peninsula, including Rome, for about a thousand years, until 1870. A
dispute between a series of popes and Italy was settled in 1929 by
treaties that recognized the Vatican City as an independent
sovereignty and gave Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. The
US established formal diplomatic relationships with the Vatican in
1984. Present issues in the Vatican concern the ill health of Pope
John Paul II, who turns 79 on 20 May 1999, inter-religious dialogue
and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era
of rapid change. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Roman
Catholic faith.
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May)
with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography--note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy;
world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in
Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy
extraterritorial rights
People
Population: 870 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss, other
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Data code: VT
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital: Vatican City
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22
October (1978)
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March
1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal
SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death
of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive of
influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat,
IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and
white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter
centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported
financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman
Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and
tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of
publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are
comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who
work in the city of Rome.
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards,
and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Budget:
revenues: $175.5 million
expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994)
Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics
and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity--production: 0 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; note?electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,688.7 (January
1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9
(1995), 1,612.4 (1994); note--the Vatican lira is at par with the
Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1996)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 862 m; note--connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint
Peter's station
narrow gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge
Highways: none; all city streets
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss
Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Honduras
--------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 112,090 sq km
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
922 km
Coastline: 820 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron
ore, antimony, coal, fish
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes;
damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
Environment--current issues: urban population expanding;
deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for
agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion
hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices
such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago
de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) as well as
several rivers and streams with heavy metals; severe Hurricane Mitch
damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 5,997,327 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 1,262,190; female 1,217,752)
15-64 years: 55% (male 1,643,550; female 1,665,666)
65 years and over: 4% (male 98,715; female 109,454) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.24% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.46 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.68 years
male: 63.16 years
female: 66.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%,
Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
local short form: Honduras
Data code: HO
Government type: republic
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa);
Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso,
Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La
Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some
influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27
January 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since
27 January 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 30 November 1997 (next to be held NA November
2001)
election results: Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse elected president;
percent of vote--Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (PLH) 53%, Nora de
MELGAR (PNH) 42%, other 5%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 November 1997 (next to be held November
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--PLH 50%, PNH 42%, PINU-SD
4%, PDCH 2%, other 2%; seats by party--PLH 70, PNH 55, PINU-SD 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National
Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PLH [Raphael
MELGAR, president]; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association of
Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
or COHEP; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; National Union
of Campesinos or UNC; General Workers Confederation or CGT; United
Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH; Committee for the Defense of
Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Coordinating Committee of Popular
Organizations or CCOP
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X
pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members
of the former Federal Republic of Central America--Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of
El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a
triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998,
Honduras had been pursuing a moderate economic reform program and
had posted strong annual growth numbers. The storm has dramatically
changed economic forecasts for Honduras, one of the poorest
countries in Central America and the hardest hit by Mitch. Honduras
sustained approximately $3 billion in damages and will probably see
GDP shrink by 2% in 1999 and unemployment rise. Hardest hit was the
all-important agricultural sector, which is responsible for the
majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to
balloon in 1999 to $445 million. However, significant aid has helped
to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have offered substantial debt relief, and Tegucigalpa is
currently under consideration for inclusion in the IMF-World Bank
Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). Additional
financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch
level.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$14.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 19%
services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 42.1% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 37%, services 39%,
industry 24% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% (1997); underemployed 30% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $655 million
expenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150
million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1992 est.)
Electricity--production: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 12.09%
hydro: 87.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 2.734 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 4 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber;
shrimp
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals,
meat, lumber
Exports--partners: US 54%, Germany 7%, Belgium 5%, Japan 4%, Spain
3% (1995)
Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods,
fuel and oil, foodstuffs
Imports--partners: US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%,
Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)
Debt--external: $4.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid--recipient: $418.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)--13.8076
(December 1998), 13.8076 (1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996),
10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 105,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: inadequate system
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 2.115 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are 17
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 595 km
narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km
0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 14,173 km
paved: 3,126 km
unpaved: 11,047 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San
Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine:
total: 247 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 555,534 GRT/730,602 DWT
ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 157, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 4,
refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger
5, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 6 ships, Vietnam
1, Singapore 3, North Korea 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 122 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 111
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 87 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,455,053 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 866,492 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 69,646 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $33 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.6% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: demarcation of boundary with El Salvador
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; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs and narcotics;
illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used
principally for local consumption
======================================================================
@Hong Kong
---------
Introduction
Background: Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK
on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. Under the terms
of this agreement, China has promised that under its "one country,
two systems" formula its socialist economic system will not be
practiced in Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree
of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 1,092 sq km
land: 1,042 sq km
water: 50 sq km
Area--comparative: six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
border countries: China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and
rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 72% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment--current issues: air and water pollution from rapid
urbanization
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: more than 200 islands
People
Population: 6,847,125 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 644,982; female 598,188)
15-64 years: 71% (male 2,397,277; female 2,490,745)
65 years and over: 11% (male 323,949; female 391,984) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.9% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.91 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 81.85 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.2% (1996 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu
local short form: Xianggang
abbreviation: HK
Data code: HK
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of
China)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day, 1-2 October; note--1 July 1997 is
celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment
Day
Constitution: Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's
National People's Congress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for
permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the
past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 members
of functional constituencies and an 800-member Election Commission
drawn from broad regional groupings and other central government
bodies
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)
head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and
10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Anson
CHAN (since 29 November 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG
(since 7 March 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1
July 1997)
elections: NA