total population: 70.89 years
male: 68.32 years
female: 73.59 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.55 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians";
their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of
the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese
15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the
country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the
interior) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%,
Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang
Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Government type: republic
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten,
singular--distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne,
Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French
penal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
note: First Advisor of State maintains significant power
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a constitutional majority vote in the National Assembly
after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869
representatives from the national, local, and regional councils),
for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election
held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of
legislative vote--NA; National Assembly failed to elect president;
results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly--Jules
WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received
407 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or National
Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDP
16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The Progressive
Development Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders: The New Front or NF (a coalition
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP,
Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Union for Liberation and
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo,
Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double
width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double
width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the
red band
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite
industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export
earnings. After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH
government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous
government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of
society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government
failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the
allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese
Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic
growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and
utility sectors. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term
will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal
policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize
markets and promote competition.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.48 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 32%
services: 58% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%,
services NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $393 million
expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34
million (1997 est.)
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum
production, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.75%
hydro: 80.25%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels,
coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Exports: $548.84 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: alumina, aluminum, crude oil, lumber, shrimp
and fish, rice, bananas
Exports--partners: Norway 24%, Netherlands 22%, US 22%, France
9.5%, Japan 7.6%, UK 6.5% (1997)
Imports: $551.8 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs,
cotton, consumer goods
Imports--partners: US 48%, Netherlands 21.2%, UK 5.1%, Japan 4%
(1997)
Debt--external: $216 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $76.4 million (1995); note?the
Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and
Suriname in 1996
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100
cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per
US$1--850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (1998),
401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel
rate: 800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994)
note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate
was unified and became market determined; during 1998, the exchange
rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the
government floated the guilder
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 32, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 166 km (single track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 4,530 km
paved: 1,178 km
unpaved: 3,352 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport;
oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many
of the principal waterways
Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo,
Paranam, Wageningen
Airports: 46 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 41
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 34 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air
Force elements), Civil Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 118,686 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 69,842 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $8.5 million (1997 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims area in French Guiana between
Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa
Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined mostly for Europe
======================================================================
@Svalbard
--------
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,
Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 62,049 sq km
land: 62,049 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most
of the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along
west and north coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc,
wildlife, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
cloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to
Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and
occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to
maritime traffic
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of
the total area
People
Population: 2,503 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.55% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Ethnic groups: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other
NEGL% (1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
Spitzbergen)
Data code: SV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the
Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing
in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920)
sovereignty was given to Norway
Government type: NA
Capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Ann-Kristin OLSEN (since NA) and
Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
Justice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on
Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories
equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian
regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have
mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and
Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns.
The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the
Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services,
and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
GDP: $NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: $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
Budget:
revenues: $11.7 million
expenditures: $11.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Exports: $NA
Imports: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $8.7 million from Norway (1997)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--7.4524 (January
1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995),
7.0576 (1994)
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: local telephone service
international: satellite earth station--1 of NA type (for
communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund,
Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Svalbard is the focus of a maritime
boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
======================================================================
@Swaziland
---------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 17,360 sq km
land: 17,200 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 62%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: limited supplies of potable water;
wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South
Africa
People
Population: 985,335 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 227,675; female 228,733)
15-64 years: 51% (male 243,853; female 259,950)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,866; female 15,258) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 21.72 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 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 101.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.11 years
male: 36.86 years
female: 39.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.92 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.7%
male: 78%
female: 75.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane; note--Lobamba is the royal and legislative
capital
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was
suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13
October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people; since
then a few more outlines for a constitution have been compiled but
so far none have been accepted
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note--no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the
65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the
elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less
than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since
9 August 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory
body, consists of the Senate (20 seats--10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 10 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year
terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats--10 appointed by the
monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Assembly--last held NA September and NA October
1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: House of Assembly--balloting is done on a nonparty
basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of
each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates
with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a
single winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the monarch;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated
on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding
large public gatherings
illegal parties: People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA
chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan R. McKEE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red
(triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered
in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two
spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed
horizontally
Economy
Economy--overview: In this small landlocked economy, subsistence
agriculture occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing
features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined
in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were
depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for
asbestos. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are
the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa,
except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily
dependent on South Africa from which it receives nearly all of its
imports and to which it sends more than half of its exports.
Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement
domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is
trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment.
Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the
future.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 42%
services: 48% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: private sector about 70%, public
sector about 30%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $450 million, including capital expenditures of $115
million (FY96/97)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft
drink concentrates
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (FY95/96)
Electricity--production: 415 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 49.4%
hydro: 50.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)