Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli
military administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising
(intifadah). Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable
investment have been discouraged by a lack of local capital and
restrictive Israeli policies. Capital investment consists largely of
residential housing, not productive assets that would enable local
Palestinian firms to compete with Israeli industry. A major share of
GNP has traditionally been derived from remittances of workers
employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states. Such transfers from the
Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake of
the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West
Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have dropped
because of the decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states.
Israeli measures to curtail the intifadah also have added to
unemployment and lowered living standards. The area's economic
situation has worsened since Israel's partial closure of the
territories in 1993.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-7% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,050 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$43.4 million
expenditures:
$43.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)
Exports:
$175 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
olives, fruit, vegetables
partners:
Jordan, Israel
Imports:
$775 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
partners:
Jordan, Israel
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate -1% (1991); accounts for about 6% of GNP
Electricity:
power supplied by Israel
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap,
olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have
established some small-scale modern industries in the settlements and
industrial centers
Agriculture:
accounts for about 23% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits,
vegetables, beef, and dairy products
Economic aid:
$NA
Currency:
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) =
1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.9760 (February 1994), 2.8301
(1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989);
Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7019 (February 1994), 0.6928
(1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
@West Bank, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
note:
small road network, Israelis developing east-west axial highways to
service new settlements
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:
1
Telecommunications:
open-wire telephone system currently being upgraded; broadcast
stations - no AM, no FM, no TV
@West Bank, Defense Forces
Branches:
NA
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Western Sahara, Geography
Location:
Northern Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Morocco and
Mauritania
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
266,000 sq km
land area:
266,000 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
1,110 km
Maritime claims:
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes:
claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and
the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the
UN-administered cease-fire has been currently in effect since
September 1991
Climate:
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog
and heavy dew
Terrain:
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces
rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
81%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
sparse water and arable land
natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and
spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely
restricting visibility
international agreements:
NA
@Western Sahara, People
Population:
211,877 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.5% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
47.22 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
19.04 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
152.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
45.59 years
male:
44.66 years
female:
46.83 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.96 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective:
Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic divisions:
Arab, Berber
Religions:
Muslim
Languages:
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
12,000
by occupation:
animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
@Western Sahara, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Western Sahara
Digraph:
WI
Type:
legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved;
territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for
the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in
February 1976 formally proclaimed a government in exile of the Sahrawi
Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco
and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern
two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas,
abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to
occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted
administrative control; the Polisario's government in exile was seated
as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically,
until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991
Capital:
none
Administrative divisions:
none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Executive branch:
none
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none
US diplomatic representation:
none
@Western Sahara, Economy
Overview:
Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having
little rainfall, has a per capita GDP of roughly $300. Pastoral
nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining are the principal sources of
income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population
must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are
controlled by the Moroccan Government.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $60 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$300 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.)
commodities:
phosphates 62%
partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are
included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports:
$30 million (c.i.f., 1982 est.)
commodities:
fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are
included in overall Moroccan accounts
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
60,000 kW
production:
79 million kWh
consumption per capita:
425 kWh (1989)
Industries:
phosphate mining, fishing, handicrafts
Agriculture:
limited largely to subsistence agriculture; some barley is grown in
nondrought years; fruit and vegetables are grown in the few oases;
food imports are essential; camels, sheep, and goats are kept by the
nomadic natives; cash economy exists largely for the garrison forces
Economic aid:
$NA
Currency:
1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.669 (January 1994), 9.299 (1993),
8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989)
Fiscal year:
NA
@Western Sahara, Communications
Highways:
total:
6,200 km
unpaved:
gravel 1,450 km; improved, unimproved earth, tracks 4,750 km
Ports:
El Aaiun, Ad Dakhla
Airports:
total:
14
usable:
14
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
5
Telecommunications:
sparse and limited system; tied into Morocco's system by microwave
radio relay, troposcatter, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
stations linked to Rabat, Morocco; 2,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV
@Western Sahara, Defense Forces
Branches:
NA
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Western Samoa, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Polynesia, 4,300 km southwest of Honolulu in the South
Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
2,860 sq km
land area:
2,850 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in
interior
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land:
19%
permanent crops:
24%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
47%
other:
10%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
soil erosion
natural hazards:
subject to occasional typhoons; active volcanism
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
Law of the Sea
@Western Samoa, People
Population:
204,447 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.38% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
32.41 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.02 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
37 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.97 years
male:
65.59 years
female:
70.48 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.16 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Western Samoan(s)
adjective:
Western Samoan
Ethnic divisions:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian
blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions:
Christian 99.7% (about half of population associated with the London
Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic,
Methodist, Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
97%
Labor force:
38,000
by occupation:
agriculture 22,000 (1987 est.)
@Western Samoa, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Independent State of Western Samoa
conventional short form:
Western Samoa
Digraph:
WS
Type:
constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital:
Apia
Administrative divisions:
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga,
Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti,
Vaisigano
Independence:
1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered by New Zealand)
National holiday:
National Day, 1 June (1962)
Constitution:
1 January 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of
legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal, but only matai (head of family) are able
to run for the Legislative Assembly
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Chief Susuga Malietoa TANUMAFILI II (Co-Chief of State from 1 January
1962 until becoming sole Chief of State on 5 April 1963)
head of government:
Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the head of state with the prime minister's
advice
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Fono):
elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18,
independents 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman;
Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Neroni SLADE
chancery:
820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
(212) 599-6196 or 6197
FAX:
(212) 972-3970
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
the ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Western Samoa
embassy:
5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address:
P.O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone:
(685) 21-631
FAX:
(685) 22-030
Flag:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing
five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation
@Western Samoa, Economy
Overview:
Agriculture employs more than half of the labor force, contributes 50%
to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earnings
comes from the sale of coconut oil and copra. The economy depends on
emigrant remittances and foreign aid to support a level of imports
much greater than export earnings. Tourism has become the most
important growth industry, and construction of the first international
hotel is under way. The economy continued to falter in 1993, as
remittances and tourist earnings fell off. A fungal plant disease
severely damaged the taro crop, the primary food and export crop.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $400 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-4.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$95.3 million
expenditures:
$95.4 million, including capital expenditures of $41 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$5.7 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
coconut oil and cream, taro, copra, cocoa
partners:
New Zealand 34%, American Samoa 21%, Germany 18%, Australia 11%
Imports:
$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%
partners:
New Zealand 37%, Australia 25%, Japan 11%, Fiji 9%
External debt:
$83 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -0.3% (1992 est.); accounts for 16% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
29,000 kW
production:
45 million kWh
consumption per capita:
240 kWh (1990)
Industries:
timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Agriculture:
accounts for about 50% of GDP; coconuts, fruit (including bananas,
taro, yams)
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $18 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $306
million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million
Currency:
1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Exchange rates:
tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5920 (January 1994), 2.5681 (1993), 2.4655
(1992), 2.3975 (1991), 2.3095 (1990), 2.2686 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Western Samoa, Communications
Highways:
total:
2,042 km
paved:
375 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, earth 1,667 km
Ports:
Apia
Merchant marine:
1 roll on/roll off cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838
GRT/5,536 DWT
Airports:
total:
3
usable:
3
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:
7,500 telephones; 70,000 radios; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no
TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station
@Western Samoa, Defense Forces
Branches:
Department of Police and Prisons
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@World, Geography
Map references:
Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
510.072 million sq km
land area:
148.94 million sq km
water area:
361.132 million sq km
comparative area:
land area about 16 times the size of the US
note:
70.8% of the world is water, 29.2% is land
Land boundaries:
the land boundaries in the world total 250,883.64 km (not counting
shared boundaries twice)
Coastline:
356,000 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm claimed by most but can vary
continental shelf:
200-m depth claimed by most or to depth of exploitation, others claim
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm claimed by most but can vary
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm claimed by most but can vary
territorial sea:
12 nm claimed by most but can vary
note:
boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries
from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm; 42
nations and other areas that are landlocked include Afghanistan,
Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czech
Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali,
Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino,
Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
Climate:
two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow
temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropical
climates
Terrain:
highest elevation is Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and lowest depression
is the Dead Sea at 392 meters below sea level; greatest ocean depth is
the Marianas Trench at 10,924 meters
Natural resources:
the rapid using up of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of
forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species,
and the deterioration in air and water quality (especially in Eastern
Europe and the former USSR) pose serious long-term problems that
governments and peoples are only beginning to address
Land use:
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
24%
forest and woodland:
31%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution
(air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation
(overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil
degradation, soil depletion, erosion
natural hazards:
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural
disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)
international agreements:
20 selected international environmental agreements included under the
Environment entry for each country and in Appendix E: Selected
International Environmental Agreements
@World, People
Population:
5,643,289,771 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.5% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
65 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
62 years
male:
61 years
female:
64 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.1 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.);
total population:
82%
male:
68%
female:
75%
Labor force:
2.24 billion (1992)
by occupation:
NA
@World, Government
Digraph:
XX
Administrative divisions:
265 sovereign nations, dependent areas, other, and miscellaneous
entries
Legal system:
varies by individual country; 182 are parties to the United Nations
International Court of Justice (ICJ or World Court)
@World, Economy
Overview:
Real global output - gross world product (GWP) - rose roughly 2% in
1993, with results varying widely among regions and countries. Average
growth of 1% in the GDP of industrialized countries (57% of GWP in
1993) and average growth of 6% in the GDP of less developed countries
(37% of GWP) were partly offset by a further 10% drop in the GDP of
the former USSR/Eastern Europe area (now only 6% of GWP). Within the
industrialized world the US posted a 3% growth rate whereas both Japan
and the 12-member European Union (formerly the European Community) had
zero growth. With the notable exception of Japan at 2.5%, unemployment
was typically 6-11% in the industrial world. The US accounted for 22%
of GWP in 1993; Western Europe accounted for 22.5%; and Japan
accounted for 9%. These are the three "economic superpowers" which are
presumably destined to compete for mastery in international markets on
into the 21st century. As for the less developed countries, China,
India, and the Four Dragons--South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and
Singapore--once again posted good records; however, many other
countries, especially in Africa, continued to suffer from drought,
rapid population growth, inflation, and civil strife. Central Europe,
especially Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, made considerable
progress in moving toward "market-friendly" economies, whereas the 15
ex-Soviet countries typically experienced further declines in output
of 10-15%. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock
economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over
international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology.
Internally, the central government in a number of cases is losing
control over resources as separatist regional movements - typically
based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in the successor states of
the former Soviet Union, in former Yugoslavia, and in India. In
Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of
channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase
investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition
of nearly 100 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe
is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification,
underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own internal
problems, the industrialized countries have inadequate resources to
deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least
from the economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized.
(For the specific economic problems of each country, see the
individual country entries in this volume.)
National product:
GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power equivalent - $29 trillion
(1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
2% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,200 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
developed countries:
5% (1993 est.)
developing countries:
50% (1993 est.)
note:
these figures vary widely in individual cases
Unemployment rate:
developed countries typically 6%-11%; developing countries, extensive
unemployment and underemployment (1993)
Exports:
$3.64 trillion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
partners:
in value, about 75% of exports from the developed countries
Imports:
$3.82 trillion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
partners:
in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries
External debt:
$1 trillion for less developed countries (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
2,864,000,000 kW
production:
11.45 trillion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,150 kWh (1990)
Industries:
industry worldwide is dominated by the onrush of technology,
especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines
and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD
nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in
rapidly adjusting to these technological forces, and the technological
gap between the industrial nations and the less-developed countries
continues to widen; the rapid development of new industrial (and
agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental
problems
Agriculture:
the production of major food crops has increased substantially in the
last 20 years; the annual production of cereals, for instance, has
risen by 50%, from about 1.2 billion metric tons to about 1.8 billion
metric tons; production increases have resulted mainly from increased
yields rather than increases in planted areas; while global production
is sufficient for aggregate demand, about one-fifth of the world's
population remains malnourished, primarily because local production
cannot adequately provide for large and rapidly growing populations,
which are too poor to pay for food imports; conditions are especially
bad in Africa where drought in recent years has intensified the
consequences of overpopulation
Economic aid:
$NA
@World, Communications