Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,388,643 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,716,285 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 165,670 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $155 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: delimitation of international boundaries
in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border
incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by
Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land
and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula and Lake Chad is
currently before the International Court of Justice
======================================================================
@Canada
------
Introduction
Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources,
from 1867 on Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while
retaining, even to the present day, certain formal ties to the
British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has
developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across
an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to
be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its
French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of
the country.
Geography
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 9,976,140 sq km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic
in north
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,950 m
Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 38% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious
obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky
Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic,
Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the
country's rain and snow
Environment--current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain
severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting,
coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on
agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming
contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry
activities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: second-largest country in world (after Russia);
strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route;
nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the
US/Canada border
People
Population: 31,006,347 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,105,944; female 2,960,171)
15-64 years: 68% (male 10,587,553; female 10,461,455)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,652,044; female 2,239,180) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.06% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.37 years
male: 76.12 years
female: 82.79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other
European 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%,
other 35% (1991)
Languages: English (official), French (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Data code: CA
Government type: federation with parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ottawa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*;
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince
Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution: 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the
machinery of the government was set up in the British North America
Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs
Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec,
where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Romeo Le BLANC (since 8 February
1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
1993)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among
the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a
five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party in the House of Commons is automatically designated
by the governor general to become prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of
the Senate or Senat (a body whose members are appointed to serve
until reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selected
on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104
senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301
seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Commons--last held 2 June 1997 (next to be held
by NA June 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Party 38%, Reform
Party 19%, Tories 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%,
other 2%; seats by party--Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc
Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative
Party 20, independents 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime
minister through the governor general
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN];
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), CP,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS,
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN
embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver
Flag description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white
(double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in
the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society,
Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented
economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards.
Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing,
mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a
largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Real
rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment
is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially
devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a
dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US.
With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern
capital plant Canada can anticipate solid economic prospects in the
future. The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and
French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the
federation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$688.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 31%
services: 66% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998)
Labor force: 15.8 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 16%,
construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 7.8% (December 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $121.3 billion
expenditures: $112.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7
billion (1998)
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products,
wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish
products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 549.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 20.34%
hydro: 63.59%
nuclear: 16.05%
other: 0.02% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 511.586 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 45.28 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 7.705 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits,
vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports: $210.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum,
telecommunications equipment
Exports--partners: US 81%, Japan 4%, UK, Germany, South Korea,
Netherlands, China (1997)
Imports: $202.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, crude oil,
chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods
Imports--partners: US 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico,
Taiwan, South Korea (1997)
Debt--external: $253 billion (1996)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $2.1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1--1.5192 (January
1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995),
1.3656 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 15.3 million (1990)
Telephone system: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
stations--5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 334, FM 35, shortwave 7 (one of the
shortwave stations, Radio Canada International, has six
transmitters, 48 frequencies, and broadcasts in seven languages; the
transmissions are relayed by repeaters in Europe and Asia) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 80 (in addition, there are many
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 11.53 million (1983 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 67,773 km; note--there are two major transcontinental freight
railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and
Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by
government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own
standard gauge: 67,773 km 1.435-m gauge (183 km electrified) (1996)
Highways:
total: 912,200 km
paved: 246,400 km (including 16,600 km of expressways)
unpaved: 665,800 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Ports and harbors: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax,
Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint
John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney,
Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine:
total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,489,110
GRT/2,205,274 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 56, cargo 11, chemical tanker
5, combination bulk 2, oil tanker 16, passenger 3, passenger-cargo
1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger
4, specialized tanker 1
note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
(1998 est.)
Airports: 1,395 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 515
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 154
914 to 1,523 m: 238
under 914 m: 91 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 880
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 353
under 914 m: 454 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 16 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces
Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC,
Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 8,243,859 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,061,937 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 210,884 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $7.1 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary disputes with the US
(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug
market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large
quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a
transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market
======================================================================
@Cape Verde
----------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references: World
Area:
total: 4,030 sq km
land: 4,030 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and
very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous
volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin,
fish
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
visibility; volcanically and seismically active
Environment--current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper
land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in
deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened
several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of
Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications
station; important sea and air refueling site
People
Population: 405,748 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 92,721; female 91,083)
15-64 years: 49% (male 92,658; female 104,264)
65 years and over: 6% (male 9,936; female 15,086) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.44% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 33.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 45.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.96 years
male: 67.66 years
female: 74.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.95 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs);
Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of creole Portuguese and
West African words)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.6%
male: 81.4%
female: 63.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
Data code: CV
Government type: republic
Capital: Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto
Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau,
Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts
(Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira
Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau,
Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
Legal system: derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22
March 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho
VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the
National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and
appointed by the president
election results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro elected president;
percent of vote--Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD
6%; seats by party--MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal
de Justia
Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy or MPD
Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
Flag description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top,
double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle
third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is
centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the
upper and lower blue bands
Economy
Economy--overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor
natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated
by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented,
with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost
70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural
areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1995 was only 8%, of which
fishing accounts for 1.5%. About 90% of food must be imported. The
fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited.
Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign
aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances constitute a
supplement to GDP of more than 20%. Economic reforms, launched by
the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the
private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the
economy. Prospects for 1999 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid
flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development
program.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$581 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,450 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 18%
services: 74% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%