note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic divisions: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of
various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,
South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
John OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council - three members are appointed by the
governor, four members are elected by the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: election last held 18 November 1992 (next to
be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 12
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB,
Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: 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
Economy
-------
Economic overview: With no direct taxation, the Islands are a
thriving offshore financial center. Tourism is also a mainstay,
accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency
earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and
caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals
exceeded one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. About 90%
of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The
Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of
the highest standards of living in the world.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $750 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $22,500 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 8,061
by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction
12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers
5.9% (1979)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues: $141.5 million
expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 80,000 kW
production: 230 million kWh
consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Illicit drugs: a major money-laundering center for illicit drug
profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and
Europe
Exports: $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners: mostly US
Imports: $312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt: $15 million (1986)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18
November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 406 km
paved: 304 km
unpaved: 102 km
Ports: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil
tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4
note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 1 ship, India 1,
Norway 1, US 3, Sweden 1, and UAE 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Central African Republic
------------------------
Map
---
Location: 7 00 N, 21 00 E -- Central Africa, north of Zaire
Flag
----
Description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a
yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
Geography
---------
Location: Central Africa, north of Zaire
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 622,980 sq km
land area: 622,980 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km,
Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered
hills in northeast and southwest
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mount Gaou 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 64%
other: 28%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished
reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification
natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern
areas; floods are common
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People
------
Population: 3,274,426 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 724,914; female 718,423)
15-64 years: 52% (male 839,118; female 877,069)
65 years and over: 4% (male 53,418; female 61,484) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.08% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 39.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 17.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.53 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 111.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.86 years
male: 45.03 years
female: 46.71 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.41 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Ethnic divisions: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%,
Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic
25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority
Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national
language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 60%
male: 68.5%
female: 52.4%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
Data code: CT
Type of government: republic;
Capital: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques,
singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**;
Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,
Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou,
Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*,
Vakaga
Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of
the republic)
Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7
January 1995
Legal system: based on French law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ange PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - PATASSE
received 52.45% of the votes and Abel GOUMBA received 45.62%
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE (since 6 June
1996); appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 19
September 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (85 total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3,
others 22
note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together
they are called the Congress (Congres)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), judges appointed by
the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Progress
(ADP), Tchapka BREDE; Central African Democratic Assembly (RDC),
Andre KOLINGBA; Civic Forum (FC), Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA; Liberal
Democratic Party (PLD), Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON; Movement for the
Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), the party of the
president, Ange Felix PATASSE; Movement for Democracy and
Development (MDD), David DACKO; Marginal Movement for Democracy,
Renaissance and Evolution (MDREC), Joseph BENDOUNGA; Patriotic Front
for Progress (FFP), Abel GOUMBA; Social Democratic Party (PSD),
Enoch Derant LAKOUE
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800, 7801
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mosina H. JORDAN
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00, 61 25 78, 61 02 10
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
Flag: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and
yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow
five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with
forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African
Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in
outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP.
Timber has accounted for about 13% of export earnings and the
diamond industry for nearly 80%. Important constraints to economic
development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor
transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy
of misdirected macroeconomic policies. A major plus is the large
forest reserves, which the government is moving to protect from
overexploitation. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14
Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on
the CAR's economy. While diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports
increased - leading GDP to increase by 5.5% - inflation rose to 45%,
fueled by the rising prices of imports on which the economy depends;
inflation dropped back rapidly in 1995. The CAR's poor resource base
and primitive infrastructure will keep it dependent on multilateral
donors and France for the foreseeable future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 14%
services: 36% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 45% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry
3%, government 3%
note: about 64,000 salaried workers (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles,
footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 40,000 kW
production: 100 million kWh
consumption per capita: 29 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams,
millet, corn, bananas; timber
Exports: $154 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
partners: France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US, Spain, Iran
Imports: $215 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery,
electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
consumer goods, industrial products
partners: France, other EC countries, Japan, Algeria, Cameroon,
Namibia
External debt: $904.3 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
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: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 23,738 km
paved: 427 km
unpaved: 23,311 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of
shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
Ports: Bangui, Nola
Airports:
total: 48
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 11
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 24 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 16,867 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 7,500 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Central African Army (includes Republican Guard), Air
Force, National Gendarmerie, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 737,330
males fit for military service: 384,134 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2.3%
of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Chad
----
Map
---
Location: 15 00 N, 19 00 E -- Central Africa, south of Libya
Flag
----
Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the
flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a
quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on
the flag of France
Geography
---------
Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 1.284 million sq km
land area: 1,259,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
California
Land boundaries:
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197
km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between
Chad and Libya belongs to Chad and that Libya must withdraw from it
by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response
to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains part of the airfield and a
small military presence at the airfield's water supply located in
Chad; demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake
Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is
completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
Nigeria
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains
in northwest, lowlands in south
lowest point: Djourab Depression 175 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under
way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 36%
forest and woodland: 11%
other: 51%
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste
disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification
natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
periodic droughts; locust plagues
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping
Geographic note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant
water body in the Sahel
People
------
Population: 6,976,845 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,543,688; female 1,535,729)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,807,361; female 1,881,930)
65 years and over: 3% (male 91,998; female 116,139) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.68% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.25 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 17.44 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 120.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.55 years
male: 45.18 years
female: 50.01 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.84 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian
Ethnic divisions: nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French
north and center: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko,
Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba)
south: non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang,
Moussei, Massa)
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly
animism) 25%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango
(in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in French or Arabic
(1995 est.)
total population: 48.1%
male: 62.1%
female: 34.7%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad
Data code: CD
Type of government: republic
Capital: N'Djamena
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi,
Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi,
Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution: 31 March 1995, passed by referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian
customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December
1990, after seizing power on 3 December 1990); note - transitional
government's mandate was scheduled to expire in May 1996; the first
round of presidential elections was scheduled for 2 June 1996, with
a runoff on 23 June if necessary
head of government: Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April
1995) elected by the Sovereign National Conference
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on
recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition:
popular elections to the former National Consultative Council
(Conceil National Consultatif) were last held 8 July 1990; this body
was disbanded on 3 December 1990 by President DEBY and on 8 March
1991 replaced with the Provisional Council of the Republic having 30
members whom he appointed; this body, in turn, was replaced on 6
April 1993 by a 57-member Higher Transitional Council (Conseil
Superieur de Transition) elected by a specially convened Sovereign
National Conference; popular elections, formerly scheduled for April
1995, were initially postponed by mutual agreement of the parties
concerned until at least May 1996 and subsequently postponed until
after the rainy season (as late as October 1996); note - the name of
the anticipated new legislative body has not been announced
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS),
former dissident group, Idriss DEBY, chairman
note: President DEBY, who promised political pluralism, a new
constitution, and free elections by April 1994, subsequently twice
postponed these initiatives; there are numerous dissident groups and
at least 45 opposition political parties
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC,
UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO