males: 62,098 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia;
Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of
southeastern Algeria
======================================================================
@Liechtenstein
-------------
Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic
variations based on elevation
People
Population: 32,057 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 3,076; female 2,949)
15-64 years: 70% (male 11,209; female 11,247)
65 years and over: 11% (male 1,484; female 2,092) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.08% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.64 years
female: 80.69 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%,
other 4.9% (1996)
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1981 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Data code: LS
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden,
singular--Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken,
Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of
Liechtenstein established)
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und
zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15
December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2
February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL
8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior
Court or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald
International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have
an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in
routine diplomatic matters
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is
also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and
red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
Economy--overview: Despite its small size and limited natural
resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial
service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of
its large European neighbors. Low business taxes--the maximum tax
rate is 18%--and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700
holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal
offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The
country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses
the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90%
of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein is a member of the
European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The
government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those
of an integrated Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$730 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,000 (1998 est.)
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): 0.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute
from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
Labor force--by occupation: industry, trade, and building 45%,
services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2%
(1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $455 million
expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1995)
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: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock,
dairy products
Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)
Exports--commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products,
stamps, hardware, pottery
Exports--partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland
15.7%) (1995)
Imports: $917.3 million (1996)
Imports--commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles,
foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports--partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Debt--external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per
US$1--1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360
(1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,857 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
relay
Radio broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station in Triesen
note: linked to Swiss networks
Radios: 12,134 (1996)
Television broadcast stations: NA (linked to Swiss networks)
(1997)
Televisions: 11,785 (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 18.5 km; note--owned, operated, and included in statistics of
Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Highways:
total: 250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims 1,600 sq km of property in the
Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech
Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February
1948, when the communists seized power
======================================================================
@Lithuania
---------
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: 65,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 99 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet,
moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 3,584,966 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 365,149; female 350,070)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,156,161; female 1,239,145)
65 years and over: 13% (male 160,963; female 313,478) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.58 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.96 years
male: 62.91 years
female: 75.31 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%,
Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%
Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran,
Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam,
Judaism
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular--rajonas)
and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,
Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*,
Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko
Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu
Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos
Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*,
Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa*
Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio
Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas,
Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku
Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes
Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas,
Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas,
Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus
Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)
head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of
the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of
vote--Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats,
71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by
proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be
held NA October 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--TS 69,
LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH
embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top),
green, and red
Economy
Economy--overview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined
approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and
monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped
constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 5.1%,
and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997 and 4.5% in 1998. Foreign
direct investment and the privatization program maintained their
momentum in 1998. However, the current account deficit has hovered
around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995--the result of greater
demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports. Reducing
this deficit is the immediate economic challenge for 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,900 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 32%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.8 million
Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 42%,
agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (January 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors,
television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining,
shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food
processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment,
electronic components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 14.51 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 9.65%
hydro: 3.03%
nuclear: 87.32%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 9.58 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 5.23 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax,
vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, mineral
products 16%, textiles 15%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs 8% (1997)
Exports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 11%, Belarus 10%, Latvia
9%, Ukraine 9% (1997)
Imports: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 30%, mineral
products 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 8%, foodstuffs (1997)
Imports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 19%, Poland, Denmark,
Finland (1997)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $228.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Exchange rates: litai per US$1--4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May
1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.08 million (1998)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications and Informatics,
Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs oversee
Lithuania's telecommunications; the national operator is Lietuvos
Telomas; Internet is available
domestic: local--three cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
standards provide services nationwide; 80% of customers are on the
two GSM networks; 157,000 cellular customers; intercity--Lithuania is
close to completing its fiber-optic backbone consisting of two small
rings inside a larger ring
international: Lithuania has international fiber-optic connectivity
to Latvia, Poland, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1
Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: NA; note--93% of the population have TV, 30% have
cable or satellite dish, and 16% own VCRs (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,002 km
broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 68,161 km
paved: 60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,634 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 316,616 GRT/353,683 DWT
ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar
carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 71
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
(Skat)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 906,687 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 713,436 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 26,168 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $181 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights);
1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit
drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to
Western Europe and Scandinavia
======================================================================
@Luxembourg
----------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow
valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope
down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Burgplatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (including Belgium (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: air and water pollution in urban areas
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 429,080 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 39,701; female 37,998)
15-64 years: 67% (male 146,336; female 140,717)
65 years and over: 15% (male 26,201; female 38,127) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.88% (1999 est.)