Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean
region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector of
economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty free access to the US
and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico
since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Important industries
include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and
processed foods. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and
other livestock products as the main source of income in the
agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important
source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 3
million tourists in 1989. Unemployment remains a severe problem at
18%.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $26.8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$7,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$5.8 billion
expenditures:
$5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $258 million (1989
est.)
Exports:
$21.8 billion (1992)
commodities:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
concentrates, medical equipment, instruments
partners:
US 88.3% (1990)
Imports:
$14.8 billion (1992)
commodities:
chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
partners:
US 68.8% (1990)
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.2% (FY92)
Electricity:
capacity:
5,040,000 kW
production:
16.1 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
4,260 kWh (1992)
Industries:
manufacturing accounts for 55.5% of GDP: manufacturing of
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments;
tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for only 3% of labor force and less than 2% of GDP: crops -
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock - cattle,
chickens; imports a large share of food needs (1992)
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@Puerto Rico, Communications
Railroads:
96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger
railroads
Highways:
total:
13,762 km
paved:
13,762 km (1982)
Ports:
San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo
Airports:
total:
30
usable:
23
with permanent-surface runways:
19
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
5
Telecommunications:
modern system, integrated with that of the US by high capacity
submarine cable and INTELSAT with high-speed data capability; digital
telephone system with about 1 million lines; cellular telephone
service; broadcast stations - 50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV; cable television
available with US programs (1990)
@Puerto Rico, Defense Forces
Branches:
paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
@Qatar, Geography
Location:
Middle East, peninsula jutting into the central Persian Gulf, between
Iran and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
11,000 sq km
land area:
11,000 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime
boundary with Bahrain
Climate:
desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
5%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
95%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
limited freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale
desalination facilities
natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
international agreements:
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
deposits
@Qatar, People
Population:
512,779 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
18.83 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
3.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
10.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.64 years
male:
70.08 years
female:
75.09 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.74 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Qatari(s)
adjective:
Qatari
Ethnic divisions:
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
Muslim 95%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
total population:
76%
male:
77%
female:
72%
Labor force:
104,000 (85% non-Qatari in private sector) (1983)
@Qatar, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
State of Qatar
conventional short form:
Qatar
local long form:
Dawlat Qatar
local short form:
Qatar
Digraph:
QA
Type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Doha
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al
Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:
provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
Legal system:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil
codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal
matters
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February
1972); Crown Prince HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977;
son of Amir and Minister of Defense)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura):
constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body,
but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Faud Al Thani
chancery:
Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 338-0111
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH
embassy:
149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television
station), Doha
mailing address:
P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone:
(0974) 864701 through 864703
FAX:
(0974) 861669
Flag:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side
@Qatar, Economy
Overview:
Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for roughly 85% of
export earnings and 75% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of
3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels
for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to
the leading industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas
are becoming increasingly important.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-0.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$17,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$2.5 billion
expenditures:
$3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers
partners:
Japan 61%, Brazil 6%, South Korea 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 3% (1991)
Imports:
$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners:
Japan 14%, UK 12%, US 12%, Germany 9%, France 5% (1991)
External debt:
$1.5 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil
Electricity:
capacity:
1,596,000 kW
production:
4.818 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
9,655 kWh (1992)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel
(rolls reinforcing bars for concrete construction), cement
Agriculture:
farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP; agricultural
area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing increasing in
importance; most food imported
Economic aid:
donor:
pledged in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88), $2.7 billion
Currency:
1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates:
Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Qatar, Communications
Highways:
total:
1,500 km
paved:
1,000 km
unpaved:
gravel, natural surface 500 km (est.)
Pipelines:
crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports:
Doha, Umm Sa'id, Halul Island
Merchant marine:
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 373,491 GRT/567,294 DWT,
container 4, cargo 11, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
modern system centered in Doha; 110,000 telephones; tropospheric
scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE;
submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast
stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV
@Qatar, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 217,538; fit for military service 114,468; reach
military age (18) annually 3,737 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA%, of GDP
@Reunion
Header
Affiliation:
(overseas department of France)
@Reunion, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 750 km east of
Madagascar
Map references:
World
Area:
total area:
2,510 sq km
land area:
2,500 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
201 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to
November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Natural resources:
fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
20%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
39%
Irrigated land:
60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
periodic, devastating cyclones
international agreements:
NA
@Reunion, People
Population:
652,857 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.03% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.14 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.07 years
male:
71 years
female:
77.29 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.78 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Reunionese
Ethnic divisions:
French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%
Languages:
French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population:
69%
male:
67%
female:
74%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
note:
63% of population of working age (1983)
@Reunion, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Department of Reunion
conventional short form:
Reunion
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ile de la Reunion
Digraph:
RE
Type:
overseas department of France
Capital:
Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government:
Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since NA)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
General Council:
elections last held 22 March 1991 (next to be held March 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total) seats by
party NA
Regional Council:
elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA March 1998);
results - UPF 25.6%, PCR 17.9%, PS 10.5%, Independent 33.4%, other
12.6%; seats - (45 total) Sudre 17, UPF 14, PCR 9, PS 5
French Senate:
elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total) RPR 1, FRA 1,
independent 1
French National Assembly:
elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1,
UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1; note - 5 members to the French National
Assembly who are voting members
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS; Union for French Democracy
(UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU;;
France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON; Reunion Communist
Party (PCR); Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU; Social
Democrats (CDS); other small parties
Member of:
FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
@Reunion, Economy
Overview:
The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has
been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it
accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the
development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which
recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion
between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for
the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are
substantially better off than other segments of the population, often
approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the
poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African
continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates
the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.5 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$3,900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
35% (February 1991)
Budget:
revenues:
$358 million
expenditures:
$914 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)
Exports:
$166 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%, lobster 3%,
vanilla and tea 1%
partners:
France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
Imports:
$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and
transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
partners:
France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
245,000 kW
production:
750 million kWh
consumption per capita:
1,230 kWh (1991)
Industries:
sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing handicraft items
Agriculture:
accounts for 30% of labor force; dominant sector of economy; cash
crops - sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco; food crops - tropical fruits,
vegetables, corn; imports large share of food needs
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $14.8 billion
Currency:
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993),
5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Reunion, Communications
Highways:
total:
2,800 km
paved:
2,200 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km
Ports:
Pointe des Galets
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
adequate system; modern open-wire and microwave network; principal
center Saint-Denis; radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar;
new microwave route to Mauritius; 85,900 telephones; broadcast
stations - 3 AM, 13 FM, 1 (18 repeaters) TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
earth station
@Reunion, Defense Forces
Branches:
French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 170,810; fit for military service 88,108; reach
military age (18) annually 5,867 (1994 est.)
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
@Romania, Geography
Location:
Balkan State, Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea between
Bulgaria and Ukraine
Map references:
Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
237,500 sq km
land area:
230,340 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total 2,508 km, Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362
km, Ukraine (south) 169 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
no official territorial claim by either Moldova or Romania, but
nationalists in Romania seek the merger of Moldova with Romania;
potential future dispute by Moldova and Romania against Ukraine over
former southern and northern Bessarabian areas
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny
summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on
the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian
Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Natural resources:
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
salt
Land use:
arable land:
43%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
28%
other:
7%
Irrigated land:
34,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south
from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
natural hazards:
earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and
climate promote landslides
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,
Moldova, and Ukraine
@Romania, People
Population:
23,181,415 (July 1994 est.)
note:
the Romanian census of January 1992 gives the population for that date
as 22.749 million; the government estimates that population declined
in 1993 by 0.3%
Population growth rate:
0.06% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
13.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.02 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.74 years
male:
68.81 years
female:
74.84 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.82 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Romanian(s)
adjective:
Romanian
Ethnic divisions:
Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat,
Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
Religions:
Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate),
Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
Languages:
Romanian, Hungarian, German
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)
total population:
98%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
10,945,700
by occupation:
industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)
@Romania, Government