males age 15-49: 793,814 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 26,046 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $562 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.05% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)
======================================================================
@Nicaragua
---------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 129,494 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone
continental shelf: natural prolongation
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central
interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by
volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc,
timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides,
and occasionally severe hurricanes
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
People
Population: 4,717,132 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,037,269; female 1,018,909)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,236,326; female 1,297,356)
65 years and over: 2% (male 54,706; female 72,566) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.04 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.08 years
male: 64.7 years
female: 69.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white
17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Languages: Spanish (official)
note: English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 65.7%
male: 64.6%
female: 66.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Data code: NU
Government type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones
autonomistas, singular--region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas,
Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 January 1987
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review
administrative acts
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997);
Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note--the
president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January
1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997);
note--the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October
1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--in July 1995 the term of the
office of the president was amended to five years
party]--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE
(PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other
candidates) remaining 4.33%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Alliance (ruling
party--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN
3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party--Liberal Alliance 42,
FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1,
UNO-96 Alliance 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected
for seven-year terms by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders:
OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC
Saavedra]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or
FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista
Workers Central or CST; Farm Workers Association or ATC; Health
Workers Federation or FETASALUD; National Union of Employees or UNE;
National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN; Union of
Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of
Professional Associations or CONAPRO; and the National Union of
Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT
is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions:
Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS; Autonomous Nicaraguan
Workers Central or CTN-A; Independent General Confederation of Labor
or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of
business groups
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, ITU, LAES, LAIA
(observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
666026, 666027, 666032, 666033
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 triangle encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
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
Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern
centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998,
Nicaragua had been pursuing a number of impressive economic reforms
and had begun to shed the legacy of a decade of civil war and
economic mismanagement by posting strong annual growth numbers. The
storm has put the reform effort on hold and has changed economic
forecasts for the foreseeable future--Nicaragua, the poorest country
in Central America was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane.
Nicaragua sustained approximately $1 billion in damages and will
probably see GDP growth slow by at least one percentage point in
1999. Hardest hit was the all-important agriculture sector, which is
responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade
deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to roughly $900 million.
Significant aid and relief have helped to stabilize the country. In
addition, the Paris Club and other creditors have offered
substantial debt relief. Nevertheless, additional financing will be
needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch condition.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 24%
services: 44% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 50.3% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.5 million
Labor force--by occupation: services 54%, agriculture 31%,
industry 15% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14%; underemployment 36% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $389 million
expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 48.95%
hydro: 21.02%
nuclear: 0%
other: 30.03% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice,
corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry,
dairy products
Exports: $704 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas
Exports--partners: US, Central America, Germany, Canada
Imports: $1.45 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment,
petroleum products
Imports--partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan
Debt--external: $6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $839.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1--11.14 (December
1998), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 66,810 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire
system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
domestic: wire and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3
Radios: 1.037 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 260,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Highways:
total: 16,382 km
paved: 1,818 km
unpaved: 14,564 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,
Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 184 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 171
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 143 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,108,146 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 681,495 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 53,508 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $26 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial disputes with Colombia over
the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;
with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de
Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the
disputants 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
Honduras
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US
======================================================================
@Niger
-----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,
Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to
rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates,
gold, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 88% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment--current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion;
deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as
elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of
poaching and habitat destruction
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the
Sea
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 9,962,242 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,445,536; female 2,346,844)
15-64 years: 50% (male 2,421,971; female 2,518,248)
65 years and over: 2% (male 121,253; female 108,390) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.95% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 52.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 22.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 112.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.96 years
male: 42.22 years
female: 41.7 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri
Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200
French expatriates
Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 13.6%
male: 20.9%
female: 6.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Data code: NG
Government type: republic
Capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements,
singular--departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district);
Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by
national referendum on 12 May 1996
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January
1996); note--the president is both chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28
January 1996); note--Ibrahim MAYAKI (since 27 November 1997) was
appointed prime minister by the president but does not exercise any
executive authority and is only the implementor of the president's
programs; the president is both chief of state and head of government
note: President Ibrahim BARE was assasinated on the 9 April 1999
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
last held 7-8 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--Ibrahim BARE
Mainassara initially became president when he ousted President
Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup on 27 January 1996 and subsequently
defeated him in the flawed election of July 1996
election results: percent of vote--Ibrahim BARE Mainassara 52.22%,
Mahamane OUSMANE 19.75%, Tandja MAMADOU 15.65%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU
7.60%, Moumouni AMADOU Djermakoye 4.77%
Legislative branch: two-chamber National Assembly; one chamber
with 83 seats (members elected by popular vote for five-year terms);
selection process for second chamber not established
elections: last held 23 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UNIRD
59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3,
MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2
Judicial branch: State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or
Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
TALBA, chairman]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or
MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya
Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives-Shamuwa or UPDP-Shamuwa
NA]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB,
WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles O. CECIL
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top),
white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun)
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has
a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation,
whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry,
reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export
since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in
January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the
products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on
bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public
investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural
adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank.
Short-term prospects depend largely on upcoming negotiations on debt
relief and extended aid.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$970 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 18%
services: 42% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.3% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1998)
Labor force: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce
6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $370 million (including $160 million from foreign sources)
expenditures: $370 million, including capital expenditures of $186
million (1998 est.)
Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals,
slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium
mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 170 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 365 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 195 million kWh (1996)
note: imports electricity from Nigeria
Agriculture--products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum,
cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys,
horses, poultry
Exports: $269 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: uranium ore 50%, livestock products 20%,
cowpeas, onions (1996 est.)
Exports--partners: Greece 21%, Canada 18%, France 12%, Nigeria 7%
(1996 est.)
Imports: $295 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, primary materials,
machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports--partners: France 17%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, US 5%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 4%, Nigeria (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $222 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 14,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: small system of wire, radiotelephone
communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in
southwestern area
domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio
relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 620,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are seven
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 105,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on
the Benin frontier from mid-December through March
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 27 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)