lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 171,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe
especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy
rains (July and August)
Environment--current issues: water pollution from raw sewage,
industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh
water resources; a majority of the population does not have access
to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional
invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
People
Population: 138,123,359 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 29,423,876; female 27,763,774)
15-64 years: 55% (male 38,533,918; female 36,804,592)
65 years and over: 4% (male 2,768,942; female 2,828,257) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.18% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 33.51 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.45 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 91.86 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.38 years
male: 58.49 years
female: 60.3 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.73 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir
(immigrants from India and their descendants)
Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu,
and other 3%
Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant)
10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui
1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most
government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 50%
female: 24.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
Data code: PK
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Islamabad
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1
capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal
Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab,
Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of
the republic)
Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
amendments 30 December 1985
Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to
accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and
reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17
February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held no later than 1
January 2003); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected
prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3
February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Mohammad Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of
Parliament and provincial vote--NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected
prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora
consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by
provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the
members up for election every two years) and the National Assembly
(217 seats--10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March
1999); National Assembly--last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held
NA February 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J
2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National
Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PML/N 137, PPP
18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1,
independents 21, minorities 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by
the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'a) Court
Political parties and leaders:
government: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N
frequently shifting: Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or
Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella organization which
Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S, Tehrik-I-Jafria
Noorani faction or JUP/NO
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently;
subsequent to the election Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman
group or JUI/F was disbanded
Political pressure groups and leaders: military remains important
political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and
small merchants also influential
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO,
ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Riaz Hussain KHOKHAR
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William MILAM
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description: green with a vertical white band (symbolizing
the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white
crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: Pakistan continues to suffer through a damaging
foreign exchange crisis--stemming from years of loose fiscal policies
that have exacerbated inflation and allowed public debt to explode.
After accruing more than $1.5 billion in debt arrears in the first
six months of FY98/99, Pakistani officials approached multilateral
creditors requesting balance-of-payments relief and structural
support. In January 1999, Islamabad received more than $1 billion in
loans along with $3 billion in debt relief following the Finance
Minister DAR's pledge to implement an economic reform program to
reduce the budget deficit, deepen the financial sector, and broaden
the industrial base. Although the economy has shown signs of
improvement following implementation of some corrective measures,
Prime Minister SHARIF--historically--has failed to implement the tough
structural reforms necessary for sustained, longer-term growth. The
government must also cope with long-standing economic
vulnerabilities--inadequate infrastructure and low levels of literacy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$270 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 24.2%
industry: 26.4%
services: 49.4% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 34% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (FY97/98)
Labor force: 37.8 million (1998)
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 47%, mining and
manufacturing 17%, services 17%, other 19%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $10.8 billion
expenditures: $12 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97)
Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (FY97/98)
Electricity--production: 59.336 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 42.13%
nuclear: 0.57%
other: 0% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 59.336 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits,
vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Exports: $8.5 billion (FY97/98)
Exports--commodities: cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather,
carpets
Exports--partners: EU, US, Hong Kong, Japan
Imports: $10.1 billion (FY97/98)
Imports--commodities: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery,
transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals
Imports--partners: EU, Japan, US, China
Debt--external: $34 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $2 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1--46.000 (January
1999), 45.033 (1998), 41.086 (1997), 36.056 (1996), 31.623 (1995),
30.548 (1994); note--annual average of official rate; parallel market
rate is higher
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 2.828 million (1998)
Telephone system: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
major businesses have established their own private systems; since
1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges
(1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to
neighboring countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 3, shortwave 18 (1998 est.)
Radios: 10.2 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 22 (in addition, there are seven
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 2.08 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 224,774 km
paved: 128,121 km
unpaved: 96,653 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural
gas 4,044 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 384,304 GRT/619,668 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 15, container 3, oil tanker 1 (1998
est.)
Airports: 116 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 80
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces,
National Guard
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 33,496,712 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 20,519,762 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,553,310 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.48 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.4% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: status of Kashmir with India;
water-sharing problems with India over the Indus River (Wular
Barrage)
Illicit drugs: producer of illicit opium and hashish for the
international drug trade (poppy cultivation in 1998--3,030 hectares,
a 26% drop from 1997 because of eradication and alternative
development); limited center for processing Afghan heroin; key
transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets;
narcotics still move from Afghanistan into Baluchistan Province
======================================================================
@Palau
-----
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,
southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 458 sq km
land: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,519 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
extended fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main
island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large
barrier reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine
products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment--current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of
solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral
dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou
(Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island
groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
People
Population: 18,467 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 2,595; female 2,446)
15-64 years: 68% (male 6,867; female 5,675)
65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 468) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.94% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.55 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.74 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.75 years
male: 64.69 years
female: 70.98 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan,
and Melanesian races
Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists,
Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission,
and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the
population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)
Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states),
Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese
(in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in
the other 13 states)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Data code: PS
Government type: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1
October 1994
Capital: Koror
note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror
Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong,
Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island,
Peleliu, Sonsoral, Tobi
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Constitution: 1 January 1981
Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and
Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993)
and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November
1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of
vote--Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote--Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau
(OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular
vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House
of Delegates (16 seats--one from each state; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 2000); House of Delegates--last held 11 November 1996 (next
to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA; House of Delegates--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common
Pleas
Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp
BASILIUS]
International organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila);
Charge d'Affaires Allen E. NUGENT
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk
(representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence
agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the
work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The
population enjoys a per capita income of more than twice that of the
Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the
tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air
travel in the Pacific and the rising prosperity of leading East
Asian countries.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$160 million (1997 est.)
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP--real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,800 (1997 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): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 7%
Budget:
revenues: $52.9 million
expenditures: $59.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some
commercial fishing and agriculture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 85%
hydro: 15%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet
potatoes
Exports: $14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra,
handicrafts
Exports--partners: US, Japan
Imports: $72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: NA
Imports--partners: US
Debt--external: about $100 million (1989)
Economic aid--recipient: $155.8 million (1995); note?the Compact
of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the
UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, will provide Palau with up to $700
million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military
facilities
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 1,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 9,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 1,600 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km
Ports and harbors: Koror
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; under a
Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US
military is granted access to the islands for 50 years
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Palmyra Atoll
-------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 5 52 N, 162 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 11.9 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 20 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC