3,059 km total; 2,454 1.000-meter gauge, 151 km 1.435-meter (standard)
gauge, 230 km dual gauge (three rails), and 224 km not restored to
service after war damage
Highways:
total:
85,000 km
paved:
9,400 km
unpaved:
gravel, improved earth 48,700 km; unimproved earth 26,900 km
Inland waterways:
17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by
vessels up to 1.8 meter draft
Pipelines:
petroleum products 150 km
Ports:
Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City
Merchant marine:
101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 460,225 GRT/741,231 DWT, bulk
3, cargo 86, oil tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1
Airports:
total:
100
usable:
100
with permanent-surface runways:
50
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
10
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
20
Telecommunications:
the inadequacies of the obsolete switching equipment and cable system
is a serious constraint on the business sector and on economic growth,
and restricts access to the international links that Vietnam has
established with most major countries; the telephone system is not
generally available for private use (25 telephones for each 10,000
persons); 3 satellite earth stations; broadcast stations - NA AM, 288
FM; 36 (77 repeaters) TV; about 2,500,000 TV receivers and 7,000,000
radio receivers in use (1991)
@Vietnam, Defense Forces
Branches:
People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) including:
Ground, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 18,281,483; fit for military service 11,602,318; reach
military age (17) annually 762,943 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GNP
@Virgin Islands
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Virgin Islands, Geography
Location:
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and
southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
352 sq km
land area:
349 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 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:
none
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity,
little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
26%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
47%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources
natural hazards:
rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts,
floods, earthquakes
international agreements:
NA
Note:
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for
the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater
harbors in the Caribbean
@Virgin Islands, People
Population:
97,564 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.52% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
19.41 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-19.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.29 years
male:
73.6 years
female:
77.2 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Virgin Islander(s)
adjective:
Virgin Islander
Ethnic divisions:
West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in
the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%;
black 80%, white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14%
Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
45,500 (1988)
by occupation:
tourism 70%
@Virgin Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form:
Virgin Islands
Digraph:
VQ
Type:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the
Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Constitution:
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
based on US
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice
President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant
Governor Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987); election last held 6
November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - Governor
Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) 56.5% defeated Juan LUIS
(independent) 38.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Senate:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) number of
seats by party NA
US House of Representatives:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994);
results - Ron DE LUGO reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total); seat
by party NA; note - the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the
US House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
US District Court:
handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age
and over), and federal cases
Territorial Court:
handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic,
misdemeanors, and traffic cases
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement
(ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
Member of:
ECLAC (associate), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large
blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an
olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a
superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue
panel
@Virgin Islands, Economy
Overview:
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70%
of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of
textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The
agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International
business and financial services are a small but growing component of
the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at
Saint Croix.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion (1987)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$11,000 (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$364.4 million
expenditures:
$364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Exports:
$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
refined petroleum products
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
Imports:
$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 12% (year NA); accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
380,000 kW
production:
565 million kWh
consumption per capita:
5,710 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Agriculture:
truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol
cattle
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $42 million
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
@Virgin Islands, Communications
Highways:
total:
856 km
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Saint Croix - Christiansted, Frederiksted; Saint Thomas - Long Bay,
Crown Bay, Red Hook; Saint John - Cruz Bay
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways :
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
note:
international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix
Telecommunications:
modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable,
microwave radio, and satellite facilities; 58,931 telephones; 98,000
radios; 63,000 TV sets in use; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV
(1988)
@Virgin Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
@Wake Island
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Wake Island, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km west of
Honolulu, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and the Northern
Mariana Islands
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
6.5 sq km
land area:
6.5 sq km
comparative area:
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
19.3 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:
claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano;
central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average
elevation less than 4 meters
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to occasional typhoons
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing
location for transpacific flights
@Wake Island, People
Population:
302 (July 1994 est.)
@Wake Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Wake Island
Digraph:
WQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force
(under an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since 24 June
1972; presently administered by Base Commander, Major James ANDEL
until August 1994, when Willis ALLEY will take over until July 1995
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
the US flag is used
@Wake Island, Economy
Overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military
personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity:
supplied by US military
@Wake Island, Communications
Ports:
none; because of the reefs, there are only two offshore anchorages for
large ships
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
satellite communications; 1 Autovon circuit off the Overseas Telephone
System (OTS); Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and
television service provided by satellite; broadcast station - closed
early 1992.
Note:
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US
military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space
and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches
@Wake Island, Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US
@Wallis and Futuna
Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of France)
@Wallis and Futuna, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean, 4,600 km southwest of
Honolulu, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
274 sq km
land area:
274 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
note:
includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile
Alofi, and 20 islets
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
129 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May
to October)
Terrain:
volcanic origin; low hills
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
5%
permanent crops:
20%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
75%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
both island groups have fringing reefs
@Wallis and Futuna, People
Population:
14,338 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.13% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.26 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-9.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
26.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.72 years
male:
71.08 years
female:
72.4 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.23 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective:
Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy:
all ages can read and write (1969)
total population:
50%
male:
50%
female:
51%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
@Wallis and Futuna, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form:
Wallis and Futuna
local long form:
Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form:
Wallis et Futuna
Digraph:
WF
Type:
overseas territory of France
Capital:
Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government:
High Administrator Philippe LEGRIX (since NA); President of the
Territorial Assembly Soane Noni UHILA (since NA March 1992)
cabinet:
Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed
by the high administrator on advice of the Territorial Assembly
note:
there are three traditional kings with limited powers
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale):
elections last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held NA March 1992);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL
5, UDF 4, UNF 4
French Senate:
elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1
French National Assembly:
elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992 (next to be held by NA
September 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1
total) MRG 1
Judicial branch:
none; justice generally administered under French law by the chief
administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary
law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour
la Democratie Francaise (UDF); Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement
des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG)
Member of:
FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (overseas territory of France)
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
@Wallis and Futuna, Economy
Overview:
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with
about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture
(coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About
4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from
French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and
South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in
New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food, fuel, clothing,
machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible,
consisting of copra and handicrafts.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $25 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$1,500 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$2.7 million
expenditures:
$2.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1983 est.)
Exports:
negligible
commodities:
copra, handicrafts
partners:
NA
Imports:
$13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel
partners:
France, Australia, New Zealand
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
1,200 kW
production:
1 million kWh
consumption per capita:
70 kWh (1990)
Industries:
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Agriculture:
dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro,
bananas, and herds of pigs and goats
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $118 million
Currency:
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 107.63
(January 1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0
(1990), 115.99 (1989); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the
French franc
Fiscal year:
NA
@Wallis and Futuna, Communications
Highways:
total:
120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20km)
paved:
16 km (on Il Uvea)
unpaved:
104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Inland waterways:
none
Ports:
Mata-Utu, Leava
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
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:
225 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
@Wallis and Futuna, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
@West Bank
Header
The war between Israel and Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in June 1967 ended
with Israel in control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza
Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew
from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to a 1979 peace treaty with Egypt.
The Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no later
than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.
@West Bank, Geography
Location:
Middle East, between Jordan and Israel
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total area:
5,860 sq km
land area:
5,640 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Delaware
note:
includes West Bank, East Jerusalem, Latrun Salient, Jerusalem No Man's
Land, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt.
Scopus
Land boundaries:
total 404 km, Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with interim status
subject to Israeli/Palestinian negotiations - final status to be
determined
Climate:
temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to
hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain:
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in
east
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
27%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
32%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
40%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal
aquifers; there are 200 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites
in the West Bank and 25 in East Jerusalem (April 1994)
@West Bank, People
Population:
1,443,790 (July 1994 est.)
note:
in addition, there are 110,500 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and
144,100 in East Jerusalem (1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.68% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
32.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.11 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
33.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
70.39 years
male:
68.88 years
female:
71.98 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.2 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
Palestinian Arab and other 88%, Jewish 12%
Religions:
Muslim 80% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12%, Christian and other 8%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew spoken by Israeli settlers, English widely understood
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry 14.5%, commerce,
restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9% (1991)
note:
excluding Jewish settlers
@West Bank, Government
Note:
Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arragements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer
certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and
subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim
self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A
transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho
has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement
on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. The DOP provides that Israel
will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external
security and for internal security and public order of settlements and
Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations
within five years.
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
West Bank
Digraph:
WE
@West Bank, Economy