan 7%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Hong Kong 5%, South
Korea 5% (1992)
External debt:
$34.1 billion (September 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1% (1992 est.); accounts for 34% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
7,850,000 kW
production:
28 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
420 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing,
electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Agriculture:
accounts for about 20% of GDP and about 45% of labor force; major
crops - rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangos;
animal products - pork, eggs, beef; net exporter of farm products;
fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; growers
are producing more and better quality cannabis despite government
eradication efforts; transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound
for the US
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $7.9
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries
(1975-89), $123 million
Currency:
1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 27.725 (January 1994), 22.120 (1993),
25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Philippines, Communications
Railroads:
378 km operable on Luzon, 34% government owned (1982)
Highways:
total:
157,450 km
paved:
22,400 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 85,050 km; unimproved earth
50,000 km (1988)
Inland waterways:
3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
Pipelines:
petroleum products 357 km
Ports:
Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Subic
Bay
Merchant marine:
553 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,451,047 GRT/13,934,255 DWT,
bulk 241, cargo 145, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 10,
combination ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier
9, oil tanker 33, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo
27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier
35
note:
many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the register
for the purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their original
owners who are principally in Japan and Germany
Airports:
total:
270
usable:
238
with permanent-surface runways:
74
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
9
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
57
Telecommunications:
good international radio and submarine cable services; domestic and
interisland service adequate; 872,900 telephones; broadcast stations -
267 AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US); submarine
cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan;
satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT, and 11 domestic
@Philippines, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 17,668,781; fit for military service 12,479,312; reach
military age (20) annually 733,880 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $731 million, 1.4% of GNP (1992)
@Pitcairn Islands
Header
Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
@Pitcairn Islands, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between
Peru and New Zealand
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
47 sq km
land area:
47 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
51 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season
(November to March)
Terrain:
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Natural resources:
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land use:
arable land:
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to typhoons (especially November to March)
international agreements:
NA
@Pitcairn Islands, People
Population:
71 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.93% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
NA
Life expectancy at birth:
NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
Nationality:
noun:
Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective:
Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic divisions:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers
Religions:
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages:
English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
no business community in the usual sense; some public works;
subsistence farming and fishing
@Pitcairn Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form:
Pitcairn Islands
Digraph:
PC
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Adamstown
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
Constitution:
Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system:
local island by-laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High
Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the
Pitcairn Islands David Joseph MOSS (since NA September 1990);
Commissioner (non-resident) G.D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liason
person between the governor and the Island Council)
head of government:
Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since
NA)
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Island Council:
elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
Island Court
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield
featuring a yellow anchor
@Pitcairn Islands, Economy
Overview:
The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile
soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables,
including citrus, sugar cane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans.
Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of
revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of
handicrafts to passing ships.
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:
$430,000
expenditures:
$429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.)
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios
partners:
NA
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other
foodstuffs
partners:
NA
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
110 kW
production:
300,000 kWh
consumption per capita:
5,360 kWh (1990)
Industries:
postage stamp sales, handicrafts
Agriculture:
based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and
vegetables grown; must import grain products
Economic aid:
recipient:
ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
Currency:
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495
(1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Pitcairn Islands, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
6.4 km
unpaved:
earth 6.4 km
Ports:
Bounty Bay
Airports:
none
Telecommunications:
24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; broadcast
stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity
@Pitcairn Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Poland, Geography
Location:
Central Europe, between Germany and Belarus
Map references:
Asia, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of
the World
Area:
total area:
312,680 sq km
land area:
304,510 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km,
Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 444 km,
Ukraine 428 km
Coastline:
491 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent
precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain:
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Natural resources:
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt
Land use:
arable land:
46%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
28%
other:
12%
Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
forest damage due to air pollution; improper means for disposal of
large amounts of hazardous and industrial waste; severe water
pollution from industrial and municipal sources; severe air pollution
results from emissions of sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack
of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland, People
Population:
38,654,561 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.35% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
13.44 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.66 years
male:
68.64 years
female:
76.91 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Pole(s)
adjective:
Polish
Ethnic divisions:
Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990
est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox,
Protestant, and other 5%
Languages:
Polish
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
total population:
98%
male:
99%
female:
98%
Labor force:
17.329 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport,
and communications 14.7%, government and other 24.6% (1992)
@Poland, Government