@Saint Pierre and Miquelon
-------------------------
Geography
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 242 sq km
land: 242 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
Miquelon groups
Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn
are windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a
maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: vegetation scanty
People
Population: 6,966 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.75% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.13 years
male: 75.58 years
female: 79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%
Languages: French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and
Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Data code: SB
Dependency status: self-governing territorial collectivity of
France
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of
France)
note: there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by
the US Government, but there are two communes--Saint Pierre, Miquelon
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been
under French control since 1763)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local
conditions, such as housing and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Remi THUAU (since NA)
head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE
SOAVEC (since NA 1996)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is
elected by the members of the council
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(19 seats--15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are
elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA
April 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR
15, other 4
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal
Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS [leader NA];
International organization participation: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)
Flag description: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue
background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side,
a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red
with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a
white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part
has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a
red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one
on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official
occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their
livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off
the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however,
because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped
steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the
islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a
longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents
only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily
subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$74 million (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,000 (1996 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: 3,000 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 39 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 39 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports: $1.2 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts
Exports--partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal
(1990)
Imports: $60.5 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports--commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment,
machinery, building materials
Imports--partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3,650 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in
the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 3,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two
repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the
US) (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 114 km
paved: 69 km
unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
--------------------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 340 sq km
land: 340 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy
season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of
Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment--current issues: pollution of coastal waters and
shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents;
in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming
prohibitive
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: the administration of the islands of the
Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
and Grenada
People
Population: 120,519 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 18,160; female 17,524)
15-64 years: 65% (male 39,448; female 38,672)
65 years and over: 5% (male 2,762; female 3,953) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.43 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.8 years
male: 72.29 years
female: 75.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: black, white, East Indian, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day
Adventist
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
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 David JACK (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
1984)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15
elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives
are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDP 8,
ULP 7
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [James
Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C. A. LAYNE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold
(double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds
arranged in a V pattern
Economy
Economy--overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is
the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The
services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also
important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at
introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40%
continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the
biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped
out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism
sector has considerable potential for development over the next
decade. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the
construction sector and an improvement in tourism.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$289 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 17.5%
services: 71.9% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1996)
Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 17%,
services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $85.7 million
expenditures: $98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7
million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 67.74%
hydro: 32.26%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices;
small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports: $47.3 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro),
arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports--partners: Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)
Imports: $158.8 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports--partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)
Debt--external: $83.6 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $47.5 million (1995); note?Stabex (EU),
$34.5 million (1998)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 6,189 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines
international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to
Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;
access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20,600 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 720 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kingstown
Merchant marine:
total: 814 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,726,930
GRT/11,835,144 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 138, cargo 402, chemical tanker
26, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 7, container 47,
liquefied gas tanker 3, livestock carrier 4, multifunction
large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 64, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo
40, roll-on/roll-off cargo 51, short-sea passenger 10, specialized
tanker 5, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20
countries among which are Croatia 17, Slovenia 7, China 5, Greece 5,
UAE 3, Norway 2, Japan 2, and Ukraine 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police
Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Samoa
-----
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 2,860 sq km
land: 2,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season
(May to October)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged
mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 24%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment--current issues: soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 229,979 (July 1999 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 162,000
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 45,647; female 44,141)
15-64 years: 57% (male 68,054; female 62,612)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,477; female 5,048) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 28.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.43 years
female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European
and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population
associated with the London Missionary Society; includes
Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints,
Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1971 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Data code: WS
Government type: constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital: Apia
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai,
Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli,
Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)
Constitution: 1 January 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs;
judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental
rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of
state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April
1963)
head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi
(since 24 November 1998); note--TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime
minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November
1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor
health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of
state with the prime minister's advice
elections: upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a
new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of
state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49
seats--47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs
(matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%,
independents 23.7%; seats by party--HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New
Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia