current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain severely
affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning
utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and
forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to
agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious
obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky
Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic,
Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the
country's rain and snow
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: second-largest country in world (after Russia);
strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route;
nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 161 km of the
US/Canada border
People
------
Population: 28,820,671 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 3,032,458; female 2,889,603)
15-64 years: 67% (male 9,663,955; female 9,660,648)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,501,542; female 2,072,465) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.06% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.33 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.17 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.07 years
male: 75.67 years
female: 82.65 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
Ethnic divisions: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%,
other European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%, other, mostly
Asian 11.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%,
other 35% (1991)
Languages: English (official), French (official)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.)
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Data code: CA
Type of government: confederation with parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ottawa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*;
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to
Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs
Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where
civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a
hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC
(since 8 February 1995), who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
1993) was appointed by the governor general; on 25 October 1993;
Deputy Prime Minister Sheila COPPS (since NA); note - the prime
minister is the leader of the political party commanding a majority
in the House of Commons
cabinet: Federal Ministry was chosen by the prime minister from
members of his own party sitting in Parliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
Senate (Senat): consisting of a body whose members are appointed to
serve until 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on
the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators
House of Commons (Chambre des Communes): elections last held 25
October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent
of votes by party NA; seats - (295 total) Liberal Party 179, Bloc
Quebecois 53, Reform Party 52, New Democratic Party 8, Progressive
Conservative Party 2, independents 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party, Jean CHRETIEN; Bloc
Quebecois, Michel GAUTHIER; Reform Party, Preston MANNING; New
Democratic Party, Alexa MCDONOUGH; Progressive Conservative Party,
Jean CHAREST
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG
(observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB
(non-regional), EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-
7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
consulate(s): Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Princeton, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and San
Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 238-5720
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver
Flag: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double
width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white
band
Economy
-------
Economic overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society,
Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output,
market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. Since
World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining,
and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural
economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Canada started the
1990s in recession, and real rates of growth have averaged only 1.1%
so far this decade. Because of slower growth, Canada still faces
high unemployment and a large public sector debt. With its great
natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant,
however, Canada will enjoy better economic prospects in the future.
The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and
French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the
confederation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $694 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $24,400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 26%
services: 72% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 13.38 million
by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%,
construction 3%, other 4% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $90.4 billion
expenditures: $114.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95 est.)
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products,
wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish
products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 5.9% (1994)
Electricity:
capacity: 108,090,000 kW
production: 511 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 16,133 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables;
dairy products; forest products; commercial fisheries provide annual
catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug
market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large
quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a
transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market
Exports: $185 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum,
machinery, natural gas, aluminum, motor vehicles and parts;
telecommunications equipment
partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China
Imports: $166.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable
consumer goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment
and parts
partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
External debt: $233 billion (1994)
Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $2.373 billion (1993)
note: ODA and OOF commitments, $10.1 billion (1986-91)
Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.3666 (January
1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992),
1.1457 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 70,176 km; note - there are two major transcontinental
freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November
1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by
government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own
standard gauge: 70,000 km 1.435-m gauge (63 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 176 km 0.914-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 849,404 km
paved: 297,291 km (including 15,983 km of expressways)
unpaved: 552,113 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Ports: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Montreal, New
Westminister, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick),
Saint John's (Newfoundland), Seven Islands, Sydney, Three Rivers,
Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine:
total: 62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 573,089 GRT/804,436 DWT
ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 15,
passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 7, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 1,138
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 17
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 136
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 226
with paved runways under 914 m: 422
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 53
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 269 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 14 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 15.3 million (1990)
Telephone system: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations
- 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 900, FM 29, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 70 (repeaters 1,400) (1991)
Televisions: 11.53 million (1983 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or
LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications
Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 7,645,245
males fit for military service: 6,575,057
males reach military age (17) annually: 197,688 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.0 billion,
1.6% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Cape Verde
----------
Map
---
Location: 16 00 N, 24 00 W -- Western Africa, group of Islands in
the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Flag
----
Description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double
width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third),
and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered
on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and
lower blue bands
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references: World
Area:
total area: 4,030 sq km
land area: 4,030 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and
very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico 2,829 m
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone,
kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 6%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 85%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such
as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion;
demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation;
desertification; environmental damage has threatened several
indigenous species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
visibility; volcanically and seismically active
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of
Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications
station; important sea and air refueling site
People
------
Population: 449,066 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 114,206; female 110,276)
15-64 years: 46% (male 90,593; female 117,485)
65 years and over: 4% (male 6,450; female 10,056) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 54.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.39 years
male: 61.47 years
female: 65.41 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic divisions: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West
African words
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 71.6%
male: 81.4%
female: 63.8%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
Data code: CV
Type of government: republic
Capital: Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos, singular -
concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo,
Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao
Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22
March 1991) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
2001); results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received
80.1% of vote
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho
VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) nominated by the People'sNational
Assembly and appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister from
members of the Peoples National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular): elections
last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA); results - MPD 59%,
PAICV 28%, PCD 6%; seats - (72 total) MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de
Justia)
Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime
Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for
Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES,
chairman; Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM,
OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA-CARLOS
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16
FAX: [238] 61 13 55
Flag: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width),
white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light
blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the
hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower
blue bands
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor
natural resource base, serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles
of long-term drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service
oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting
for 60% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural
areas, the share of agriculture in GNP is only 13%, of which fishing
accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing
potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape
Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances
from emigrants and foreign aid, which form important supplements to
GDP. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in
1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting
foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 1996
depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the
momentum of the government's development program.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $440 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.6% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,040 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 17%
services: 70% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.)
by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%,
industry 14% (1981)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $174 million
expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165
million (1993 est.)
Industries: fish processing, salt mining, garments, ship repair,
food and beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 15,000 kW
production: 40 million kWh
consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane,
coffee, peanuts; fish
Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for
illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for
Western Europe
Exports: $4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities: fish, bananas
partners: Netherlands, Portugal, Angola, Spain
Imports: $173 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products,
transport equipment
partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, France,
Cote d'Ivoire
External debt: $156 million (1991)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 77.860
(December 1995), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018
(1992), 71.408 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,100 km
paved: 680 km
unpaved: 420 km (1992 est.)
Ports: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.)
total: 4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT
Airports:
total: 6
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 1,740 (1987 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army
and Navy), Security Service
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 84,003
males fit for military service: 48,885 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.4 million, NA%
of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Cayman Islands
--------------
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map
---
Location: 19 30 N, 80 30 W -- Caribbean, island group in Caribbean
Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Flag
----
Description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple
and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three
islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH
FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Geography
---------
Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly
one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 260 sq km
land area: 260 sq km
comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and
cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 8%
forest and woodland: 23%
other: 69%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water
supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: important location between Cuba and Central
America
People
------
Population: 34,646 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.27% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 14.52 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)