Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of
Australia and Australian law
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (acting) Graham NICHOLLS (since NA)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 1998 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine. In 1990, the mine was reopened by private
operators. Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built
a $45 million casino on Christmas Island.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: tourism 400 people, mining 100 people
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: NA
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: phosphate
Exports--partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: consumer goods
Imports--partners: principally Australia
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
note: external telephone and telex services are provided by Intelsat
satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 500 (1992)
Television broadcast stations: NA (1997)
Televisions: 350 (1992)
Transportation
Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Clipperton Island
-----------------
Geography
Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120
km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references: World
Area:
total: 7 sq km
land: 7 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 12 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C,
rains May-October
Terrain: coral atoll
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all coral)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: subject to tornadoes
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: reef about 8 km in circumference
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Clipperton
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Data code: IP
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by France
from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory
of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Although 115 species of fish have been
identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only
economic activity is a tuna fishing station.
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
-----------------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian
Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia
to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Area--comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about
nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the
year
Environment--current issues: fresh water resources are limited to
rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut
palms and other vegetation
People
Population: 636 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.21% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religions: Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)
Languages: English, Malay
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Data code: CK
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and
Territories
Government type: NA
Capital: West Island
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (acting) Maureen ELLIS (since NA)
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire
Council (NA seats)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the
sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export
earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food
supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be
imported from Australia.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society
Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage worker
operations; tourism employs others
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: copra products and tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: copra
Exports--partners: Australia
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs
Imports--partners: Australia
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with
Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of
NA type
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 300 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none; lagoon anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Colombia
--------
Introduction
Background: Colombia gained its independence from Spain in 1819.
Earlier than most countries in the area, it established traditions
of civilian government with regular, free elections. In recent
years, however, assassinations, widespread guerrilla activities, and
drug trafficking have severely disrupted normal public and private
activities.
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea,
between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Ecuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references: South America, Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and
Serranilla Bank
Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of
Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 7,408 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean
1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in
highlands
Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
Mountains, eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
nickel, gold, copper, emeralds
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 39%
forests and woodland: 48%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions;
occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil damage from
overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from
vehicle emissions
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography--note: only South American country with coastlines on
both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
People
Population: 39,309,422 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 6,556,566; female 6,402,115)
15-64 years: 62% (male 11,966,306; female 12,593,685)
65 years and over: 5% (male 807,282; female 983,468) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.85% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 24.45 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.48 years
male: 66.54 years
female: 74.54 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%,
mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia
Data code: CO
Government type: republic; executive branch dominates government
structure
Capital: Bogota
Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);
Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas,
Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca,
Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte
de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y
Providencia, Distrito Capital de Santa Fe de Bogota*, Santander,
Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution: 5 July 1991
Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled
after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of
executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
Vice President Gustavo BELL (since 7 August 1998); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
Vice President Gustavo BELL (since 7 August 1998); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); vice
president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new
procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice
presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held 31 May
1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)
election results: no candidate received more than 50% of the total
vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the
two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA
elected president; percent of vote--NA; Gustavo BELL elected vice
president; percent of vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of
the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara
de Representantes (161 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March
2002); House of Representatives--last held NA March 1998 (next to be
held NA March 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--PL 50%, PC 24%,
smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%; seats by
party--PL 51, PC 24, smaller parties 27; House of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--PL 52%, PC 17%, other 31%;
seats by party--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justical), highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from
the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are
selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for
eight-year terms; Constitutional Court, guards integrity and
supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws,
amendments to the constitution, and international treaties
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PL [Horaero
AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident
legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Political pressure groups and leaders: two largest insurgent
groups active in Colombia--Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or
FARC; and National Liberation Army or ELN
International organization participation: BCIE, CAN, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Washington, DC
consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: APO AA 34038
Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top,
double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which
is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the
center
Economy
Economy--overview: Colombia ended 1998 in recession with 0.2% GDP
growth due to a combination of low world oil prices, reduced export
demand, guerrilla violence, and diminished investment flows. The
Central Bank resorted to interest rate hikes and tight monetary
policy to defend the peso against pressure from Colombia's worsening
trade and fiscal deficits. President PASTRANA'S well-respected
financial team is working to deal with the myriad economic problems
the country faces, including the highest unemployment level in
decades and a fiscal deficit of close to 5% of GDP in 1998. The
government implemented austerity measures, declared emergency
measures to guard against a potential banking crisis resulting from
the country's economic slowdown, and is seeking international
assistance to fund a peace plan with the guerrillas. Guerrilla
violence and low world oil prices will likely continue to undermine
the economy in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$254.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.2% (1998)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 17.7% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 46.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 16.8 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%,
industry 24% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 15.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $26 billion (1996 est.)
expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and
footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate: -1.2% (1996)
Electricity--production: 53.725 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.26%
hydro: 80.74%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 53.857 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 132 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice,
tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest
products; shrimp
Exports: $11.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut
flowers
Exports--partners: US 38%, EU 23%, Andean Community 18%, Japan 3%
(1997)
Imports: $14.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: industrial equipment, transportation
equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels
Imports--partners: US 42%, EU 23%, Andean Community 14%, Japan 4%
(1997)
Debt--external: $18 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $40.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1--1,562.0 (February
1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83
(1995), 844.84 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.89 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system: modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 463, FM 35, shortwave 45 (1998 est.)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 60 (includes seven low-power
stations) (1997)
Televisions: 5.5 million (1993 est.)