Coastline: 14.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy
Terrain: very low
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 100%
other: 0%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation,
coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll
Data code: LQ
Dependency status: incorporated territory of the US; privately
owned, but administered from Washington, DC by the Office of Insular
Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World
War II are unserviceable and overgrown
Ports and harbors: West Lagoon
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
note: some overgrowth of vegetation on runway but still serviceable
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Panama
------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season
(May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected,
upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 27% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: water pollution from agricultural
runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain
forest; land degradation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus
forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls
Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with
North Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 2,778,526 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 446,792; female 429,811)
15-64 years: 63% (male 882,541; female 859,455)
65 years and over: 5% (male 76,648; female 83,279) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.69 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.22 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.66 years
male: 71.91 years
female: 77.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.54 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%,
Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 90.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
Data code: PM
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Panama
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro,
Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San
Blas*, Veraguas, and a new, as yet unnamed territory* or comarca
created 7 March 1997 when President PEREZ BALLADARES signed a bill
designating a reserve stretched across three provinces
Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent
from Spain 28 November 1821)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
September 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
September 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994
(next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president;
percent of vote--Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO
DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES
(MOLIRENA) 16%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRD
32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PLN 2, PDC
1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior
courts; three courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of
Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian
Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic
of Panama or CTRP
International organization participation: CAN (associate), CCC,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Simon FERRO
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
Flag description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top
quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in
the center and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist
side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Because of its key geographic location,
Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking,
commerce, and tourism. Since taking office in 1994, President PEREZ
BALLADARES has advanced an economic reform program designed to
liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize
state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage job
creation through labor code reform. The government privatized its
two remaining ports along the Panama Canal in 1997 and approved the
sale of the railroad in early 1998. It also plans to sell other
assets, including the electric company. Panama joined the World
Trade Organization (WTrO) and approved a tariff reduction that will
give the country the lowest average tariff rates in Latin America. A
banking reform law was approved by the legislature in early 1998.
The most important sectors driving growth have been the Panama Canal
and other shipping and port activities.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$19.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 18%
services: 74% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.5% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)
Labor force: 1.044 million (1997 est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Labor force--by occupation: government and community services
31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce,
restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining 9.4%,
construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance,
insurance, and real estate 4.3%
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.4 billion
expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $341
million (1997 est.)
Industries: construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and
other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 3.55 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.58%
hydro: 70.42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.488 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 157 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 95 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane,
vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Exports: $6.68 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing
5%, coffee 2%
Exports--partners: US 37%, EU, Central America and Caribbean
Imports: $7.38 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs
9%, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 48%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan
Debt--external: $7.26 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $197.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1--1.000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 273,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: domestic and international facilities well
developed
domestic: NA
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American
Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 564,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9 (in addition, there are 17
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 420,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 355 km
broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 11,100 km
paved: 3,730 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,370 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km
Panama Canal
Pipelines: crude oil 130 km
Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part
of Colon area), Vacamonte
Merchant marine:
total: 4,632 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 98,433,972
GRT/149,800,820 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1,335, cargo 1,028, chemical tanker 288,
combination bulk 68, combination ore/oil 15, container 507,
liquefied gas tanker 176, livestock carrier 9, multifunction
large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 498, passenger 41, passenger-cargo
5, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 312, roll-on/roll-off cargo
102, short-sea passenger 40, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier
177
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71
countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244,
South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116,
Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)
Airports: 110 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 22 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 67
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 50 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: an amendment to the Constitution abolished the
armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public
Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime
Service, and National Air Service)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 746,910 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 511,866 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $132 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997)
Military--note: in October 1994, a month after President PEREZ
BALLADARES assumed office, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a
constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing
military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of a
"special police force" to counter acts of "external aggression"
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major
drug-money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation;
monitoring of financial transactions is improving
======================================================================
@Papua New Guinea
----------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the
eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and
the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March),
southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling
foothills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber,
oil, fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 0.1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 92.9%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific
"Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes
severe earthquakes; mud slides
Environment--current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation
as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber;
pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one
of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
People
Population: 4,705,126 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 951,532; female 902,841)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,411,053; female 1,298,937)
65 years and over: 3% (male 64,101; female 76,662) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.26% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 32.04 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.47 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 55.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.47 years
male: 57.58 years
female: 59.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.17 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian,
Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant
sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread,
Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.2%
male: 81%
female: 62.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
Data code: PP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central,
Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf,
Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland,
Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands,
West New Britain
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered
UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: 16 September 1975
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bill SKATE (since 22 July 1997);
Deputy Prime Minister Iairo LASARO (since 20 October 1998)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and
deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to
five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament--sometimes
referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats--89 elected from open
electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%,
NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents
33%; seats by party--PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP
5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note--association with
political parties is very fluid
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive
Council after consultation with the minister responsible for
justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal
Services Commission
Political parties and leaders: Bougainville Unity Alliance or BUA
MUMURIK]
International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN
(observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side
corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of
paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five white
five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered
Economy
Economy--overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain
and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides
a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral
deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export
earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under
World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port
Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a
structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was
successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, droughts caused by the El
Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee,
cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the
agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The
coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Despite problems with
drought, the year 1998 saw a small recovery in GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.2%
industry: 34.5%
services: 37.3% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (FY97/98 est.)
Labor force: 1.941 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)