Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA %
Budget:
revenues: $188 million
expenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116
million (1996)
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and
garments, salt mining, ship repair,
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes,
sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Exports: $43 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hides,
Exports--partners: Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Malaysia
Imports: $215 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial
products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports--partners: Portugal 25%, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US
Debt--external: $220 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $111.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1--96.400
(November 1998), 99.41 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853
(1995), 81.891 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,900 (1995 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog
and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine
fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997 est.)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,100 km
paved: 858 km
unpaved: 242 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,620 GRT/13,920 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (AF) (includes all armed force
elements, both ground and naval)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 84,018 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 47,672 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.8 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs
moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Cayman Islands
--------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly
one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 260 sq km
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October)
and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 69% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources;
drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: important location between Cuba and Central
America
People
Population: 39,335 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.66 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 78.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of
various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,
South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is
appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats,
three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--National Team coalition
9, independents 6
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk
centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a
pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing
the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE
HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy
Economy--overview: With no direct taxation, the islands are a
thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were
registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600
banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A
stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay,
accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency
earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and
caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals
exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About 90% of the islands'
food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one
of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards
of living in the world.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$930 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$24,500 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1997)
Labor force: 19,820 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%,
construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and
business managers 5.9% (1979)
Unemployment rate: 5.1% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance,
construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Exports: $2.65 million (1996)
Exports--commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports--partners: mostly US
Imports: $379.4 million (1996)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports--partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands
Antilles, Japan
Debt--external: $70 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--0.83 (3 November
1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4 (the four stations have a
total of six frequencies), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 406 km
paved: 304 km
unpaved: 102 km
Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,264,113 GRT/1,970,959
DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 11, container 4,
liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 22,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
countries among which are: Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark
2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug
transshipment
======================================================================
@Central African Republic
------------------------
Introduction
Background: In 1996, the country experienced three mutinies by
dissident elements of the armed forces, which demanded back pay as
well as political and military reforms. Subsequent violence between
the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living
conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the
government, destroyed many businesses in the capital, reduced tax
revenues, and exacerbated the government's problems in meeting
expenses. African peacekeepers restored order in 1997; in April 1998
the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA)
assumed responsibility for peacekeeping operations.
Geography
Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the
Congo
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 622,980 sq km
land: 622,980 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan
1,165 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered
hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern
areas; floods are common
Environment--current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching
has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife
refuges; desertification; deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People
Population: 3,444,951 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 757,422; female 749,289)
15-64 years: 53% (male 885,087; female 927,282)
65 years and over: 3% (male 56,309; female 69,562) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.28 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.46 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 103.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.19 years
male: 45.35 years
female: 49.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum
4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic
25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority
Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national
language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60%
male: 68.5%
female: 52.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
Data code: CT
Government type: republic
Capital: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
singular--prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures
economiques, singular--prefecture economique), and 1 commune**;
Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,
Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou,
Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*,
Vakaga
Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation
of the republic)
Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7
January 1995
Legal system: based on French law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since
January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE elected president; percent of
vote--PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms; note--there were 85 seats in the National Assembly
before the 1998 election)
elections: last held 22-23 November and NA December 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD
9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,
independents 6%; seats by party--MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 10, FPP 7, PSD
5, ADP 4, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7;
note--results of election are being contested
note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together
they are called the Congress or Congres
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed
by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Movement for Democracy and
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC
(observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there
is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
Economy--overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with
forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African
Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in
outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP.
Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the
diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic
development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor
transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy
of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the
currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had
mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and
cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in
1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in
1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a
drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel
military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political
representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and
reduced tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an
Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,640 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 53%
industry: 21%
services: 26% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 6% (1993)
Budget:
revenues: $638 million
expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888
million (1994 est.)
Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles,
footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 100 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 20%
hydro: 80%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 100 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca),
yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Exports: $182 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports--partners: Belgium-Luxembourg 36%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Spain
4%, Egypt 3%, France
Imports: $155 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products,
machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
Imports--partners: France 30%, Cote d'Ivoire 18%, Cameroon 11%,
Germany 4%, Japan
Debt--external: $930 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $172.2 million (1995); note?traditional
budget subsidies from France
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16,867 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3 (including Africa No. 1 and
R. France Internationale stations located in Bangui), shortwave 1
(1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 7,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 23,810 km
paved: 429 km
unpaved: 23,381 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of
shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
Ports and harbors: Bangui, Nola
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 49
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Central African Armed Forces (includes
Republican Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, National
Gendarmerie, Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 782,678 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 409,044 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $29 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Chad
----
Introduction