14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991
(1994); note--krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed
rate of 8 to 1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 531,000 (1997)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system;
Internet services available throughout most of the country; about
150,000 unfilled subscriber requests
domestic: local--cellular phones services are growing and expanding
to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC;
intercity--Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone
(double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities
(1998)
international: foreign investment in the form of joint business
ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service; fiber-optic
cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide
packet switched service
Radio broadcast stations: 27 commercial broadcast stations, 1
government broadcast station (1997); note--by law 51% of shows must
be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all
candidates during elections by public and private stations
Radios: 1.12 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997); note--Ministry of Culture
administers television licensing; mainly Estonian, European, and
Russian programming; by law 51% of shows must be produced within the
EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections
by public and private stations
Televisions: 1.132 million (1997 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include
dedicated industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)
Highways:
total: 16,437 km
paved: 8,343 km (including 65 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,094 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 320 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu,
Tallinn
Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 337,163 GRT/348,749 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 5,
oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 6 (1998
est.)
Airports: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air
Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard,
Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and
border troops)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 349,263 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 274,276 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 10,503 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $70 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached
a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been
ratified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, and cocaine from Latin
America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; possible precursor
manufacturing and/or trafficking
======================================================================
@Ethiopia
--------
Introduction
Background: On 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of
MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa. A new
constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and
regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995.
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,127,127 sq km
land: 1,119,683 sq km
water: 7,444 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,311 km
border countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km,
Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by
Great Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Denakil -125 m
highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper,
potash, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 25%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley
susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: landlocked?entire coastline along the Red Sea was
lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993
People
Population: 59,680,383 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 13,787,810; female 13,703,546)
15-64 years: 51% (male 15,398,123; female 15,141,892)
65 years and over: 3% (male 745,737; female 903,275) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.16% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 21.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan, Kenya, and
Somalia for refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected
to continue slowly in 1998; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali
refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting in their own
countries, began returning to their homes in 1998
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 124.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 40.46 years
male: 39.22 years
female: 41.73 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist
12%, other 3%-8%
Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,
Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.5%
male: 45.5%
female: 25.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form: YeItyop'iya
abbreviation: FDRE
Data code: ET
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions: 9 states and 2 chartered cities*: Addis
Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumuz (Benishangul-Gumaz); Dire
Dawa*; Gambela (Gambella); Harari (Harar); Oromia (Oromiya); Somalia
(Somali); Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP);
Tigray (Tigre)
Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
oldest in the world--at least 2,000 years
National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of MENGISTU
regime)
Constitution: promulgated December 1994
Legal system: currently transitional mix of national and regional
courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994
constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995
(next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in
power following legislative elections
election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote
by the House of People's Representatives--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state
assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve
five-year terms)
elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May
and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA; note--EPRDF won
nearly all seats
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court; the president and vice
president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime
minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for
other federal judges, the prime minister submits candidates selected
by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the House of
People's Representatives for appointment
Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Political pressure groups and leaders: Oromo Liberation Front or
OLF; All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's
Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnically-based groups have
formed since former President MENGISTU'S defeat, including several
Islamic militant groups
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays
emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk
centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent
country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted
by other African countries upon independence that they became known
as the pan-African colors
Economy
Economy--overview: Ethiopia remains one of the least developed
countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which
accounts for more than half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total
employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The
agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor
cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security
conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs
from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but
less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is
considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is
implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the
economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads,
water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected
during years of civil strife. Renewed fighting with Eritrea dims
economic prospects for 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$32.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$560 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 12%
services: 33% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%,
government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415
million (FY96/97)
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals,
metals processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.32 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 7.58%
hydro: 87.12%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.3% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.32 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed,
sugarcane, potatoes; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $550 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: coffee, leather products, gold, oilseeds
(1995)
Exports--partners: Germany 26%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%, UK 8%,
Djibouti, Saudi Arabia (1996 est.)
Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and
petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles and
aircraft (1994)
Imports--partners: Italy 11%, US 11%, Germany 7%, Saudi Arabia 4%
(1996 est.)
Debt--external: $10 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $367 million (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period)--7.58 (January
1999), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994)
note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an
interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to
that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr
Fiscal year: 8 July--7 July
Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system
adequate for government use
domestic: open wire and microwave radio relay
international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio
relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 1
Radios: 9 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 25 (1998)
Televisions: 150,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to
revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals
Highways:
total: 28,500 km
paved: 4,275 km
unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by
agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa, but
since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the
port of Djibouti
Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,264 GRT/94,489 DWT
ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1998
est.)
Airports: 84 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the de jure
independence of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession and ships which belonged to the former Ethiopian
Navy and based at Djibouti have been sold
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 13,520,302 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,052,710 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 655,290 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $138 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: most of the southern half of the boundary
with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial
dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden; dispute over alignment of
boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still
unresolved despite arbitration efforts
Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest
and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well
as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat
(chat) for local use and regional export
======================================================================
@Europa Island
-------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel,
about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 22.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: wildlife sanctuary
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Europa
Data code: EU
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Communications
Communications--note: 1 meteorological station
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar
======================================================================
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
---------------------------------
Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
about 200 small islands
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain
occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year,
except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 99%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 1% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: deeply indented coast provides good natural
harbors; short growing season
People
Population: 2,758 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.43% (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 years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups: British
Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free
Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran,
Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Data code: FA
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by
Argentina
Government type: NA
Capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996;
to be replaced in May 1999 by Donald LAMONT); Chief Executive A. M.
GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats--8
elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is a nonresident
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white
disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms
contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity)
above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands)
with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Economy