season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 16%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 76%
other: 4%
Irrigated land: 920 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: logging activities throughout the country and strip
mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand
are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural
fisheries); deforestation; soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority
of the population does not have access to potable water
natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding;
occasional droughts
international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Ship
Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the
Mekong River and Tonle Sap
People
------
Population: 10,861,218 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,505,998; female 2,432,620)
15-64 years: 51% (male 2,579,986; female 3,007,838)
65 years and over: 4% (male 143,759; female 191,017) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.77% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 43.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.78 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.93 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 107.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.86 years
male: 48.39 years
female: 51.39 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic divisions: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions: Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%
Languages: Khmer (official), French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 35%
male: 48%
female: 22%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
local short form: Kampuchea
Data code: CB
Type of government: multiparty liberal democracy under a
constitutional monarchy established in September 1993
Capital: Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (khett, singular and
plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu
(Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab,
Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
note: a new province of Otdar Mean Cheay may have been created from
parts of Banteay Mean Cheay and Siem Reab
Independence: 9 November 1949 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November 1949
Constitution: promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system: currently being defined
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
is a constitutional monarch
head of government: power shared between First Prime Minister Prince
Norodom RANARIDDH (since NA 1993) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN
(since NA 1993) who were appointed by the king
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: members elected for five-year terms; elections
last held 23 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) FUNCINPEC 58, CPP 51,
Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party 10, Molinaka 1
note: the May 1993 elections were for the Constituent Assembly which
became the National Assembly after the new constitution was
promulgated in September 1993
Judicial branch: Supreme Court provided for by the constitution
has not yet been established and the future judicial system is yet
to be defined by law
Political parties and leaders: National United Front for an
Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia
(FUNCINPEC), Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Cambodian Pracheachon Party
or Cambodian People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal
Democratic Party, SON SANN faction; Buddhist Liberal Democratic
Party, IENG MOULY faction; Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as
the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU SAMPHAN; Molinaka, PROM NEAKAREACH
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH
chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 426436, 426438
FAX: [855] (23) 426437
Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width),
and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat
outlined in black in the center of the red band
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by
decades of war - is slowly recovering. Government leaders are moving
toward restoring fiscal and monetary discipline and have established
good working relations with international financial institutions.
Growth, starting from a low base, has been strong in 1991-95.
Despite such positive developments, the reconstruction effort faces
many tough challenges because of the persistence of internal
political divisions and the related lack of confidence of foreign
investors. Rural Cambodia, where 90% of about 9.5 million Khmer
live, remains mired in poverty. The almost total lack of basic
infrastructure in the countryside will hinder development and will
contribute to a growing imbalance in growth between urban and rural
areas over the near term. Moreover, the government's lack of
experience in administering economic and technical assistance
programs and rampant corruption among officials will slow the growth
of critical public sector investment. The decline of inflation from
the 1992 rate of more than 50% is one of the bright spots.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $660 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 52%
industry: 13.5%
services: 34.5% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 2.5 million to 3 million
by occupation: agriculture 80% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $210 million
expenditures: $346 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)
Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber,
cement, gem mining
Industrial production growth rate: 7.9% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 40,000 kW
production: 160 million kWh
consumption per capita: 14 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Illicit drugs: key transshipment country for Golden Triangle
heroin en route to West; possibly becoming money-laundering center;
high-level narcotics-related corruption in government, military, and
police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine
production; large producer of cannabis
Exports: $240.7 million (1995 est.)
commodities: timber, rubber, soybeans, sesame
partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia
Imports: $630.5 million (1995 est.)
commodities: cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products,
machinery, motor vehicles
partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia
External debt: $383 million to OECD members (1993)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: IMF pledged $120 million in aid for 1995-98
Currency: 1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen
Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1 - 2,585 (December 1994), 2,470
(December 1993), 2,800 (September 1992), 500 (December 1991), 560
(1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 603 km
narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 34,100 km
paved: 3,000 km
unpaved: 31,100 km (1994 est.)
Waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282
km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m
Ports: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong,
Phnom Penh
Merchant marine:
total: 5 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,451 GRT/18,280
DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 14
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 7,000 (1981 est.)
Telephone system: service barely adequate for government
requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public
domestic: NA
international: landline international service limited to Vietnam and
other adjacent countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 70,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches:
Khmer Royal Armed Forces (KRAF): created in 1993 by the merger of
the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist
resistance armies; note - the KRAF is also known as the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)
Resistance forces: National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer
Rouge)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,336,606
males fit for military service: 1,302,234
males reach military age (18) annually: 79,514 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $85 million, 1.4%
of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Cameroon
--------
Map
---
Location: 6 00 N, 12 00 E -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Flag
----
Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red
band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 475,440 sq km
land area: 469,440 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,
Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690
km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 50 nm
International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in
vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in
the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime
boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred
to the International Court of Justice
Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to
semiarid and hot in north
Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected
plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m
Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 18%
forest and woodland: 54%
other: 13%
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous
gases
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Nuclear Test
Ban, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
People
------
Population: 14,261,557 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 3,295,924; female 3,266,429)
15-64 years: 51% (male 3,602,037; female 3,627,625)
65 years and over: 3% (male 213,176; female 256,366) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.89% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.49 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.6 years
male: 51.55 years
female: 53.68 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic divisions: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%,
Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%,
other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%
Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official),
French (official)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 63.4%
male: 75%
female: 52.1%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon
Data code: CM
Type of government: unitary republic; multiparty presidential
regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)
Capital: Yaounde
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French
administration)
National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)
Constitution: 20 May 1972
Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) elected
for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 11
October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results - President
Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread
allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the
vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April
1992) appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 1 March
1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic
Movement (CPDM) (government-controlled and the only party until
legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president
major opposition parties: National Union for Democracy and Progress
(UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union
(UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the
Defense of the Republic (MDR)
Other political or pressure groups: Alliance for Change (FAC),
Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde
telephone: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
FAX: [237] 23-07-53
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and
yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Because of its offshore oil resources and
favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the
best-endowed, most diversified primary commodity economies in
sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems
facing other underdeveloped countries, such as political
instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable
climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector
led to rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to
an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in the prices
of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were
cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management
were exposed. In 1990-93, with support from the IMF and World Bank,
the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business
investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the
nation's banks. Political instability, following suspect elections
in 1992, brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a halt; currently
Cameroon receives only minimal assistance from those Bretton Woods
institutions. Although the 50% devaluation of the currency of 12
January 1994 improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement
remains the main barrier to economic improvement. The devaluation
led to a spurt in inflation, to 48% in 1994, but inflation moderated
in 1995. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry
remains slow.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 1.8% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 24%
services: 47% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 48% (1994)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%,
other services 14.2% (1983)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.6 billion
expenditures: $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $226
million (FY92/93 est.)
Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing,
light consumer goods, textiles, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 630,000 kW
production: 2.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 196 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed,
grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, aluminum,
cocoa beans, coffee, cotton
partners: EU (particularly France) about 50%, African countries, US
Imports: $810 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer
goods, transport equipment, petroleum products
partners: EU (France 38%, Germany), African countries, Japan 5%, US
5%
External debt: $6.6 billion (1993)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $449 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 1,104 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 64,626 km
paved: 2,666 km
unpaved: 61,960 km (1987 est.)
Waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance
Ports: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Merchant marine:
total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509
DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 45
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 13
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 36,737 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: available only to business and government
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 11, shortwave 0
Radios: 2 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1995)
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force,
National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 3,112,339
males fit for military service: 1,572,150
males reach military age (18) annually: 151,300 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $102 million, NA%
of GDP (FY93/94)
======================================================================
@Canada
------
Map
---
Location: 60 00 N, 95 00 W -- Northern North America, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the
conterminous US
Flag
----
Description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white
(double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in
the white band
Geography
---------
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total area: 9,976,140 sq km
land area: 9,220,970 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than US
Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border country: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary disputes with the US;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute
between Canada and France
Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in
north
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
southeast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,950 m
Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 45%
other: 43%
Irrigated land: 8,400 sq km (1989 est.)