total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season
(November to April)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central
plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 29%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and
sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes;
Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: smallest Central American country and only one
without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
People
Population: 5,839,079 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 1,091,500; female 1,044,658)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,612,847; female 1,786,318)
65 years and over: 5% (male 138,052; female 165,704) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.02 years
male: 66.7 years
female: 73.5 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.99 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups: mestizo 94%, Amerindian 5%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%
note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout
the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million
Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.5%
male: 73.5%
female: 69.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
Data code: ES
Government type: republic
Capital: San Salvador
Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango,
Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San
Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 20 December 1983
Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common
law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994);
Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June
1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 20 March
1994, with a run-off election held 24 April 1994 (next to be held 7
March 1999)
election results: Armando CALDERON Sol elected president; percent of
vote--Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas
(CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%;
because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election was
held and the results were as follows--Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA)
68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
note: in the election held 7 March 1999, Francisco FLORES elected
president, Carlos QUINTANILLA elected vice president (will take
office 1 June 1999); percent of vote--Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%,
Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN/USC) 29%, Ruben ZAMORA (CD) 8%, other parties
11%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%,
PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%,
other 0.8%; seats by party--ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3,
CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are
selected by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance or
MARTINEZ, president]
note: the Social Christian Union or USC is formed by the union of
the Social Christian Renovation Party or PRSC, the Unity Movement or
MU, and the MSN
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor organizations: National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or
CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Federation of
the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities,
or FESINCONTRANS; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Port Industry
Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Electrical Industry Union of El
Salvador or SIES; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL
business organizations: Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI;
Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; National
Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rene A. LEON
chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the
words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the
flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in
the white band--it features a triangle encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars
arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: In recent years inflation has fallen to
unprecedented levels, and exports have grown substantially. Even so,
El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its trade and
its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by
remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and
from external aid. El Salvador sustained damage from Hurricane
Mitch, but not as much as other Central American countries.
Inflation and the trade deficit are expected to rise somewhat as a
result.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 24%
services: 61% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 48.3% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.3% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998)
Labor force: 2.26 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%,
manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%,
transportation 6%, other 1%
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.75 billion
expenditures: $1.82 billion, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals,
fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 3.575 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 22.38%
hydro: 61.54%
nuclear: 0%
other: 16.08% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.547 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 60 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 32 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans,
oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp
Exports: $1.96 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: coffee, sugar; shrimp; textiles
Exports--partners: US, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica, Honduras
Imports: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital
goods, fuels
Imports--partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Japan
Debt--external: $2.6 billion (yearend 1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $391.7 million (1995); note?US has
committed $280 million in economic assistance to El Salvador for
1995-97 (excludes military aid)
Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of
period)--8.755 (January 1999-1995), 8.750 (1994)
note: as of 1 June 1990, the rate is based on the average of the
buying and selling rates, set on a weekly basis, for official
receipts and payments, imports of petroleum, and coffee exports;
prior to that date, a system of floating was in effect
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 350,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 80, shortwave 2
Radios: 1.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 700,000 (1997 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 602 km (single track; note--some sections abandoned, unusable,
or operating at reduced capacity)
narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 10,029 km
paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,043 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La
Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 86 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 65 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,393,986 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 884,093 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 65,224 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $105 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: demarcation of boundary with Honduras
defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has
not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ
decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the
maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an
earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be
required
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana
produced for local consumption
======================================================================
@Equatorial Guinea
-----------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 28,050 sq km
land: 28,050 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits
of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: violent windstorms, flash floods
Environment--current issues: tap water is not potable;
desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: insular and continental regions rather widely
separated
People
Population: 465,746 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 100,334; female 99,826)
15-64 years: 53% (male 118,248; female 129,777)
65 years and over: 4% (male 7,801; female 9,760) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.55% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: migration to Spain is a traditional and continuing factor;
between 80% and 90% of Equatorial Guinean nationals going to Spain
do not return
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 91.18 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.39 years
male: 52.03 years
female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni
(primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic,
pagan practices
Languages: Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English,
Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.5%
male: 89.6%
female: 68.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
former: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
Government type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
(the transition appears to have halted)
Capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur,
Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991;
amended January 1995
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA
April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel
OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for
Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term;
election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the
president
election results: President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98%
of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch: unicameral House of People's Representatives
or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDGE
68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE
opposition parties: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS
BOKESA, president]; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD
mayor of Malabo]; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence or CSDP
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer),
OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
chancery: 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US
relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy
in Yaounde, Cameroon; the US State Department is considering opening
a Consulate Agency in Malabo
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of
arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and
five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton
tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ,
JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
Economy
Economy--overview: The discovery and exploitation of large oil
reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent
years. Several large oil companies are expected to bid on oil
licenses by May 1999. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major
components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although
pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for
hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under
successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for
agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the
World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the
government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the
most part, are owned by government officials and their family
members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore,
manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The country responded
favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$660 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,500 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 46%
industry: 33%
services: 21% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7
million (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 19 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.47%
hydro: 10.53%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 19 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava
(tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc (tapioca); livestock;
timber
Exports: $197 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum, timber, cocoa
Exports--partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, Spain 13%, China 13%, Nigeria
Imports: $248 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing,
machinery
Imports--partners: Cameroon 40%, Spain 18%, France 14%, US 8%
Debt--external: $254 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $33.8 million (1995)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) is used
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: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 2,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: poor system with adequate government services
domestic: NA
international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to
African and European countries; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,880 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 2,880 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,370 GRT/25,194 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention
Force, National Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 102,269 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 51,979 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.5 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon
because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay;
maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria because of disputed
jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea
======================================================================
@Eritrea
-------
Introduction